The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-08 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

NEW YORK, JUNE 24.

(Per. Africa via Queenstown.)

The steamship Etna arrived at New York, and
the Arabia at Halifax, June 24.
The following have been received concerning the
reported battle at Charleston :

Fortress Monroe, Juno 23, 8.30 a.m.
The Metamora arrived from City Point late last
night.

The Richmond papers of Saturday contain a brief
account of a bloody battle fought on Monday last
between five Federal regiments and a battery of
Parrott guns, and parts of four Confederate regi-
ments and a battery. The battle lasted all day,
with heavy loss on both sides.
The Charleston Mercury feared the battle would
bo renewed the next day, and expressed apprehen-
sions for the safety of the city in consequence of the
great exl.austion of the Southern troops and the
loss of many officers.

Memphis, June 21.
A special despatch to the Augusta papers from
Charleston, on the 16th June, says :
" A severe battle took place this morning on
James Island, four miles from this city. Five re-
giments of Federals with artillery attacked our
batteries at Secessionville. Colonel Lamar com-
manded the Confederates, and with a few hundred
men repulsed the enemy three times with great
slaughter. The enemy fought bravely, but was
defeated. Our victory was complete. The enemy's
loss is supposed to be about 400, including 30 pri-
soners. Our loss is estimated at from 50 to 100.
Colonel Lamar was wounded. Captains Reed and
Xing and Lieutenant Edwards were killed. The
attack will soon be renewed. The Confederates are
much exhausted by the previous shelling of the
enemy day and night for a week."
The Charleston Mercury of the 17th says :—" The
Confederate loss at Secessionville yesterday was 40
killed and 100 wounded. We buried on the field
100 Federals and took 40 prisoners.

The following despatches have been received
from General INl'Clellan's head-quarters:—

Major-Gen. M'Clellan's Head-quarters, June 22.

The Richmond papers of yesterday contain a
despatch from Montgomery, Alabama, dated the
17th, stating that General Beaureurd and staff
had arrived there on their way to Richmond,
and it was said they were to be followed by a large
portion of the army of the Mississippi, and that a
sufficient force had been left under the invincible
Bragg to check any advance of the Vandals under
HaHeck.

The Charleston Mercury of the 18th gives a
graphic description of an engagement on James
Island, in which it acknowledges a severe loss on
both sides without any material change in position.
" Fortress Monroe, June 21.

"We learn to-day from the army of the Potomac
that quite a skirmish took place on the 19th June
between the 20th Indiana Regiment in General
Kearney's division and the rebels, which lasted
for more than an hour.
" The Indiana boys stood their ground, and sus-
tained very slight loss. Lieut. Carr, Ist Company,
and three privates were wounded. In the after-
noon the regiment was complimented by General
Kearney for its bravery and discipline. This is the
regiment that was nearly sacrificed at Chicamico-
mico, North Carolina, early in the operations on
that coast, under Colonel Hawkins, and which has
been until lately attached to Gen. Wood's division."
(" Official.)

" Washington, June 21, War Department.

" Order to Encourage Enlistments.

"Pursuant to a joint resolution of Congress to
encourage enlistments in the regular army and vo-
lunteer forces, it is ordered that a premium of two
dollars shall be paid for each accepted recruit that
volunteers for three years or during the war, and
every soldier who hereafter enlists either in the
regular army or the volunteers for three years or
during the war may receive his first month's pay
in advance upon the mustering of his company into
the service of the United States, or after he shall
have been mustered into and joined a regiment
already in the service.
" This order will be transmitted to governors of
states and recruiting officers.
" E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War."

Despatches from Corinth state that the railroad
from that place is open to about eight miles from
Grand Junction, and it was expected that the road
would be open to Columbus and Memphis by the
25th June.

It is positively stated that General Beauregard
turned over his command to General Bragg on the
15th June. General Beauregard left for Montgo-
mery, where he arrived on the 17th, accompanied
only by his personal staff, One report states that
he goes to take command at Richmond, and another
that he goes to Richmond to explain the cause of
the evacuation of Corinth.
The Federal commander at Memphis had issued
an order requiring the board of aldermen, mayor,
recorder, and all other city officials to take the
oath of allegiance within three days, and in default
they will be regarded as sympathisers with seces-
sion, and treated as traitors.
The following is a further account of the fight
with the rebel battery on White River :
" Memphis, June 19.

"On the 17th the gunboats St. Louis, Mound
City, Lexington, and Conestoga, and the transport
New National, having on board the 46th Indiana
Regiment, Colonel Fitch, which left here a week
ago to open communications with the army of
General Curtis and remove the obstructions from
White River, ascended that stream. The gunboat
Mound City, Captain Kelly commanding, was about
a mile and a half in advance.
"In the bend of the city, near St. Charles, two
concealed batteries opened on the Mound City.
Her decks were immediately cleared for action, and
as soon as the range of the rebel works could be
obtained, the Mound Cityopened her guns upon
them. Capt. Kelly meantime signalled to Colonel
Fitch to land forcehtmpli
be
s belowd the fort, which was
successfully accomplished.
" The Lexington and St. Louis shelled the works,
under cover of which Col. Fitch
the rebel position. At this juncture
the rear of
tbe a ball from a
rebel gun on the Bluff struckforward and port
the
side of the Mound City, penetrating
ethasemates,
and passing through the steam dram of
which immediately became filled with the
escaping
vessel,
vapour. Nearly every one on board the Mound
City was scalded ; only 23 of the officers and
crew
escaped out of 175 scalded. The scene which ensued
was Terrible in the extreme. Many of the crew,
frantic with pain, jamped overboard and
were
drowned. Boats from the Conestoga, which was
coming up at the time to support the Mound City,
were sent to their relief, but the rebels fired on the
men in the water with grape and canister from their
field-pieces, murdering most of those who were at
tempting to escape. Being apprised of the state of
affairs in the river, Cal. Fitch with his regiment
pushed forward and carried the fort by storm at the
point of the bayonet. The rebel works consisted
of two batteries, the lower one mounting six field-
pieces, and the upper one three heavy field pieces,
managed by from 400 to 500 men, under the com-
mand of Col. Frye, late of the United States navy.
About 200 of the rebels are said to have escaped.
Over 150 are reported killed and wounded, and 30
taken prisoners. Among the prisoners is Colonel
Frye, who was wounded in the shoulder.
" From 80 to 100 of our sailors have been buried,
and over 20 are missing. Coy. Fitch reports but
few of his men wounded and none killed, and but
for the unfortunate accident on board the Mound
City the rebel works would have been carried with-
out loss on our
side." _ .

The followin,,
has been receiv'ednienws, dated Aspinwall, June 14,
at T
Aspinwall, On the sth June
44 mosquera has ti.e York- :
w last concluded to bring the
Isthmus under his
own control.
A schooner arrived at bringing 80 sol-
'liers, and on the 7th an additional force of 130
msore in another schooner, all under
i the command of
C 6 4. Santacolonia. According to h
proceed
announce-
me, at these troops were only to
Pan tuna on their way to BnenaLete: through
Govt rnorl of Panama having information t'hbautt, the
objec t was to take possession of Fanama, re„,:eullteira
Col.l'rotten, agent of the Pacific Railroad, not to-