LATER NEWS FROM AMERICA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 72, 14 November 1864, Page 3

LATER NEWS FROM AMERICA.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (From the correspondent of the MelbourneArgus.) Stbket, Not. 4. By the Adelaide barque we hare p.ipers to the 2lßt of August from California, and- telegraphic news to the 20th from Washington and New York. The Alta of the 18th says : — " Grant is advancing his lines towards Richmond. Flank movement to the north of Richmond progressing finely. This is the first intimation we have had of such movement. In the valley Early is strongly entrenched at Strasburg. Sheridan has fallen back to Winchester, and is to act on the defensive. Sherman is gradually drawing his lines around Atlanta. Wheeler lately made a dash upon his line of communication at Dalton, but did not effect much." Despatches received on the 19th profess to reveal a new movement on the part of Grant. It is to advance up the north bank of the James, and destroy the pontoon bridge above Fort Darling. If successful, Lee will be compelled to make a detour of twenty miles in moving troops backwards and forwards between Petersburg and Richmond. A canal is being cut across tho bend of the James at Dutch Gap. Grant's advance had penetrated to within six miles of Richmond. Meanwhile matters in the valley are somewhat mixed. Strasburg seems debatable ground — one time it is in our possession, immediately afterwards the rebels are masters. Early has been reinforced ; Longstreet lias been sent to join him with a large body of troops. There is nothing of importance from Sherman. The fighting on Logan's Line recently was evidently very desperate. The rebels suffered severely. An attempt to out our communication at Dalton proved a failure. Stedman came up in the nick of time and sent Wheeler off in great confusion. The Journal of the 21sfcsays, " To-day our despatches are brief. The rebels in the Valley of the Shenandoah, now represented as consisting of 40,000 infantry and 15,000 cavalry, are progressing fairly. Our forces have passed through Winchester, and were ' encamped between Clifton and Charleston. Grant is preparing for an immediate action, the precise nature of which does not transpire. Lee's foroe is estimated at 70,000. Hard fighting has commenced all around. Grant is pressing closer and closer every day to Richmond. Sheridan, too, in tho valley is hard at work. Some of the prisoners recently captured by him were from Longstreet's corps. Operations " have also been renewed at Charleston. Fort Morgan is thoroughly invested. The communication of the fort with the city has been cut off. From Sherman nothing of importance is reported. The rebels are hoveling about his communications, but the War Department entertains no fears on that score. There are apprehensions of another invasion of Maryland, but no facts arc reported." Kew York, Aug. 17. Grant's movements on Sunday show that the main works of the rebels extend along a commanding ridge covered with formidable earthworks. Along the crest in front of these defensive lines is a series of rule-pits, intended as a strong skirmish line. It proves no effective obstruction to our advance. Early in the morning a portion of our troops on the left, under the command of Birney, rushed forward, charging in gallant style, and drove the enemy from the riflepits, recovering the Kingsland-road. They captured one hundred pxisoners. The enemy retired into main entrenchments. During the afternoon the troops drove the enemy from an important position at the junction of the Kingsland and Newmarket roads. Foster's brigade captured the rebel guns from Strawberry Plains. Other troops advanced upon the roads leading to Richmond. The cavalry, under Gregg, took Charles City road, whence, after a sharp engagement, Lampton's legion was driven in, retreating in a northerly direction. General Barlow charged and took one of the rifle-pits. The enemy stubbornly resisted with artillery and musketry. The special correspondent of The Times at Washington says — "The rebels are mining extensively along the lines of our fortifications. All attempts are rendered abortive by the vigilance of the commander." Relative to the movements, The Times' special correspondent says — " Tuesday passed with brilliant prospects of success. Gregg's cavalry rested their right on the Charles City road, to the right wing of the forcea. The left flank extended to the James River. The front of the line is only about six miles from Richmond, Lee cannot prevent the cutting of the canal across Dutch Gap. Ouv losses on Sunday are estimated at 40Q." ■ ■ "Washi»<W!oS, Aug. 18. Despatches from Grant, dated tho 16th, 6.30 p.m., report that fighting on the North James Rivei? to-day resulted favorably, but no decisive result. The enemy has been driven back from the position of the. morning with considerable leas, Tho iJebel Gt-erbrals Chamblin. and GeiTard w]ero MUod, ft"4 tUeis? bodies' left in ouv hands, We have a, number of prisoners pn thg north of %ha river, Our toss ia probably rtsc^oue. thousand, kitted, atui wounded, up to yesterday Morning. In advancing pvlof. em* lines fcivthe?, wo cap* tuited two j!ide»pita and 250 priaonevsi WASHIffGTOWj 19fcU August, A Hette? from the am»y of the Potomac says i— " Second Corpa unsuccessful in theiy (ittftolc on the neMh^de of Jamos River, fell back, to a safe pogi* tibn till yesterday, when anothej? assftuit .was cabled, p.ttfe suecossmUy.; .■ Tho eaemv we.ro driven, ft'om.theiv wvk» wfch heavy logs, Second Go?pj? ccqpturett'. sevwfU huncfrecl prieanqra uA- JWftY'Y gutist CMiv kms k severe^ u\x% wo hold ouv uo.s*« tion. The cavalry, under Gregg, di'QVs thorn worn the vVOJ?JsS i\oaiv the KeWmarkck-oad, "We ftu'eeel thorn took. Colonel Gj-regg whs severely woutfded. Butlers =t^qps.Uiiadi : BligliHiagiiigoJi^ut,Syit;Ubvit ildy&n&ge o^ elUieV aide. .On tha iSfcii, thi rebels ajjeaedflVe, which ftxtcad^d, thewhplp. litie, fvon^Aipi pomftttos to the Joruealeni plank road, and lusted abeufc an h'6u,ri ; It Ja supposed to bS ttib pveludo to an attack, . •- Heavy ftx'ing ! has '■ Wen heard in ■-Butieri»; : '^BoU^H. v:;: -$ho-'VftiidwbUt ; --«sp'orlia tlmfc tins aioninig ' the. rebelp ojsenodid. iuribugcitu■nojiade o». (jur Un«j?» r pOPßiitittg of/ rß.urasido'B ! flori)», The rebels feU , bo,ck without attoraplbig .!!$ waauitj ,Quj Joss is |j$&U,, 4 uti-png t%non 9

