The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-05 00:00:00

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, WEDNESDAY.
The Inman steamer City of Edinburgh arrived
this morning, having left New York on the 24th.
The latest despatches from the army of General
M'Clellan are as follow ;
"To THE HON. E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR,
M'Clellan's Head-quarters, May 21, 8 p.m.

" I have just returned from Bottom's-bridge. Have
examined the country on the other side, and made a recon-
naissance on the heels of the enemy, who probably did not
like the skirmish of yesterday. The bridge will be repaired
by to-morrow morning, and others constructed. All the
camps have advanced to-day.
"G. B. M'CLELLAN, Major-General Commanding."
Washington had been distracted with rumours
of a battle, but they were without foundation.

From Corinth the latest despatches speak also
of skirmishing :
" Halleck's Head-quarters, Thursday, May 22.

" There was considerable skirmishing along our whole
line yesterday. In every case the enemy was driven back,
with a total loss of about 40 killed and wounded. The
enemy's was about the same. Deserters continue to come
in daily in squads, mostly from the 13th Louisiana."
" Cairo, Wednesday, May 21.
"An arrival from the fleet on Monday states that a flag
of truce went round Craighead Point for the purpose of
exchanging released prisoners, in accordance with an ar-
rangement made some weeks since. After waiting some
hours the flag returned without being met. by the rebels.
Late in the afternoon one of their boats came up and effected
an exchange. It is believed among officers of the army
that the rebels have evacuated Fort Wright and fallen back
on Fort Randolph, as no rebel gunboats could be seen
around the point. A reconnaissance in force, sent down by
Commander Davis to ascertain the position of the enemy,
had not returned when the boat left. Memphis papers of
the 17th inst. announce the arrival of the National fleet at
Vicksburgh, which had met no successful resistance. Fort
Adams is 100 miles below Vicksburgh, and the presump •
tion is, that a fight had taken place."

A special despatch to the Times, dated Fort
Wright, 20th inst., says:—

" From indicationemade apparent yesterday, it is clearly
evident that the enemy have evacuated Fort Wright, and
fallen back on Fort Randolph, a strong fortification on the
second Chickasaw Bluff, 12 miles below their former posi
tion, Officers of the flotilla, who went down the river yes-
terday with a flag of truce, returned with the intelligence
that neither troops nor gunboats were visible ; that Fort
'Wright, and as far below as the eye could reach, were de-
serted. Towards evening the rebel craft came up with a
flag of truce, and exchanged prisoners. No explanation
was offered as to why our flag was not answered in the
morning. Taking all the circumstances into consideration,
there is not the least doubt that the rebels have left Fort
Wright, and in their new position can maintain a more
thorough defence, and be less exposed to the fire of our
mortars,"

" CHICAGO, Friday, May 22.
"Deserters, who came aboard the Benton on Tuesday,
report that Commodore Farragut's fleet left Nicksburgh on
Saturday last, their destination being Memphis."
From the mountain department there is news of
a fight, and the seizure of the Central Virginia Rail-
road by the Federal forces :
" FRANKLIN; Wednesday, May 21, via Baltimore,
Thursday, May 22.

"Despatches have been receivel from General Cox, coin..
manding in the fight at Princetown on the 18th. It was a
very warm affair, in which some 30 IN ere killed and 70
wounded on our side. Pl isoners taken by us state that the
rebel loss was double or treble ours. Colonel Cox, com-
manding at Lewisburgh, Greenbriar County, has made a
successful dash on the Central Virginia Railroad, seizing
at Covington, its terminus, a guerilla chief and one other
noted bush-whacker; also the telegraph office, and de-
spatches showing that the rebel Provost-Marshal of
Allegheny County had sent to Jackson, at Staunton, for
reinforcements, which had been promised. He then went
to the Jackson River bridge, 10 miles east of Covington,
and blunt the bridge—thus cutting off any present move-
ment over the road. This demonstration has had a capital
effect in the county. The Union sentiment is more bold,
and the Secessionists are alarmed and puzzled."
A letter from Washington says;—
" Voluminous despatches have been received from the
Gulf. They relate principally to the details of the recent
movements connected with the capture of New Orleans. The
vessels of the fleet have been judiciously distributed ,
a
number under Commander Lee going up as far as Vicks-
burgh for purposes which it would be improper to state.., It
appears front the documents that Commander arragut

