The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-05 00:00:00

AMERICA,

The Asia arrived last night with advices from
IVcw York to the 23d.
The steamship St. Louis left San Francisco on
the 11th with 1,864,000 doll. on freight.
Lord Lyons had forwarded to all the British Con-
suls in the Southern States the following letter, en-
closing another from Secretary Seward which are
,not without interest just now :
" Washington, Oct. 16.
" Sir,—On the 11th of May last I made to her
l‘lajesty's Consuls in the Southern States the fol-
lowing announcement :

4" Neutral vessel will be allowed 15 days to leave
port after the actual commencement of the blockade,
whether such vessels are with or without cargoes,
and whether the cargoes were shipped before or after
the commencement of the blockade.'
" I enclose herewith a copy of a note which I
have received to-day from the Secretary of State of
the United States, and in which he informs me that
the law of blockade, which does not permit a vessel
in a blockaded port to take on board cargo after the
commencement of the blockade, will be expected to
be strictly observed by all vessels in ports block-
aded by the naval forces of the United States.
" You will take note of this communication of
the Secretary of State, for your own guidance and
that of the masters of British vessels; and you will
mark carefully, and report to me, the exact date at
which the present despatch arid its enclosure reach
you.
"„You will, without delay, send copies of this
despatch and its enclosure to your Vice-Consuls, for
their information and guidance.
"I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
" Toler Majesty's Consul at " LYONS.
'Department of State, Washington, Oct. 16.
My Lord,—The Judge of the Court of the
United States for the southern district of New
York, having recently decided, after elaborate argu-
ment of counsel, that the law of blockade does not
permit a vessel in a blockaded port to take on board
cargo after the commencement of the blockade, with
a view to avoid any future misunderstanding upon
this subject, you are informed that the law, as thus
interpreted by the judge, will be expected to be
strictly observed by all vessels in ports of insurgent
States during their blockade by the naval forces of
the United States.—l avail myself, &c.,
" The Right Hon. Lord Lyons."

°" WILLIAM H. SEWARD:

The reports respecting the decision of the Cabinet
in reference to General Fremont were very contra-
dictory. Some accounts state that he was to be
superseded by General Hunter, on account of his
extravagance, but the most reliable would lead us
to:believe that it had been determined not to inter-
fere:with him for the present.
The British schooner Argonaut, seized by a
Federal cruiser off Hatteras Inlet, under the sup-
position that she was attempting to break the
blockade, had been released by the United States'
District Court, it having been proved that she put
into the inlet for water and lights.
On the subject of communication with the South
the New York Tribune says :

6; An English gentleman who cane recently from
the Southern States brought several private letters
from persons there to be forwarded to friends in
England. This was done upon condition that they
should be brought through unsealed and submitted
to Lord Lyons, The British Minister, however,
thought it proper to have them pass through the
hands of the Secretary of State, who, after examin-
ing them, permitted them to be sent, as originally
intended.'

The American manufacturers and goods agents
were keeping a keen look out to prevent the Federal
Government sending to England for supplies of
army clothing. The following is the despatch re-
ceived by the Secretary of War, on the 18th inst.,
from the Boston Board of Trade, and the answer of
General Meigs, United States' Quartermaster-
General, thereto :

" Boston, Oct. 18.
" To the Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War.
Sir,—Learning that an agent of the Government
has been sent to England for the purpose of pro-
curing supplies of clothing for the army, the Board
of Trade of this city, believing the step to be en-
tirely unnecessary, and prejudicial to the Govern-
ment and people, will immediately communicate
facts deemed conclusive upon this subject. The
undersigned requests that the instructions to said
agent may be revoked or suspended until this com-
munication be made.

" CHAS. C. NAYOR, Chairman."
The following is a copy of reply sent by tele.

graph :

" War Department, Oct. 19, 1861.
c, To Charles C. Nayor, Chairman of the Board of

Trade, gostOn, Massachusetts.