New Yobk, 17th August. Nothing important from Atlanta. Hood is heavily' reinforced, and operations have settled into' a regular siege. Sherman, strongly entrenched, is gradually extending his lines around Atlanta. : '■■'■- ■■= ■•'■<■■ •.•> - ■■■.-■.■', .-,■: .•/ . ••■ . : NASHVIIiIiE, Aug. 17. An attack On Dalton. The rebels numbered 5,000 infantry and cavalry, with six brass' howitzei's. The garrison numbered 400. At three ■ a.m. the demand to surrender was made,' which was refused, and an attack "' commenced. General Stedman a,rrived with reinforcements, charging the rebels. They fled in confusion. The enemy' slightly damaged the railroad for a mile; this side of Dalton, since repaired. From Mobile, Farragut issued orders to attack Fort Morgan yesterday morning. :It vras to receive a furious eufilading fire from the fleet, and the land forces are said to hare' invested 'wherever there was a foot of ground to stand upon. The rebels destroyed all the outbuildings of the. fort, and also burnt their only vessel, lying under its ; guns. Everything about the;fort indicated a determination, to' contest tho battleto the last. The channel to Dog Eiver was unobstructed. The naval and land forces are confident of success. Farragut demanded unconditional surrender of the fort, which was refused, the commander 1 saying he had six months' provisions, and would' resist to the last moment. Granger's force in rear had cub off the communication of the fort. Eiclnnond papers of the JLlth' have the following £rom Mobile -.—Heavy firing .. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and to-day. Telegraph- wire cut between city and fort. Two vessels are" off Dog Eiver bar, this evening. Bay shores covered, with debris of Federal vessels. Large quantities of tar pitch, and turpentine have been burned, to prevent the enemy from getting them. Troops daily arriving, and good feeling exists. Alnia'n moved from Morgangeia, with a brigade of Cavalry and infantry. ; The rebels found strong. A spirited engagement r ensued, lasting two hours. The position subjected us to a heavy loss. Our forces were withdrawn a short distance. Next morning they found that. the rebels had fled. Our loss is small." .. „ '' : ' '. Memphis, Aug. 18. One brigade of infantry, and two of cavalry attacked (three of Forrest's brigades, who held a partially ; fortified position on Hurricane Creek. After a short heavy fight, the rebels were dislodged and retreated, leaving fifty dead. The Richmond Register of the 14th says : — " Chalmers dashed into Abbeville, Mississippi, whipped tho Federals, captured twenty-five prisoners, and fell back four miles. The enemy attacked him, and was repulsed. Q-eneral Merill's division of cavalry was attacked at the norlli side of Shenandoah by Kcrshaw's division — Hickham. and Lennox's brigades of cavalry. The enemy were badly beaten with loss of two stands of colors, twentyfour officers, and 276 prisoners. Sheridan came in collision with Early's force in the Shenandoah Valley, near Strasburg, yesterday. Sharp fighting took place, resulting in the defeat and repulse of the rebels. Nothing decisive is known. Affairs progressing favorably. Another attempt to invade Maryland reported, but not credited. Sheridan is still pushing Early up the valley. Has compelled, him to retreat irom point to poin<; in eTery encounter thus far. Some of the prisoners captured yesterday, belonging to Longstreet's corps report that two divisions had joined Early. Averill holds Martinsburg. No rebels in sight. Indications that they were moving towards the Shenandoah, refugees beginning to arrive bringing intelligence of a rebel advance. Considerable uneasiness is manifested, but reports are conflicting. It is impossible to obtain a knowledge of the exact Btate of affairs. The rebel authorities sent 600 Federal prisoners to be placed under fire at Charleston. The Fetlei als retaliated by despatching an equal number of Confederates for similar treatment. A dreadful accident has occurred on the Portland and Kennehee Kailway. Twenty or thirty persons were badly injured. The Government are arranging a mail contract from Missouri to California. Fifteen hundred rebels attacked the troops guarding the plantations at Goodrich landing, who repulsed them with loss. The Confederate guerillas who attacked Sclma were defeated. The Confederate cruiser Talahashe has destroyed thirty-one vessels in two days off Portland. She was reported to be at Halifax, and a Federal gun boat was off harbor awaiting her. It is quite certain that the draft ordered for September 5 will be commenced on that day if the voluntary enrolments are not completed. Tessenden's new loan is being taken up by tho banks. The Adelaide brings only part cargo — 120 tons flour, 6,000 bushels wheat. Wheat, 3dol. 50c. ; flour, lOdol. 50c.