The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-07 00:00:00

THE CIV.

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.
The North American, from Quebc:e on the 26th
ult., has arrived here. A brief summary of her ad-
vices, recieved via Londonderry, has' already been
published.

- The New Fork Herald of the 4,-Ath ult. thus
speaks of the situation of affairs at tlaat date :
" Leesburg is in the hands of the Union troops.
The, advance of Gen. Stone towardf; that place on
Monday, and Gen. Banks across the Potomac on
Tuesday, is considered by military 3,n e n a decisive
success, although it cost the Unionists the loss of a
gallant general and a colonel. The thither develop-
ment of the movement substantiates this idea, as
our despatches show that Leesburg is in the hands
of the Union troops, the Secession;ists apparently
having evacuated the place and fallen back, as no
further resistance was met with. Gen. M'Clellan
was present at Gen. Banks's headquarters during
the Union advance.

" A smart and successful contest took place at
Lynn Creek, Missouri, on the 17th, and Major
Wright's advance from Rolla to that place has been
satisfactory in its results.
" Gen. Price, the Secessionist, was last heard from
in the neighbourhood of Greenfield, still going fur-
ther south with his forces.
"A portion of Gen. Polk's forces, it is said, had
been diverted from their usual locations, and sent to
New Orleans and Mobile, and that only COO Seces-
sionists were with him in Kentucky. This state-
ment, although probable, has nothing but rumour
to substantiate it, and may need confirmation.
" A reconnaissance in force was made yesterday in
the neighbourhood of Fairfax Court-house by Gen.
Blanker. The result showed that no body of Seces-
sionist troops of consequence was in that neighbour-
hood, but that they had retired further back from
our lines.

" The accounts received last night plainly demon-
strated the fact that a general retreating movement
is being made by the Secessionists from the northern
boundaries of what they claim as the present limits
of the Confederacy. General Polk's force in Ken-
tucky, General Price's in Missouri, Gen. Gustavus
A. Smith's at Leesburg, and General Beauregard's
at Fairfax Court-house, have all gone backwards,
and the Union army is slowly but surely advancing
to take their position. General Baker's funeral
will take place to-day at the capital. The general
order announcing his death pays a just tribute to his
memory, and says, " he died as a soldier would wish
to die, amid the shock of battle," &c., and that his
manner of death might well be envied by any and
all of his brothers in arms. _ _

" A gentleman from Memphis arrived at Paducah
yesterday, and reported that the arsenal and cannon
foundry at that place had been a few days since de-
stroyed by fire.
"With regard to the removal of General Fremont,
it appears that the Cabinet did not make any deci-
sive action relative thereto ; but left the matter en-
tirely in the hands of the President."
The Washington Star says in regard to the recent
battle in which General Baker was killed, the attack
was commenced by the enemy on our right, but was
soon directed more heavily on the centre and left.
Three times the line made an advance, but were
obliged to return ; but the right was better pro-
tected and held their position. Orders came from
General Baker to throw two companies of the sth
Massachusetts to the centre, which was immediately
executed. The left was hard pressed, but remained
firm. In a short time it became evident the day was
lost, and an order was issued to transfer the 15th
Massachusetts from the right to the left, which was
executed as at a battalion drill. Colonel Cogwell
soon became satisfied of the impossibility of reach-
ing Edward's Ferry as desired, and gave an order to
fall back towards the river, which was executed as
well as the circumstances would permit. They
reached the river bank about 20 minutes before
nightfall. Here the 15th deployed as skirmishers
along the shore, and the only means of conveyance
to the island was a large boat, which was over-
crowded, and swamped. Those who could
swim plunged into the river—those carrying their
arms who could, and others throwing them into the
water, Some escaped by availing themselves of the
darkness and the heavily-wooded banks, but several
are' known to have been drowned in the river. The
Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press is officially informed that only a portion of
General Banks's division was thrown across the
river on Tuesday, and they now command both sides
of the ferry.
At the consultation between Generals M'Clellan,
Banks, and Stone, it was decided that there was
force enough in Virginia to meet any emergency,
and those on the Maryland side were not to be
moved across.
A Key West letter of the 20th reports the arrival
at Havana on the 16th of the Secessionist steamer
Theodora, from Charleston, with the French Consul
and family, and Messrs. Mason and Sliddell, Com-
missioners to France and England.
The steamer Salver, from Havana with contra-
band goods, was captured as she was entering
Jampa Bay, by the Keystone State, and towed to
Key West.
The brig Granada, from Mievitas, for New York,
was taken as a prize by the privateer Sally, off
Charleston, on the 13th inst.
Details of the fight at Santa Rosa Island say that
the Secessionist forces, 1,500 strong landed' about
2 a.m. They partly surprised Wilson's Zouaves ;
the picket guard, about 600 yards off, discovered
and fired upon them, giving the alarm, and saving
the regiment from annihilation. The Zouaves were
badly managed, and Billy Wilson is very much cen-
sured. The regiment lost 10 killed and 16 wounded,
and nine prisoners. The Secessionist loss, by their
own statement, is 350 killed, wounded, and missing.
The Union troops took 35 prisoners.
The following telegrams are taken from the
Quebec journals of the 26th ult.:—
NEW Youx, Oct. 25.—The amount of our loss by
the collision at Edward's Ferry is already ;educed to
600, and men who evaded pursuit are still coming in.
The residue are in a good part prisoners. Neither
Generals 111'Clellan nor Stone contemplated any
such movement as that which led to this reverse.
The loss of two of our scouts ;prevented reinforce-
ments crossing to support our troops.
On Wednesday it was reported that a large body
of Secessionists was advancing upon our troops
from above and below. At first it was decided to
make a stand, but finally, it was thought advisable
to retire from the Virginia shore, which was done
in good order.
The navigation of the Potomac is entirely closed,
except for a very few most adventurous boats,
which are willing to run the risk.
It is stated that by reason of the blockade of the
river the supply of forage for our army is running

short.
The _Richmond Examiner of the 17th states that
the Secessionist army had evacuated Fairfax Court-
house on the night of the 13th.
General -APClcllan communicates the fact that
Colonel Brown made all arrangements to open bat-
teries upon Pensacola on the 16th, but was pre-
vented by the affair at the mouth of the Mississippi,
which rendered necessary that two ships, which
were to have taken part in the action, had to go to
aid the fleet there.
" Our forces are all on the Maryland side of the
Potomac, and are in good condition. The check at
Ball's Bluff has not had the least disheartening
effect upon the Government."
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 25.—A gentleman from General
Siegel's advanced post reports that General Price
had left Cedar County, and was retreating towards
Greenfield. General Siegel's advance guard was
near Bolivar on Tuesday evening, and his main
body at Quincy.
General Lane's forces were at Osceola, and Gene-
Stlargo'o entire command was one day's BArch