The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-06 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

TlMEs.—The successive mails from America are
once more full of interest, and we ;doubt, indeed,
whether at any period of the war more important
issues have been at stake than seem pending at. this
moment. In four of the States of lie old Union
operations on a considerable scale are now in pro-
gress, and it really appears as if the present cam-
paign would produce results more decisive than have
hitherto been attainable. So vast, however, is the
theatre of war, and so remote from each other are
the various expeditions of the belligerents, that it
requires some pains to disentangle and arrange the
condensed summaries of the telegrams. Perhaps
we shall best perform this office for the reader
by separating the scenes now presented, and at-
t,ching to each field of operations the importance
which it appears to merit. It will be recollected,
no doubt, that at the opening of the campaign
all the interest of the war was conceived to
centre in the great camps of the North-East and
the Sou' h-west. Meade and Lee in Virginia, and
Grant and Johnston in Tennessee, absorbed the at-
tention of the public. The first essay was made by
the armies of the two last-mentioned Generals, and
it ended in the discomfiture of the Federals. They
relinquished apparently all hopes of success in this
quarter, transferred General Grant to Virginia in
the place of Meade, and concentrated their efforts
on another expedition against Richmond. Of the
prospects of this great enterprise we shall speak
by and by, but we must observe in passing that
the Sauth-Weatern armies of both combatants
appear to have been inactive since the first weeks
of the campaign. The recent operations in Ten-
nessee and Louisiana, which have resulted so favour-
ably for the Confederates, were conducted by in-
dependent forces or detachments, and were not
shared, as far us we can learn, by the great Confe-
derate army of the South, which won last year the
battleof Chickamauga, and which at the beginning
of the present year confronted the Northern army
at Chattanooga, and barred the road to Georgia.
These two great armies seem now to be doing no-
thing.. The armies in Virginia are preparing to do
a great deal, but those we must leave for a moment
while we attend to the minor expeditions which
have been recently undertaken, and in which the
South has been so generally successful. The most
important of these was the advance of General
Banks into the north-western angle of Louisiana—
the province, be it remembered, which ho claims
to govern as a conquered district from its
imperfectly
this of New Orleans. How very
this " conquest" has been achieved may be in
ferred from the simple fact of the expedition
itself. New Orleans was taken early in the war,
the command of the Mississippi was acquired by
laborious operations, a strong force of gunboats was
stationed on the river, and Louisiana was brought
as far under military occupation as any State of the
Confederacy could be. Nevertheless, in this " con-
quered" province we find the Governor compelled
to advance with a large force and a strong flotilla
of gunboats against a hostile army, and it is certain
that in this enterprise he received a severe defeat.
The scene of the first engagement was near Shreve-
port, on the Red River, one of the great affluents of
the Mississippi. Here, in the extreme nortn-west-
ern angle of the State, it is not denied that Banks
was beaten, and that he lost some thousands of men
and all his guns. After this he retired in a south-
easterly direction, still on the Red River to
Natchitoches, but more recent intelligence con-
tains a report that in a second engagement the
Confederates were repulsed, with the loss of three
Generals killed on the field. Congidering that
Banks would be fighting under the cover of his gun-
boats, this second story, though unconfirmed by
the latest advices, is not absolutely improbable.
The fire of these vessels might compensate for his
lost artillery, and prove too heavy for the Southern
infantry. It is possible, however, that by this second
engagement is meant only an attack confessed to
have been made by the Confederates on the retreat-
ing flotilla. After their victory at Shreveport they
followed up the enemy, and assailed the squadron so
fiercely that the transports, we are told, barely esa
taped capture.". Still they did not actually succeed in
arresting its progress, and this encounter, in which
it is likely enough that they suffered severely from
the heavy guns of the flotilla, is perhaps the affair
described as a renewal of the first engagement. Upon
the whole, then, we find that the military Governor
of Louisiana, after being drawn to the frontiers of
his command by a Confederate army, is beaten in a
pitched battle, and is not protected even by a fleet of
gunboats from a fierce assault on his retreating force.
The next scene of interest will be familiar enough
to those who remember the early operations of the
war. It lies on the coast of North Carolina, at the
mouth of Roanoke River, in Albemarle Sound. In
these parts the Federals achieved some of their first

conquests, but their footing in the State was slight,
and the vitality of the Confederate arms has been

shown in a succession of efforts tl dislodge them
from their position. The most recent attempt of
the Southerners has been directed against the town
of Plymouth, and on the 17th of the last month
they made a desperate attack on a fort in the
immediate vicinity. In this they were repulsed,
but on the following day the assault was re-
peated, but as we are told that Plymouth, at the
departure of the mails was actually invested, it is
probable that Fort Grey has fallen. The most re-
markable incident of the affair, however, is the ap-
pearance of a Confederate ram, which destroyed
three out of the five Federal gunboats lying in the

