The Sun. — 1855-10-08 (London, England)

AMERICA.  LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY. By the arrival this afternoon of the Cunard Royal Mail steam-ship Africa, Capt. Wm. Harrison, we have advices from New York to the 25th, Boston to the 26th, and Halifax to the 27th ult. The Africa passed the America, hence, between Halifax and Boston, on the 27th ult. ; the Pacific, hence for New York, on the 29th ; the North Star, from Havre and Southampton for New York, on the 30th ult. ; and on the 31 inst., the steam-ship Canada, hence to Boston.  The Africa brought 223 passengers and 556,315 dollars in specie. • The news by the Africa is four clays later than that brought by the Arago, but there is no intelligence of importance in the advices to hand. The New York fieraLl of the 25th ult. says : " The immense consumption of gunpowder which has been for some time going on between the belligerents in the Eastern war has begun to tell upcn the prices of lead and saltpetre. Since the arrival of the Baltic, lead has advanced to qn. to Gilc. per lb , with free sales on speculation, of both foreign and domestic. 3,200 pigs of Galena changed hands at the above quotations. At last accounts the stock in England was very materially reduced, while prices ruled at higher figures. The stock of saltpetre in the United States has become very small, and prices have undergone a great advance. Crude, which before the war sold at about 7c. to 74,0., is now very firm at 15c. There can be no deArUctive wars without " villanous saltpetre." It must be had in large supplies, or the system of war must go back to the use of hand-to-hand implements. Our government, having experienced great difficulties for the want of it during the Revolution, as well as in the war of 1812, has since been more provident for future contingencies, and Congress bas for some 20 or 30 years past appropriated about $20,000 per annum for the purchase and storage of saltpetre, so that we might now probably stand a five or ten years' war even without entirely exhausting our supplies. "Accounts from the south respecting the epidemic are still gloomy. At Norfolk there is no abatement of the fever. At Memphis, Natchez, Vicksburg, and in fact at all the towns on the Mississippi, the epidemic rages with fearful virulence, and the citizens are fleeing from their homes. At New Orleans, however, the fever is no longer regarded as epidemic. "The telegraph reports that the yellow fever has made its appearance at Canton, Mississippi, and that GO cases and 10 deaths had taken place during the week ending on the 11th inst.  From St. Louis, under date Sept. 24, we have the following intelligence : " A great battle took place on the 3d inst., at Sandhills, near the south fork of the Platte river, between the Sioux Indians and the entire force of United States troops under General Harney, numbering about 450 men. Major Cady commanded the infantry, and Colonel Cook the dragoons, mounted infantry, and artillery. The battle commenced early in the morning, and lasted several hours. The Indians fought desperately, but were routed. A running fight for some ten miles followed, during which the Indians fought with much gallantry. They were, however, defeated, with the loss of 80 men killed, and 50 women and children taken prisoners. The Indian women fought furiously. Genera,' Harney lost six killed and as many wounded. No officers were killed. The Indians engaged in this battle were the Brule and Sioux—the same that massacred Lieutenant Gratton's command, and murdered a mail party, the waybill of the mail having been found with them."