The Sun

The Latest News.
By Telegraph to the N. Y. Sun.

WILMINGTON AND CHARLESTON.
The Grand Advance.

GEN. TERRY REINFORCED.
Gunboats Working Up the River.

From Philadelphia.—By the arrival of a steamer here we learn that on the 15th our forces under Gen. Terry at Wilmington were reinforced by a heavy column of veteran troops from the South, believed to be under command of Gen. H. G. Wright. No heavy fighting occurred on the 15th or 16th, as it was thought our troops were tactically with little or no opposition from the enemy. A report from the front says that Wilmington was evacuated, and that our troops would occupy the place at once.

This report, doubtful as it is, is the theory that Wilmington being evacuated we warrant an early announcement during the past three days. Our light draught gunboats, of all descriptions, were up the Cape Fear river, moving up coast survey toward Wilmington, searching for the torpedo obstructions.

The tugboats of the quartermaster's department had fallen into our hands as prizes. All were valuable. In the department Fort Caswell will fare well. Our pickets on the left will set them a-catching. The great advance in the grand campaign was no doubt that our troops had captured Wilmington, and the fall of (an early) expected. The greatest confidence is felt everywhere in the army and navy, and a glorious line onward to new and more brilliant victories.

What Admiral Porter says.

Washington, Jan. 23.—It has been officially stated that Admiral Porter confirms the report that the rebels have blown up Fort Caswell, but the steamers Kate Clute and Lillian are safe.

His language is as follows:

"A large force of gunboats occupy the river between here and Wilmington. That place is hermetically sealed so far as blockade-runners are concerned, and no Alabama, Florida, or raider, or Tallahassee, will ever get in or out of that port, and our navy will soon be in condition to pursue and capture every vessel that runs the blockade or attempts to do so."

"We shall move along in spite of these obstructions blown up by the rebels' ironclads, and with the help of the navy we will join Whiting before long."