Roanoke, and acquired complete command of the
river. The Federals have sent a flotilla to the
reectiei and are moving up large bodies of troops
from the forte rseently engaged in the siege of
Charleston, but it was anticipated that Plymouth
would be lost, and that Newbern, abother impor-
tant town at the month of the Neuse River in Pam-
lico Sonedi might perhaps share the same fate.
In the midst of 066 diseouragements the Fede-
rals are preparing for one mor6 ternpaign on the
unlucky ground of Virginia. If we inquire into
the chances of this adventure, we shall not find
much reason for thinking them more in favour of
the North than before. The most that can be said
is that General Gran!-, if nit a military genius, is a
good practical soldier, endowed With determined
resolution, and competent to avail himself of the
lessons stggeeted by the misfortunes of his prede•
cessors. The Army of the Potomac, now placed
under his command, is probably zivither better nor
worse than in former years, but the diffleulties of
the enterprise before him are probably increased
by the experience and success which his adversaries
have gained. Richmond is, no doubt, stronger than
ever. General Lee, we may presume, is not weaker.
Of actual movements we learn only that the Southern
Commander has been joined by his favourite col-
league, General Longstreet ; that both sides are
manoeuvring preparatory to action ; and that the
Government of Washington, with an ominous anti-
cipation of re,ults, has "stopped the transmission
of news from Virginia." This, then, is the general
position of affairs, and the survey conducts us to
conclusions very favourable to the Confederates. In
Virginia, it is true, the fortune of war has still to be
tried, and any considerable success in this quarter
would probably be hailed by the Federals as an
adequate recompense for all the disappointments of
the year. But in that view there would be more
sentiment than substance. A victory in Virginia
would do nothing for the Northern cause in Louisi.
ana, in Tennessee, or even in North Carolina. The
telling fact in favour of the South is that in all
quarters at once, and after three years of war, it has
shown itself at least equal, if not superior, to its
adversaries. If the Federals are beaten even in
Louisiana, if they cannot hold their own even on
the shores of North Carolina, and if a mere raid like
that of General Forrest in Tennessee can deprive
them of their positions on the Mississippi, what
have they really accomplished by their expenditure
of a million of men and hundreds of millions of

