The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-31 00:00:00

C. A. DANA, Assistant Secretary of War

FORTRESS MONROE, Jan. 17.
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy,—
The Altantic is just in from Wilmington.
Fort Fisher and the works on Federal Point are

in our possession.
The assault was made by the army and sailors on
Sunday afternoon, and by 11 p.hl. the works were
ours.

The losses are heavy.
Lieut. S. W. Preston and B. H. Porter, of the
navy, are killed.
Our captures were 72 guns and about 2,500
prisoners.

Generals Whiting and Lamb (rebels) are priso
ners and wounded.
The Vanderbilt is on her way North with
despatches.
Two 15-inch guns burst on the monitors.
(Signed) E. T. NicHoLs, Commander.
There are rumours that General Grant is extend-
ing his left wing with a view of making an impor-
tant offensive movement. Confederate accounts
represent that the railroad from City Point to his
left and centre has lately been running both night
and day. General Ord continues in temporary
command of the troops north of the James river,
and General Heckman, during the absence of Ge-
neral Weitzel, is in command of the 25th Corps
(coloured). Deserters report still that Lee has
recently sent troops to South Carolina to oppose
Sherman. Richmond papers state that Grant has
recently been reinforced by a large number of well-
drilled negro troops. The same journals admit
that the recent heavy rains have injured to a con-
siderable extent the defences of Petersburg.
Further details of the late Confederate capturerof
Beverley, West Virginia, show that the attack was
made at daylight by Wickham's brigade of Rosser's
cavalry. The Federals, after a short but desperate
resistance, surrendered the town. About 400 of
them were made prisoners.
General Hood's army is said to be still at Corinth,
Mississippi, and Thomas's army is at Clifton, Ten-
nessee, on the Tennessee river, near Florence. The
troops were well supplied, but no military active
operations were expected for a few days, as the
roads were in very bad condition.
There is no further news from Sherman's army.
The main body of his troops are supposed to be
still at Savannah and Beaufort.
It is announced that the Confederates have an-
other ram nearly ready for service in the Roanoke

river.
Arkansas advices confirm previous reports of the
evacuation of several points by the Federal forces,
among them Fort Smith and Van Buren. Twelve
strong block houses were being built along the line
of the Pacific railroad to prevent Confederate raids
from Arkansas into Missouri. It seems impossible
to ascertain positively the truth or falsehood of the
recent reports of the death of General Price. One
account states he is positively dead and that Gene-
ral Fagin has been appointed his successor. Other
despatches represent him to be still alive and in
command of a large force near Pocahontas.
In
.Missouri the Home Guards are vigorously
pursuing a war of extermination against the
numerous bands „
the state. of guerillas scattered throughout
General Canby
in seven to be made
ordered a draft for one man
Arkansas, Lo inauisia,nae in his department, comprising
and Mississippi, on the 15th
of February, unless 'the quotas shall have been pre-
viously filled by volunteers,
also issued a very stringent order General Canby has
order
against trade with
the insurrectionary districts,
are to be furnished
the Federal lines to sell products are coming into
with protection and requisite
trade
la ; but when
found violating the laws contrabandagainsttheir property
they are to be severely punished, and
confiscated. y
Communication is to be established between San
Francisco and Salt Lake City by means of a road
the Colorado river, and thence by steamers to
Lake. The opening of this new route is ex-
pected to aid greatly in developing the resources of
Utah. _ _

The New York Times of to-day, in a special
despatch from Washington, dated 16th January,
says :---
" Francis P. Blair, sen., returned from Richmond