" The Secretary of War has been absent for 10
days past, and your telegraphic despatch has been
referred to me for attention. The Government, with
every exertion, has not been able to procure woollens
to clothe troops suffering in the field. They fill the
hospitals at great expense of life and of money. The
Government has instructed its agents to procure, not
largely, but only enough to meet the immediate and
pressing demands of the service. The goods ordered
will be made up in this country by our own people.
This supply, with what isnow making in the country,
it is hoped will relieve the distress among the troops,
and it is believed that full employment for all our
manufactories will yet remain to provide for the
wants of the Government and the country at large.
" The Government would deserve the execrations
of the people if it permitted its defenders to suffer
while waiting for increased productions here to meet
pressing wants of the army. You may rest as-
sured that the policy of the 'Secretary and of this
bureau is altogether in favour of using home manu-
factures, when it is possible to be done without
positive injury to the men in the field. If you can
aid us in this matter we should be glad to have
your assistance to this end.
" M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General."

Another report states that, it having become
known that a Federal agent (Thomas) had been de-
spatched to England by the Niagara to purchase
army clothing, the Board of Trade and Associated
Banks remonstrated with such vigour that an order
was transmitted to him, via Cape Race, counter-
manding the instructions. A later report states
that agents (Mr. G. P. Smith being one of them)
had been actually despatched to England with
credits to the amount of 1,000,000 dols.
The press was again becoming impatient for a
battle. The New York World says :
" The simultaneous announcement of the loss of
Colonel Baker and the retreat of a body of troops
before a superior force on the upper Potomac, and of
the closing of the river below Washington by the
rebel batteries, will deepen the prevalent impres-
sion of the necessity of an early battle. General
M'Clellan, of course, has a definite plan of opera-
tions, from which he will not be diverted except by
some unforeseen movement of the enemy. The clos-
ing of the Potomac has been so long threatened, and
was, moreover, an event so possible, and so likely
to occur, that all the military operations of the last
z weeks must have been concerted in full view of
Such_a contingency. The fact that new railroad
tracks have•not been laid, nor any extraordinary
means used to discover and dislodge the rebels on
the right bank of the river, cannot fairly be re-
garded as pro
of the Govern ing a lack of foresight on the part
of the Government. It ought rather to be accepted
RS an indication that a general battle at an early
day is an essentialcerti part of
Gen. M'Clellan's plan,
and that the
a
large
ot_he f victory is so great that no
apprehension is
permanent closing of the
Potomac. .
is to winter
at fieflt a certainty
eratrsmhy, with its thousands
of horses,
it
in t; with with a formi-
dable enemy menacing
rout, the loss of its
principal channel for reeeivint forage and military
y great calamity, the
supplies would indeed be a ver
failure to guard against which
beyb
enemy is tonal railroad facilities would jaitii4ing addi-
little short of a crime. Bat, if the
be
driven back into his stronghold and oYntisotf°
hi
stronghold at Manassas within the coming 10 days
the closing of the Potomac is a small matter, if the'
supplies of forage and provisions in Washington are
sufficient to carry the army through that interval.'
On the 10th, a Federal force under General Han.
cock made, a reconnaissance beyond Vienna, and
advanced to within a mile and a half of Fairfax
Court-house, whence a Confederate picket was ob-
served. Another reconnaissance, under General
M'Call, passed a mile and a half beyond Drainsville.
On the 21st Gen. Stone crossed the Potomac, with
one portion of his command at Edward's Ferry and
the other at Harrison's Island. Skirmishing began
between, the Confederates, in uncertain numbers,
and part of Gen. Stone's command as early as nine
o'clock in the morning, and continued without
much effect until about five o'clock in the afternoon,
when large reinforcements of the enemy appeared
"Pan the Federal right, which was commanded by
Colonel Baker. The Union fors engaged were
about I,nnA and posed to be fr-- were attacked by a force sup-
General Baker ce s)°°-° to 10,000. At this juncture
gallantly checti:
l at the head of his brigade, while
on his men to the conflict. Im-
mediately before ue 'ell he despatched Major

Young to General Stone to apprise him of the con-1
dition of affairs, and General Stone immediately
proceeded in person towards the right to take
command; but, in the confusion created by the fall
of Colonel Baker, the right wing sust ..ned a re•
pulse with considerable loss. Gen. St )i e reported
that the left wing retired in good order. A crossing
was also made at Edward's Ferry, and the Federal
troops occupied the Virginia side. A cavalry recon-
naissance was made from there in the direction of
Leesburg, and the 14th Mississippi Regiment was
encountered, but without loss. The most important
movement along the lines of Gen. M'Clellan's army
was the taking possession of Annandale, on the
Little River Turnpike, about 10 miles west of
Alexandria. Gen. M'Clellan had removed his head-
' quarters from Washington to the south side of the
Potomac.

