The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-22 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
The Royal mail steamship Persia, Captain Lott,
which sailed from New York on the 10th instant,
arrived in the Mersey this evening, via Queens-
town, where she called to land mails and passengers,
and a summary .of her news telegraphed from
thence has already appeared.
A Washington telegram of the 9th, 11.45 p.m.,

says 7.
" The news from the front to-day is altogether
of a negative character. The reconnoissances made
have failed to find the enemy in such force on the
Maryland side as has been represented. They are
occupying the principal points from the mouth of
Seneca Creek to Frederick, and westward Hagers-
town, and eastward as far as the vicinity of Elli-
cott's Mills, within 12 miles of Baltimore. Within
this range they have possession of three fords across
the Potomac, and they appear to be industriously

obtaining and sending into Virginia all the supplies
they can find ; large quantities of horses, cattle,
forage, and breadstnifs, have been procured in the
fertile counties of Montgomery, Frederick, Wash-
ington, Howard, and Baltimore. All these things
are sent rapidly across the Potomac into Virginia.
" The whole rebel force that has passed north-
ward, through Frederick, does not exceed 15,000.
They represent that they are only the advanced
guard of 150,000, who have crossed into Mary-
land, but they have not yet been found. It
is definitely ascertained, however, that as many as
150,000 have come to the banks of the Potomac ;
and the impression prevails that they are trying a
piece of strategy, foraging expeditiously in Mary-
land, while their forces are massed in the vicinity
of the fords, ready to come down either side of the
river when they can draw the army of General
111‘Clellan far enough away from the capital to leave
a clear roadway to Washington.

"The rebel reconnoissances have induced the belief
that the rebel visit to Maryland is only a bold dash
for foraging, with the hope of arousing the seces-
sionists there, and of decoying General M'Clellan's
army away from Washington. In all respects,
except obtaining forage, the movement is a failure.
The Maryland secessionists outside of the rebel
lines manifest less disposition to rise than ever ;
and General M'Clellan is too wary to be entrapped
by the enemy."
The New York 7arnee of the 10th says :

" The accounts of the position and numbers of the
rebels in Maryland are still conflicting, so much so
that the contradictions can hardly be reconciled,
except under the supposition that the several divi-
sions of the rebels have gone in different directions.
We are assured on the one hand that Jackson is on
his way with a heavy force to Gettysburgh, Penn-
sylvania, so as to be within striking distance of
Chambersburgh and York, while on the other hand
it is asserted that he has marched to Westminster,
And will move on Baltimore in that direction.
" The Waelangton National Intelligencer of
yesterday morning states that the rebels in great
force occupied the western bank of Seneca Creek,
from its mouth at the Potomac, 22 miles above
Washington, to Middlebrook Mills—a line some
Zen miles in extent. With regard to the position
of our own troops who, under General M'Clellan,
are following up the rebels, we have no information,
except that they are moving rapidly forward in
large force and confident spirits. A short time will
probably develop the whereabouts of both armies,
And enable us better to understand the position of

affairs.
A fight of some moment took place at Poolesville,
on Monday afternoon, between a rebel regiment of
cavalry and the 3d Indiana and a portion of the Bth
Illinois cavalry, in which the rebel forces were
defeated and put to rout, leaving several dead on
the field. The enemy were supported by one piece
of Artillery, while our forces had two.
"In view of the invasion of Maryland Governor
Bradford has issued a proclamation calling upon
the citizens to enrol themselves at once in military
organisations.
"An important announcement will be found in
our letter from Port Royal this morning. Simul-
taneously with the return of General Hunter from
the department we receive the assurance that his
policy with regard to the negroes has been adopted
by the President, that five negro regiments are to
be raised, armed, and uniformed for the service of
the United States, and that 50,000 in addition are
to be enrolled, to be employed in the quartermas-
ter's department, nominally as labourers, but
organised into companies, and uniformed. The
exact time of commencing the work of enlisting the
coloured recruits our correspondent is not able to
state, but it is expected to be soon. General Sastor
is to visit Washington by the next steamer for con-
imitation with the President on the subject.
We learn by way of Louisville that on Thurs-
day last a foraging party of our troops from Cum-
berland Gap encountered a party of rebels, 7 miles
distant, and defeated them after a sharp skirmish,
in which we lost one killed and three wounded.
The rebels suffered considerable loss, as they were
exposed to a raking fire from a 32-pounder. We
have also a rumour from Louisville that General
T. S. Crittenden has encountered and vanquished a
portion of General Bragg's force, near Gallatin,
Tennesitee. Another rumour says that Bragg's
entire forces are crossing the Cumberland River
with a vioy to the invasion of Northern Kentucky.
" A report comes to us from Helena, Arkansas,
that General I?.oseneranz had made an attack upon
the rebels at Tupello, on the Mobile and Ohio Rail-
road below Corinth, and had been decisively re-
pulsed. The report probably comes from the rebels.
" Thicorrespondent of the Chwago 7zmes at Cairo
still insists upon the truth of the report that Gen.
Buell has fought and won a great battle. The story,
ve says, was brought to General Ross's headquar-
tei *a at Jackson, by a special messenger from Tus-
cum bia. The messenger had seen the dispatches
hinisclf. Since then information has been re-
ceived a General Grant's headquarters at Corinth,
as I learn from parties direct from there, that
General Thiell has had heavy skirmishing with
the enemy fbr some days ; that he has been gene-
rally successful, and that he and his entire army
were in excellent spirits, and apprehended no dan-
ger from the enemy. These circumstances would in-
dicate that Gen. Buell had had some opportunity of
i'eeling the enemy., "
The New York Herald of the 9th (evening) says :
The rebel force now in Maryland is estimated
as fa lows :=—lnfantry and artillery, 80,000 ; cavalry
8,000 f. artillery pieces, 150.
" A statement is also made that the younger Gen.

Bill wile. on his way to Harper's Ferry from Lees-
;tiurg, with. an additional force of 30,000. The rebel
ar vies combined in Maryland would thus make a
force of nearly 120,000 strong.
gi Die rebels, finding the canal bridge at Nolan's
Ferry destroyed, opened e. crevasse in the bank and
let the water out of the canal.
More than two-thirds of • the rebel soldiery in
bare foot. Very
A4laryland are -6w of the cavalry
ha ye shoes.
of Roc a
point. Rocks
bas been evacuated and the
Unioo troops, with all the Government stores and
guns, 11,0 e been removed to Harper's Ferry.
" Hariles Ferry is considered safe,
and is said to
be able to withstand any force that can be brought

against. it...
" The rebefg were reported to have entered the
.State of Pennsylvania near Hanover on the Bth, and
G'en. Andrew Porter had offered his services to Go-
vel-nor Curtin to protect the State at that point,
The intention of the enemy was said to be to cut off
the Western Central. Pennsylvania Railroad, and
then t'.o move on Baltimore and Washington. The
rapid action of our forces, however, may spoil their
plans. 'Later accounts place the rebel cavalry scouts
at Getty9tmrg, Pennsylvania, and rumour says they
are advancing under the stars and stripes proclaim-
ing that they are fighting to restore the Union as it
was, &c. The utmost vigilance is exercised, and
prompt arrangements are being manifested at Balti-
more to repel any attack of the rebels upon that
city. From Fortress Monroe it is reported that the
Merrimac No. 2 has been seen below Port Darling
ort News. Rumours 'were
',raking towards Newphed the reac vicinity New_
provalent that she had
Port *Sews, and had an encounter with two of ow
Bun bcgtts, driving them bv(ore her. All the ship.