The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-21 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

An attack on Savannah, and possibly on Charles-
ton and Wilmington, is reported as imminent. The
New .1 ork World says:—
" Although it would be imprudent to state all that
we may know in reference to the matter, we may
safely say that Gen. Hunter issued orders not long
since that the work in the Government workshops
at Port Royal must be completed by a certain day,
in order that the combined land and naval forces
might be in readiness to move on the inst. Pro-
bably we shall hear of the result of the movement
through Southern sources. There is reason to think
that a portion of the movement may have begun in
the attack on Fort M'Allister, on the Ogeechee
river, a little south of Savannah, of which we have
the following account in the shape of a despatch
to the Richmond papers of Feb. 3 :
" Savannah, Feb. 1.
" During the attack upon Fort M'Allister this
morning, the fl igstaff of the Yankee iron-clad was
shot away. She was anchored within 1,000 yards
of the fort. She retired. She was evidently injured,
as she did not reply to the shots from the fort when
retiring. The parapet front of one gun of the fort
was entirely demolished. The men remained
firm at their guns. There is no excite-
ment, and the best spirit prevails. About three
o'clock this afternoon an iron-clad and gunboat
approached within two miles of the Thunder-
bolt Battery, dipped a flag, fired two shots, and re-
tired. The Thunderbolt Battery is five miles south
of the city. Two gunboats came up to St. Mary's on
Monday last. One of them went up the river and
set fire to the houses on several plantations. Capt.
Harrison's company of cavalry fired on them, when
they hauled out of the range of small arms and
shelled away furiously. Another boat was landing
men at St. Mary's on Tuesday."
A bulletin had been posted up in Richmond on
the afternoon of the 3d, stating, in addition to what
is published in papers of that date, that one gun at
Genesis Point had been dismounted, and that all
the churches and hotels in Savannah had been seized
for hospitil purposes, in anticipation of a general
engagement.
The Savannah _Republican, under date Way's Sta-
tion, San. 27, 12.40 p.m., has the following account
of the bombardment of Fort M'Allister :
" Seven Yankee vessels are bombarding Genesis
Point. Two of them are iron-clads, similar to the
Atlanta, and one of these is anchored 1,700 yards
in front of our battery. The firing opened about 7
o'clock this morning, and the last courier reports
that no damage has been done to the fort."
" Later.—For five and a half hours the bombard-
ment continued; it ceased about half-past 12 o'clock.
It commenced to rain, and the enemy's fleet left
before 1 o'clock, having failed to injure a single
man or gun. All the damage to the earthworks
can be repaired in a day. The attack was made by

four steamers, two schooners, and one iron clad
The latter vessel was struck by a shot from the
battery, which damaged her turret, when the firing
ceased and the enemy hauled off."
The Republican adds—
" From persons who were at Genesis Point yes-
terday, we learn that the iron-clad Yankee steamer
came up in fine style, squared herself for a fight,
and after dipping her colours thrice opened upon
the battery. She sat very low in the water and
but little more than her turret could be seen. Our
solid shot are said to have broken to pieces as they
struck her sides. The other iron-clad lay further
down, round the bend in the river, with the wooden
vessels, the position enabling them to cross fire on
the fart. The shots were fired at intervals of two
or three minutes. The balls from the turret were
11 and 15 inch. We learn that four vessels, appa-
rently transports, were lying yesterday in Bear River
below Kilkenny, about 12 miles from the Point.
They probably contain troops, with the intention,
if possible, of making a landing in the rear.
There were some 160 Government negroes at
work at the battery, who were sent into the in-
terior on Monday night, as soon as it was ascer-
tained that the enemy were coming up. The
fort is garrisoned by the Republican Blues, Cap-
tain George W. Anderson, and the Emmett
Rifles, Captain George A. Nicoll—all under the
command of our townsman, Captain John B.
Gallie, who, by the way, is an excellent artillerist,
and brave enough for any emergency. A battalion
of sharpshooters, Col. R. H. Anderson, have been
ordered to support the battery in case of necessity.
Our men, we learn, acted with perfect coolness
throughout the action, and as our reporter repre-
sents, regarded the affair as rather a frolic than
otherwise."
The following telegrams have been received con-
cerning the Confederate attack on Fort Donelson :
" Cairo, Feb. 4.
" The captain of the steamer Bowen, from
Paduch, reports a brilliant success at Fort Donel-
son. One battery of four guns was taken by the
rebels in an overwhelming charge, but our men
gallantly rallied and ret3ok it. The rebel loss is re-
ported at 135 killed, 50 wounded and prisoners.
The rebel General Forrest is reported among the
wounded. Colonel M'Neil was killed. The num-
ber of the rebel force is estimated at from 3,000 to
4,000. From below we have information that all
our divisions have arrived in front of Vicksburg ex-
cept Logan's, which is expected soon."
" Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 4.
" About 5,000 cavalry, under Wheeler, Stearns,
and Wharton, attacked our force at Fort Donelson
yesterday, and were repulsed and utterly routed.
General Mitchell selects the quarters of prominent
Secessionists for wounded rebels. Forty-five are
thus quartered. General Jeff. C. Davis's division,
with a cavalry brigade, occupy Franklin."
" Cairo, Feb. 5, 11 p.m.
" A despatch from Fort Donelson to-night says
that the fight lasted from 1 to 8 o'clock in the
evening, when the rebels retired in great disorder
southward. Theis killed are estimated at 200, and
wounded at 500. Our loss was two killed and 41
wounded and missing."
A Cairo despatch of Feb. 3 gives the following
account of an attack made by the Confederates on
Island No. 10 :
" Sunday night, about 11 o'clock, an attack was
made on Island 10 by a large number of rebels,
probably 2,000, composed of cavalry, infantry, and
artillery. They had crossed Obion river in flatboats
and skiffs, and stationed themselves on the Tennes-
see shore with three 6-pounders. Transports with
troops were passing just as they arrived, and were
fired at and compelled to come to. The light-
draught gunboat New Era arrived, and with six
24-pounders, stationed at the Island, immediately
returned the fire, and shots were exchanged for
t tbi
em
enemye quite g
afreely.ve way A
af tnedr
bleoaot
aroundsp teart ee
sfiorme dehave
The not show
disposition to renewh transports,aeoyf
their clutches. No
course, were released from
retreat, since which
thetim time they
there being but a small
garrison and no opportunity to e
effect anything
ff
casualties are reported. The troops on the island did
not participate in the fight,
The New Era continued to shell the Tennessee shore
until yesterdayevening, and convoyed passing boats.
The iron clad gunboat Eastport, thickly plated and
heavily armed, went down yesterday morning to
remain at the island, and with the New Era, will
sufficiently protect the works there and keep the
enemy at a respectful distance."
attackedsta t Cairo.
"Island
yThe following is a despatch concerning the affair :
No. 10 is o " Columbus, Feb. 3.
"Brigadier-General J. M. Tuttle, Commanding
P
rebel cavalry and
artillery, numbering 3,000 to 4,000. Send theown with steamer United States d th troops, as stated
in your last telegram, but do
not expect troops from
here to-day. I need them at the island.
" ASBOTH, Brigad'
eneral."
A despatch from Cairo of the sth gives the fol-