On the 19th, as the Federal tugboat, the Reso-
lute, was towing up the Potomac a supply vessel,
the Confederate batteries opened upon them, and
the latter having got adrift was boarded and cap-
tured. The New J ork, Times remarks as follows
on the navigation of the Potomac :
" The entire distance from Quantice Creek to
Chopowamsic Creek is literally enfiladed with
miles of Confederate batteries. It is now beyond
question that the Potomac can be effectually
closed to our vessels whenever the rebels choose
to exercise their power. Transports do, indeed,
pass up at night under cover of the darkness or
a favouring fog, and our war vessels, sandwiched
between a couple of hay-barges, manage to
escape the raking fire; such are the humiliating
dodges to which we are compelled to resort! On
Saturday the flagship Union went down the river
from Washington, destined for Fortress Monroe.
To the mortification of the National authorities, she
was compelled to return, having found it impossible
to get past the formidable batteries which the Con-
federates had opened. the officers of these vessels,
moreover, announce that the guns were splendidly
aimed, and that the Confederates are able, at the
various points they command, to throw large-sized
rifled shell clean over into the Maryland side. On
the 22d, Commander Craven, of the Potomac squad-
ron, informed the Navy Department that the Con-
federate batteries were impassable, a formidable
battery at Matthias Point having been unmasked."
On the 21st an engagement, the result of which
was unknown, was taking place near Newport
News, between the Ist and 7th New York Regi-
ments, despatched from Fortress Monroe, and a
body of Confederates.
From Western Virginia we learn through the
Wheeling Intelligeneer that the campaign in Western
Virginia was virtually ended. General Rosecrans
had fallen back and taken a position on the Charles-
ton and Lewisburgh turnpike, a short distance
above the junction of New and Gauley Rivers. The
Confederate army appeared also to have retired
towards Lewisburgh.
It is reported from South-east Missouri that the
Confederates under Jefferson Thompson and Lowe
had been defeated at Fredericktown, and that Lowe
was killed,

General Todd has been assigned to the command
of the Union forces in North Missouri.

At Camp Wild, Kentucky, on the 21st, General
Zollicoffer, at the head of a body of Confederates,
attacked Gen. Gerard. Zollicoffer made three diffe-
rent attacks, but was each time repulsed with con-
siderable loss. The Federal loss was four killed and
20 wounded. So say the Northern accounts.
According to the St. Louis Democrat of the 20th,
Lexington had been reoccupied by the Federalists,
who surprised and defeated the garrison.
The Richmond Enquirer denies that the Nashville
had run the blockade of Charleston with the Con-
federate commissioner on board, and asserts that she
was in port on the 15th. This contradiction must,
of course, be received with caution.
The accounts of the naval engagement at the
mouth of the Mississippi are so incomprehensible
that we can do nothing but quote the latest reports
respecting it _ _ _

" New Orleans, Oct. 14.

" The expedition under Commander Hollins con-
sisted of the Manassas, the iron-clad marine batter-
ing ram, with one 64 pounder Dahlgren gun; the
steamer Calhoun (the flagship), with one 24 pounder
and two 18 pounder Dahlgren guns; the steamer
Ivey, with an 8 inch 32 pounder, rifled ; the steamer
Jackson, with two 8 inch columbiads ; the steamer
M'ltea, with a 64 pounder, mounted on a pivot,
four 8 inch columbiads, and a 24 pounder, rifled ;
the steamer Tuscarora, with one 8 inch columbiad,
and a 32 pounder, rifled; and the cutter Pickens,
with an 8 inch columbiad and four 24 pound car_
ronades.