carried out his instructions to the letter, and was
ably and cheerfully sustained by all under his com-
mand. On our forces occupying Pensacola, the Mayor
promised that the citizens would behave themselves peace-
fully. The rebels had evacuated the place on hearing that
our steamers the day before were going to run into Mobile
Bay, and that the squadron and mortar boats would soon
follow. Commander Porter left Ship Island on the 7th,
with the steamers belonging to the mortar fleet and the
Sachem for Mobile Bar, for the purpose of fixing a place for
the mortar vessels to lie, and plant buoys for the ships to
run in by, when they should arrive. Great excitement
seemed to exist within the forts at the progress of the
fleet. There was reason to believe that Fort Gaines
was evacuated, and that the troops there were leaving to
reinforce Fort Morgan. The Clifton got ashore under
the guns of the latter fort, which opened fire upon her,
and when they had got her range beautifully they threw
shot over her. Lieut. Commanding Baldwin went to work
coolly, and got his vessel off just as Commander Porter sent
him assistance. The weather being bad, and for the pur-
pose of coaling, the vessels left for Ship Island."

The following private letter from Lieut. Constable,
commander of the gunboat Stevens (Naugatuck),
addressed to Capt. John Faunce, gives a description
of the recent fight on James River, and explains
the bursting of the heavy gun on board of that
vessel during the engagement :

" United States gunboat Stevens, Hampton
Roads, May, 19, 1862.
" My dear Captain,—We arrived here yesterday from
Norfolk, having brought down the killed and part of the
wounded in our last action, and left them at the hospital
there. The squadron to which we were attached, consist-
ing, besides the Stevens, of the Galena, Monitor, Aroostook,
and Port Royal, worked our way up James river, and, at a
battery at a place called Harding's Bluff, about five miles
above Day's Point, we saw the rebel steamers Yorktown
and Jamestown, but they ran from us, ascending the river.
When we arrived at City Point wa found the storehouses
there, containing tobacco, 45tc., in flames, and nearly con-
sumed.

"On the evening of the 14th instant we arrived about
ten miles below Richmond. The Stevens had led the
squadron, keeping about 200 yards ahead of the Galena,
sounding out the channel, and looking out for obstructions
and torpedoes. We were, on account of our light draught
of water and the readiness with which the vessel worked)
of great service to the squadron. From information which
we had gained we learned that the enemy had, about two
miles above us, heavy obstructions across the river, consist-
ing of spiles and sunken vessels, defended by a very strong
battery on a high bluff, called Ward's-hill. This Ward's-
hill was but eight miles below Richmond, and at a council
of war held on board the flagship (the Galena), consisting
of the commanders of the five vessels, it was arranged that
the squadron should the next morning attack the battery in
the order arranged. If successful In shelling them out the
Stevens was to haul out the spiles, while men from the
squadron spiked the guns, I was provided with a chain for
that purpose, and intended pumping out aft and submerging
forward until making fast and heaving taut, then pump out
forward, and submerge aft to loosen the spile in its hold,
and then haul upon it until drawn, ire. We likewise
learned that the enemy had rifle pits well manned, and
even while at anchor on the afternoon of the 14th we were
fired at several times from musketry in the bushes along
the shore. At the request of the Commodore I threw a
shell from our Parrot gun at quite a large force of
the enemy on a hill about two miles distant, which
started them off at ' double quick,' and then threw two or
three rounds of canister from our light guns into the bushes
where the rifle shots had come from, and during the night
we heard nothing further from them.
" I fortunately learned that evening that the Galena had
several large sheets of boiler iron not in use (6ft. by 31t.),
25 of these I procured, and fastened them on the outside of
the pilot-house and cabin, and to their protection we were
all indebted for our lives in the action of the lOth, The
next morning, on the first of the ebb, the vessels moved up
to their positions of attack, under a very annoying fire of
rifles from the woods (the river being less than 200 yards
wide). We opened fire upon the battery with our heavy
gun, and threw shell and canister from our broadside ones
into the woods. Our station was abreast of their rifle-pits,
and was only about 40 feet from the shore, so that their
sharpshooters had a fair chance at us. During the fight,
and while our heavy gun was performing splendidly, it
burst, but fortunately disabled but one man. It burst,
from the vent to the trunnions, in two halves, throwing one
half overboard on the port side, while the other half was
landed on deck on the starboard side.

" Sincerely yours,
" Capthin John Faunce." "D. C. CONSTABLE.
A letter from Washington says :

"Experitrents have been made in the Navy Yard here
to test the capability of the description of iron armour
adopted by the Navy Department to resist shot. It was
found that it amounts to a perfect shield against such ord-
nance as easily pierced the armour in England similar to
that of the celebrated vessel Warrior. The President wit-
nessed the experiments, the details of which it is improper
to publish."