The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-20 00:00:00

AMERICA.

REUTER'S EXPRESS.
(Per the Canada.)
NEW YORK, July 7.
The steamship City of Washington arrived at
New York July 6, and the New York July 7. The
steamship Asia arrived at Halifax, July 7.
The following is the " situation" from the New
Jerk Herald of July 7 :
All the news from the vicinity of Gettysburg,
accumulating as it does from every quarter,confirms
the fact that the defeat of Gen. Lee's army on Fri-
day was a total rout. Perhaps the best evidence of
this is the number of prisoners which our troops are
picking up in large bodies, amounting now to
nearly 28,000, or almost the fourth part of the
rebel army. The troops of Gen. Lee are scattered
in the mountains, whither they were endeavouring
to escape towards Virginia. Since Friday there was
no general engagement, but cavalry skirmishes in
the rear of the enemy are continually progressing.
The rebels retreated by way of Greencastle and
Hagerstown, at which place Gen. Lee probably now
has his headquarters. Firing was heard in that
direction yesterday. A fight was also reported at
Fayetteville yesterday,and another at Mercersburg,
no doubt the operations of our cavalry on the
enemy's rear. It is a remarkable fact that the late
seizure of horses made from the farmers of Penn-
syivar ia and Maryland has turned out greatly to
their disadvantage. The animals, not being trained
to the battlefield, have become so unmanageable as
to render their riders &most helpless when attacked
by our cavalry.
Despatches from Harrisburg yesterday state that
Gen. Couch has pushed forward all his effective force
to co-operate with the Army of the Potomac.
His advance is already in contact with the
enemy, and aiding General Meade's army. Gene •
ral Lee, as far as known, holds all the passes in
the South Mountain leading into the Cumberland
valley from Gettysburg. The troops under Gene-
ral Pierce, formerly Milroy's command, captured at
Greencastle 500 prisoners, two wagons loaded with
plunder and three pieces of artillery. The prisoners
were stragglers making their way to the Potomac,
in company with wagon trains. Gen. Pleasanton
and Gen. Stuart were skirmishing all day yester-
day in the vicinity of Bridgeport.
A heavy freshet came down the Potomac as far as
Washington yesterday, and it was stated that all the
fords from Falling Waters were rendered completely
impassable. The watere of the Potomac are now six
feet above the fording level. It appears that the
pontoon bridge at Williamsport was not destroyed
as reported, the rebel Gen. Imboden having too
strong a force there to protect it, so that Lee's re-
treat into Virginia was not cut off, as was supposed.
Gen. Meade has issued an address to his army,
congratulating them upon the recent victory. He
says, however, " our task is not yet accomplished,
and the Commanding General looks to the army for
greater efforts to drive from our soil every vestige
of the presence of the invader."
It is stated on excellent authority that the rebel
General Ewell, the successor of Stonewall Jackson,
died yesterday from wounds received at the battle
of Gettysburg on Friday.
News of a most important character reaches us
from sources beyond all question as to the truth of
the statement. The Vice-President of the rebel Go-
vernment, Alexander 11. Stephens, and Mr. Com-
missioner Could, came down the James river on board
the rebel gunboat Dragon on Saturday, under a flag
of truce, and requested permission from Admiral
Lee to proceed to Washington in order to present
in person an important communication from Jeffer-
son Davis to Abraham Lincoln. Admiral Lee at
once despatched to Washington for instruction. A
Cabinet meeting was accordingly held yesterday
morning, and it was deeided that permission should
not be granted to these gentlemen to fulfil their
mission, whatever it was, to Washington. Admiral
Lee was instructed to inform them that the ordi-
nary channels of communication would suffice for
the transmission of any message they might have
to send to Mr. Lincoln. Meantime the rebel gunboat
had steamed up the James river while awaiting the
reply from Washington.
The probability of the return of North Carolina
to the Union is foreshadowed by the Portsmouth
Virginian of the 2d, which says :—" Reliable infor-
mation has been received here that the return of
North Carolina to the Union is an event which may
be daily expected. A disaffection towards the Go-
vernment of Jeff. Davis, radical and wide-spread,
exists in the State, and overtures have been made
to General Foster which will shortly lead to im-
portant results."
By the arrival of the steamer Callowba at Fortress
Monroe yesterday, we have news from New Orleans
to the Ist inst. The bombardmensc of Port Hudson
was then going on vigorously.i
All the steamers in
the service of General Banks wor running up and
down the river without interruption.
WA SllltiGbTeoeNn obtained from a, July 6, 1863.
The following facts have
source which guarantees their correctness, and the
statement may be relied upon as strictly true.
On Saturday, the 4th inst., the rebel gunboat
Dragon came down the James river with a flag of
truce.
Acting Rear-Admiral Lee sent up an
officer
to meet it when it was ascertained that Alexander
S. Stephens and Commissioner Ould was on board.
They
represented that they were bearers of an im-
portant letter from Jefferson Davis, Commander-in-
Chief of the Army and Navy of the Confederate
State, to Abraham Lincoln, Commander-in-Chief
of the Army and Navy of the United-States, and
requested permission to proceed to Washington in
the Dragon and present the letter to President

The Commanding General, in behalf the country,
thanks the army of the Potomac for the glorious
result of the recent operations. Our enemy, supe-
rior in numbers, and flushed with the pride of a
successful invasion, attempted to overcome or de-
stroy this army. Baffled and defeated, be has now
withdrawn from the contest. The privations and
fatigues the army has endured, and the heroic
courage and gallantry it has displayed, will be
matters of history to be ever remembered.
Our task is not yet accomplished, and the Com-
manding General looks to the army for greater
efforts to drive from cur soil every vestige of the
presence of the invader.
It is right and proper that we should, on suitable
occasions, return our grateful thanks to the Almighty
Disposer of events, that, in the goodness of His
providence, He has thought fit to give victory to
the cause of the just. By command of
Major-General MEADE.
S. Williams, A. A. G.

FORTRESS MONROE, July 3.

The steamer City of Albany arrived at Fortress
Monroe, from City Point at four o'clock this after-
noon. She reports all quiet there.

A slight skirmish, however, took place last even•
ing, some way out, between a small detachment of
our forces and the enemy. _ _ _

The particulars had not been received when the
steamer left, at ten o'clock this morning.
FORTRESS MONROE, July 4.

The steamer John A. Warner arrived at seven
o'clock this morning from Annapolis, with two hun-
dred and fifteen women, and as many children, en
route. They left for City Point at nine o'clock this
morning.

A letter just received, dated Baltimore Cross
Roads, July 3, says

Yesterday there was a skirmish four miles this
side of Bottom's Bridge. Sergeant Burnet, of Com-
pany C, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was killed.
No other casualties on our side.
This afternoon the rebels opened on our advance
brigade, Colonel West's, with five pieces of artillery.
A fight ensued. Our advance fell back until the
reserves came up. There may be a fight at any
hour. The force of the enemy is variously estimated
at from five thousand to twenty thousand.

Our army is in excellent health and spirits, and
amply able to cope with the enemy Low in our
front. _ _ _

The enemy are rushing forward reinforcements
by railroad.
A slight engagement took place last evening. No
decisive result. _ .

The Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry captured twenty-
five prisoners.
A national salute was fired to-day from Fortress
Monroe, which was responded to by the English
frigate Rinaldo. The United States flag has been
displayed from her foremast during the day.
The Regan battery, Seventh New York, came
into Norfolk about five o'clock this morning, and
opened the Fourth, as well as the eyes of the inha-
bitants, by the familiar sounds of their battery.