money ? That question, we should think, is one
which Americans must needs ask themselves before
long ; and if Grant should fail in retrieving the
fortunes of the North by some signal triumph in
Virginia, it may, perhaps, receive a decisive answer.
HERALD.—The Conference has been adjourned
until Monday. It might as well have been adjourned
sine die. For although Sir George Grey declares the
proceedings of the Conference to be private, we know
quite enough of what has taken place in the large
room at the Treasury, to say that unless some mar-
vellous change comes over the spirit of the Govern-
ments represented there yesterday before Monday
next, all parties will then acknowledge the hope-
lessness of any further deliberations. The truth is
that the German Powers are determined to set the
Treaty of London and the public opinion of Europe
at defiance. Tney accepted the Conference because,
as no basis was proposed, the acceptance left them
free to continue their attacks upon Denmark, and
free to raise any demands which the weakness of
the Dines and the cowardice of their professing
friends might suggest. The meeting of the Confer-
ence has not in the slightest degree hampered their
military operations. Marshal Wrangel continues
to pillage Jutland in the style of a German free-
booter, and there is no cessation of the infamous
terrorism by which Schleswig is being made Ger-
man. Upon frivolous pretexts the first sitting of
the Conference was rendered null, At the next de-
mands were made, which were quite unexpected by
Denmark and the neutral Powers. At last the pro-
position of the neutral Powers for an armistice was
met by the German representatives with the plea
that they imust refer it to their Governments.
On Monday the result of that reference—a refusal
to accede to any terms which do not place Den-
mark absolutely at their mercy—will be announced,
and the neutral Powers, unless they mean to take
an active part in the destruction of the Danish
monarchy, will have nothing left them but to dis-
solve the Conference, or adjourn it sine die. The
Prussian Government is satisfied, has been satisfied
since last December, that the English Government
would not redeem its pledges to Denmark, and that
if boldly confronted, would eat all its big words
and it has been able to satisfy Austria upon that
point. Herr Von Bismarck treats the remon-
strances of the English Cabinet with neglect and
its menaces with derision. He. fears no opposition
from England; he has managed so to involve
Austria that she cannot oppose his projeots or
even refuse to lend them her assistance. He be-
lieves that Frence and Russia will not interfere,
and he proposes to himself nothing less than the
annexation to Prussia, directly or indirectly, of
Schleswig and Holstein, and, perhaps of the whole
of continental Denmark. Professing, therefore,
his readiness to agree to an armistice, he insists upon
terms which it is impossible for Denmark to accept,
and which the other neutral Powers cannet ratify.
Whilst the Conference protracts its idle labours the
Prussian army is consolidating its conquest. If it
breaks up his position is not at all affected. The
Danes cannot recover Jutland or Schleswig, and the
combined Austrian and Prussian fleets will be able to
emulate the exploits of the armies and gain deathless
renown by destroying the far smaller Danish fleet.
The Prussian Government is not disturbed in
the least by the epee irance of the Channel fleet
in the Downs. It is not appalled by the solemn
declaration of the Ministerial organs that Ad-
miral Dacres will present the Austrian fleet from
entering the Baltic. The Aurora may have gone to
the Baltic. The plans of Herr Von Bismarck will
not be in the slightest degree affected. He knows
that she will do nothing, and that if tne whole
squadron follows her it will equally do nothing,
except perhaps look on another massacre of Sinope.
He has taken the measure of Earl Russell, and he
will pursue unswervingly his ambitious schemes un-
til other Governments, whose word he can believe,
tell him to pause or Earl Russell astonishes him by
acting for once up to his word. This demonstration
of the Channel fleet is a wretched farce. The Govern-
ment ordered it for the Downs with the distinct
understanding—for that was the condition upon
which the decision of the Cabinet was arrived at—
that it should go no further, or, going further,
merely make a voyage of observation, if Austria
and Prussia could be frightened, well and good. If
they would not be, why then they must be left to
pursue their own wilful ways. That is the policy
of her Majesty's Government. It tries to frighten
a man who has already disregarded all its threats
with the most complete success, and when it is quite
convinced that he will not be frightened it will
again tell him that he must " take the conse-
quences" and leave hire to do undisturbed what he
pleases. So low has the English Government sunk
that it appeals abjectly to France for aid. A few
weeks ago Lord Clarendon was sent over to
entreat the Emperor to help Earl Russell out
of his difficulties, and to say the word which
England dare not say. The Emperor was no
doubt flattered by this appeal to him to return
good for evil ; ho would have been rather more
than human if he had not been pleased to see
the Minister who had wantonly insulted him prose
trate himself—albeit vicariously—at his feet; he
showed himself a little softened, he professed to for-
give though he could not forget ; but he refused to
act with a Government which he knew would leave
him in the lurch as soon as it had committed him to
a path which his honour forbade him to abandon.
The Ministerial organs circulated lying assurances
of the success of Lord Clarendon's mission. They
informed the world that harmony was restored
between the two Courts, and bade Austria and
Prussia take care and moderate their demands.
Austria and Prussia were imposed upon for a few
days by this flourish of trumpets. They were
soon, however, undeceived. They soon satisfied
themselves that Lord Clarendon went home per-
fectly empty handed, and had to report to his
colleagues that, although the Emperor was exe
tremely civil to him personally, regretted deeply
the wanton sacrifice of life, and professed a strong
desire to see peace restored to the world, yet his
Majesty would not go beyond general declarations,
and elsolutely refused to concert with the English
Government any measures to curb the ambition of
Germany. Now fresh and more urgent appeals for
help are addressed to the Emperor. The organ of
the Administration addresses him in a ludicrous
strain of mingled entreaty and upbraiding. "He
could save Denmark if he would. He could prevent
this great public crime, Why doesn't he ? He will
have to punish it one day at great cost. He is the
arbiter of Europe. Why does he neglect the duties
of that position." Never has an English Government
crouched so servilely as the present before France.
Compared with these whining supplicants the
Ministers of Caarles 11. were honest, inde-
pendent men. Good God, has it come to
this that au Engeish Ministry can unblushingly
avow that England is powerless to prevent a great
wrong ; is unable to vindicate her honour, and must
appeal to France for assistance and protection, and
that the people of England bear patiently this
dreadfal humiliation ? If we cannot send a fleet to
the Baltic without the permit of the Sovereign of
France, if we are no longer able to challenge the
navies of third-rate States unless we put a French
admiral at the head of our fleet, let us give up all
pretence of keeping en army and navy, abandon
the costly title of a Great Power, save the mil-
lions we waste in building ships we dare not
use, and devote ourselves exclusively to shop-
keeping.