The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-01 00:00:00

A.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF LONDON.
NEW YORK, FEB. 18 (Morning).
Small bands of Confederate cavalry are threat-
ening the suburbs of Nashville.

Thomas has arrived at New Orleans. Price is
reported to have 9,000 men, mostly Texas cavalry.
His headquarters are at Bonham Texas, south of
the Red River.

It is reported via Cairo that Price has gone to
Mexico, on a confidential mission, under the orders
of Kirby Smith.

Kirby Smith is still at Shreeveport, Louisiana

His force is estimated at 38,000 men. Many are
scattered for foraging purposes, and it is believed
that they could not be concentrated this season for

want of transportation.

Magruder is at Camden, Arkansas. He has
20,000 men on his muster rolls, two-thirds of them
being effective. Palmer has been appointed to the
command of the department of iKentucky.
The bill to enrol negroes into military service was
to have been taken up by the Confederate Congress
on the 15th.

Captain Beales, the Lake Erie pirate, who was
have been hung to-day, is respited.

The majority report of the judiciary committee of
the Kentucky State Senate recommends the rejec-
tion of the constitutional amendment. The minority
report insists on compensation as a condition to
precede the ratification.
Lincoln has called an extraordinary session of the
Senate to assemble on the 4th March, to receive and
act upon such communications as may be made on
the part of the Executive. _

At a meeting of loyar Georgians, held at York,
resolutions were passed urging the people of Georgia
to submit unconditionally to the Union.

The proposition to strike out the word " white"
in the qualifications requisite to become a member
of the Missouri Legislature has been defeated in the
State Convention. The proposition to permit
coloured persons to vote at the poll office was also
defeated.

General Mejia has arranged to return all refugee•
'rom Texas to be drafted into the Confederate army.

fie says that he acts under instructions from the
Emperor Maximilian.
General Canby threatens to retaliate by holding
Mexican officers as hostages.
A new order entitled, the Mexican Eagle, has
been cre%ted by Maximilian.

The Frenchmen entering Mexico are ordered to
register themselves.
Cortinas has left on a campaign against Cara-
vagal and Mendez.
It is stated that 5,000 waggons are regularly
employed in hauling cotton from Texas to the Rio
Grand, whence they return with supplies from

Mexico.
The World says the elevation of Lee is a step
towards a more resolute and defiant resistance, and
the most serious part of our military work still lies
directly before us.
According to the Montreal Telegraph, complete
official documents have been received to prove the
St. Albans raiders as lawful belligerants.

General Sherman has reached the south bank of
the Gongaree, a few miles east of Columbia. The
Confederates retreated to the north bank. A battle
is imminent. Northern accounts state that Sherman
captured Branchville after three days' fighting, while
Southern reports assert that it was evacuated with-
out fighting.

President Lincoln has summoned an extraordi
nary session of the Senate for the 4th of March.

Gold, 2041.
The Senate has refused an appropriation for the

Niagara ship canal.

Congress has passed a bill for the establishment
of a mail steamship line between San Francisco and

China.

The Congressional committee has recommended
:he admission of claimants to seats from Arkansas

and Louisiana.

The House of Representatives has passed a bill
for taxing sales at half per cent. and levying an in-
ternal revenue tax of eight cents on cotton. Mr.
Stevens's amendment for a tax of 10 per cent. on
gold sales, except for duties, interest on the public
debt, or exportation, was adopted in committee of
the whole, but it is supposed that it will be rejected
in the House.

The Virginian Congressional delegation who re-
commended the reconstruction of Davis's Cabinet,
have issued a report. Referring to Davis's letter to
Mr. Seddon, they express regret that their advice
was repelled in such a manner, but declare their
unwillingness to provoke a resentful controversy.
Nearly all the cotton fleet has arrived at New
York from Savannah.
The Tallahassee has arrived at Nassau.
The correspondent of the Herald states that the
Governor has refused permission to the Federal
gunboat Honduras to anchor at Nassau.
The British bark John Parkins has been wrecked
off Honduras.

The steamer Constitution sailed from San Fran-
cisco on the 13th inst., for Panama, with $1,300,000
in specie, of which $BOO,OOO are for New York.
Kelly, one of the parties engaged in the seizure
of the Chesapeake, has been arrested at St. John's,
New Brunswick.

A courier from General Sherman to Admiral
Porter has arrived at Smithville, having ridden

across the country. He announces the capture of
Branchville on the Bth inst., by Sherman, after
three days' hard fighting.
_ _

Southern papers do not mention any battle, but
state that in consequence of the Federal occupation
of Orangeburg, Branchville was abandoned. Gen.
Beauregard has taken up a new line to cover
Columbia.

The Richmond Despatch of the 15th instant says
that when Sherman's main army advanced towards
Branchville and Charleston he sent Kilpatrick's
Cavalry to demonstrate against Augusta, and
destroy the Charleston and Augusta Railroad. On
Friday last Wheeler attacked Kilpatrick at Aiken,
20. miles north-east of Augusta, and after a severe
engagement drove him five miles towards Branch-
ville. Our troops by this time have doubtless fallen
back to the Gongaree, and if they fall back behind
that river, the enemy will be able to shell that river
from the South Bank. The Gongaree and its
tributary the Saluta are easily fordable above the
city.

The very latest Richmond despatches state that
Sherman's advanced forces have reached the south
bank of the Gongaree, a few miles east of Columbia
the Confederates falling back to the north bank of
the river. A battle was imminent.

Annapolis despatches of yesterday announce the
arrival of a flag of truce steamer from Richmond.
At the time of her departure rumours were current
in Richmond that Sherman had been checked and
Beauregard killed. These reports are unreliable.
It is reported that 20,000 Federals under Schole-
field have landed at Newbern, and are advancing
into North Carolina to reconstruct the railroad
from Kingston to tht Atlantic.

According to the World Scholefield's corps has
landed at Masonboro, thus closely besieging Wil-
mington and avoiding the march up the peninsula.
The result Of the reconnaissance at Wilmington