The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

AMERICA.

We (Times) have received from our own corres-
pondent at Queenstown the full details of the news
brought by the Kangaroo :
No advance of the army on the Potomac has as
yet taken place, but the weather has become very
dry, and the roads are already considered to be in
a fit state for marching. There had bean various
false alarms of battle on the Potomac, entirely
without foundation. Their effect, however, was to
frighten a large number of persons north from
Washington.
There is a full confirmation of the occupation of
Nashville by the Federals. The Secretary of War
had received a despatch from General Buell
announcing the fact that his troops had taken pos-
session. The Confederates were stated to have
abandoned everything in their flight, and a vast
amount of stores had fallen into the hands of the
Federal troops. The Union sentiment was repre-
sented as being very strong in Nashville.
A despatch to the Chicago Tribune says :
" The rebel army, in their retreat from Nash-
ville, left 1,600 sick and wounded, destroyed all the
badges, burned all thn gataarnbocata but *Jur, which
escaped. The Texans fired the city in many places,
but the citizens extinguished the flames. The great
majority of the property-owners remained. The
excitement was intense. Governor Harris made a
speech, and said that he had done all he could, and
he was going to leave, and advised them to follow."
The St. Louis _Democrat has a despatch dated
Clarksville, the 26th inst., which says :
" The rebel soldiers, before leaving Nashville,
plundered many dwellings and business houses, and
excited great alarm among the people. Several re-
bels were shot by the citizens whom they were rob-
bing. General Nelson is in command at Nashville,
General Buell being still on the north side of the
river. The Union sentiment is very strong, and
our troops are received with the greatest cordiality.
Great indignation is expressed against Governor
Harris, who was fairly driven away by the Union
men, they having become bold at the proximity of
the Union troops, and daring to assert their
rights. Before leaving Governor Harris made a
speech, recommending the citizens to burn their
private property, and calling on Tennesseeans to
rally and meet him at Memphis, but no one
paid any attention to him, and it is thought he will
not receive any considerable reinforcements. Gen.
Crittenden's command had joined General Johnson
at Murfreesboro. The railroad bridge at Nashville
had been destroyed by order of General Floyd (the
thief), against the urgent entreaties of the citizens.
The destruction of the bridge caused much indig-
nation."

The Confederates are said to meditate the evacua-
tion of Columbus. The following are the authori-
ties for the statement :

" St. Louis, Friday, Feb. 28.
" The Memphis papers of the 19th inst. say that
General Polk issued orders yesterday that the track
of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad should be torn
up preparatory to the evacuation of Columbus,
and the demolition of the fortifications
there. The Columbus forces are to fall back to
Island No. 10, about 45 miles below Columbus,
which, it is said, comp:etely commands the river,
and can be fortified with heavy guns, and made
impregnable against any river attack.
" CAIRO, Friday, Feb. 28.

" We learn from a gentleman thoroughly conver-
sant with Kentucky, that the rebels are dismount-
ing their large guns at Columbus, and that the
work of evacuation is now going on. Several
transports are lying at Columbus to carry off the
troops. Every man coming into Columbus is im-
pressed ; even farmers with their teams. Several
hundred negroes were sent into the interior yester-
day. This is from a reliable source.
" The Confederate War Department has called on
Tennessee for 32 regiments.
"An official despatch received at Knoxville,says,
that an ample force will advance from Richmond
to protect East Tennessee.
,‘ Governor Harris has taken the field in person.
The report of General Beauregard's illness is un-
founded. He left Corinth for Columbus on the 19th.
s, The Memphis Avalanche of the 24th says :--
Persons reported to have left General Johnston's
command say that he entertains no doubt of his
ability to enter Nashville whenever he wished to
do so.'

" A. special to the Chicago Tribune, dated Cairo,
February 28, states :

report from Murfreesboro states that the
rebels have concentrated at that place, and that
General Buell had surrounded them so that none
could escape. The rebels offered to surrender their
position if allowed to march out with the honours
of war. General Buell refused, and demanded an
unconditional surrender, and said that he would
allow two days for consideration, and if the place
was not surrendered at the expiration of that time
he would open fire upon them. The time expired
this morning."

From St. Louis we learn that Gen. Halleck, in
a general order, states that sufficient information
had been received that the enemy, in evacuating

Mudtown, Arkansas, poisoned the provisions they
were obliged to abandon, and that 42 officers and
men were poisoned by eating the same, He says
" We cannot retaliate by adopting the same bar-
barous mode of warfare, nor can we retaliate by
punishing the innocent for the guilty. The laws
of war forbid this. But the same code authorises
us to retaliate upon the guilty parties. Persons
guilty of such acts, when captured, will not be
treated as ordinary prisoners of war ; nor will
they be shot, but suffer the ignominious punish-
ment of being hung as felons. Officers, of troops
guilty of such acts, although not tinemselves the
advisers or abetters of the crime, will,
when captured, be put in irons, and conveyed
as criminals to these head-oraarters. The laws of
war make it their duty to prevent such barbarities.
If they neglect their ditty they must suffer the con-
sequences."
A flag of truce from General Johnston to General
M'Clellan had given rise to a variety of reports of
the intended submission of the Confederate Govern-
ment. The negotiation referred merely to an ex-
change of prisoners, and had no connexion with
any offer of compromise or submission.
Mr. Seward having been informed of the existence
of a democratic club in Philadelphia, the purpose of
which was to nominate him for the next Presidency,
has addressed a letter to one of its officers stating
that when the present civil war was looming up he
deliberately renounced ail ambition, and came into
the Executive Government to aid in saving the Con-
stitution and the integrity of the country, or perish
with them. He had renounced all expectation of
future personal advantage, and he therefore not only
asked, but peremptorily required, his friends to drop
his name thenceforth and for ever from among those
to whom they looked as possible candidates for
national distinction and preferment.