• "The blockaders had the Richmond, Vincennes,
Preble, Water Witch, and the schooner Joreph H.
Toone, in all 53 guns.
On Friday night last our fleet started from
Fort Jackson, the Manassas leading the way. The
night was intensely dark, and the Manassas ran
into a vessel, striking her near the bow, and cutting
into her upwards of 201 t. Appalling shrieks were
heard aboard the doomed ship ; signal rockets were
fired ; the enemy beat to quarters, and a perfect iron
hail fell upon and around the Manassas, during
which her machinery became deranged. The Tus-
carora and the Watson came up with five barges,
which had been cut loose and set adrift on the stream.

" When the morning came our fleet commenced
to pursue the retreating enemy, and a heavy can-
nonading began, which lasted till eight o'clock.
Several shots struck the Richmond. The shots
from the Yankees were badly aimed, as they did
not touch one of our vessels. When the firing ended
the fleet returned to the city, with the prize
schooner Joseph H. Toone, loaded with coal, and
which had been deserted during the night. A large
quantity of lumber, which had been intended for
the construction of a fortification at the head of the
Passes, was burnt."
(SECOND DESPATCH.)
" New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 14.

" The prizes captured were the Joseph H. Toone,
and hunch belonging to the Federal steamer Rich-
mond, which was laden with cutlasses.
" The vessel sunk was not the Freble, but the
Vincennes.

" Three vessels of our expedition arrived on Sa,
turday night:"

The account of the Confederate attack on Wilson's
Zouaves at Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola, given in
the Southern papers, would lead us to believe that
both parties suffered severely. The Augusta Con-
stitutionalist reports the events as follows in a letter
dated Camp Stevens, October 9 :
" During last night an expedition, composed of
detachments of several Confederate companies and
regiments, set out for Santa Rosa Island for the
purpose of breaking up the encampment of the
notorious Billy Wilson and his celebrated Zonaves,
who had taken up a position on the island. Early
in the evening Colonel Jackson visited our camp
and informed us that he required 150 from our re-
giment (the sth Georgia) to perform a very impor-
tant service, 27 from the Clinch Rifles, and 19 from
the Irish Volunteers. Every man who was willing
to volunteer was requested to shoulder arms, and
every man came to a shoulder. The captains of the
companies were then requested to pick out thg re-
quired number, which was done. These were taken
from the Clinch Rifles, Irish Volunteers, Cuthbert
Rifles, and M'Duffie Rifles, and were under com-
mand of Lieutenant Hallonquist, formerly of the
United States' Army. Lieutenant Day, of the
Clinch Rifles, being the junior officer, was on the
left, but that wing arrived too late to take part in
the action. Colonel Jackson accompanied the ex-
pedition, and the entire force, which consisted of
about 1,200 men, was under command of General
Anderson. About 2 o'clock this morning we landed
on the island, and marched about five miles through
the enemy's lines and into his camp, which we com-
pletely destroyed, burning up his tents, &c., and
killing his sentinels as we proceeded. The Zouaves
were taken almost completely by surprise, but as
soon as they recovered fought desperately ; at times, I
however, they acted rather cowardly, but, upon the
whole, gave us some pretty warm work. We finally
succeeded in driving them into Fort Pickens, kill-
money, hats, eaposl
ipnrgisc;anueitres,aannpberof them, taking some 30 or 40
trophies. Somem loft of camp equipage, and other
our men have brought away
pieces of Billy'sguns, swords, pistols, and
great coolness and b standard. Our men acted with
peshea the objectbravery, and, having accom-
the main lauh. ofas our mission, we returned to
the balance of
the we did so we found that
to reinforce us, but fingul'uneen e,t was advancing,
also returned to the camp. Our lostrh" hack they
severe. We killed the Federal ,ite been vt,..,7
sentinels all the
way up and toek the enemy by. surprise. I was by
General Anderson's side, and fired, by his orders,
inOre than a dozen tents, among them the Commis-
sariat; we also burnt up 200 barrels of flour, several
bales of hay, and many other articles. I killed two
of Ab's
men and took two prisoners while burning
Abe 's
Jim Gorman,
of the Irish Volunteers
the camp.bruiser, and Lieut:
gene is a
took one. Barney.TT
ood a man as you want
Joseph Cummings is as g
Anderson goes in for destroying
to find. General A
istake-we bad some of
tather than killing. By _ d
own
our men killed by their comrades. W.e ai d
flew in our faces
to fire, and many times the 5 and