The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 29, 1864.

The American War,

A poor victim of the American war was brought
up to the French Correctional Police on Wednes-
day. He was a poor lad, 16 years of age, whom all
human miseries seemed to have stricken. Puny and
stinted in growth, his cadaverous and pinched fea■
tures looked smaller still under a mass of long
woolly hair. He said his name was Henry Muller.
He had been placed by somebody in the hands of
the police, and, as he had neither dwelling nor
means of existence, had been detained as a vagrant
without any place of abode. When interrogated,
he said :—The person who got me arrested is one
Perrot, a working shoemaker. He brought me to
sleep at his lodging one night, out of charity, and
he sent me away the next day because I could not
be of any use to him. That night I slept in a cab;
the following day I went to him to beg of him to
keep me with him ; it was then that he gave me
over to the police.
The magistrate said—Who are you ? Where do
you come from ? Who are your parents ?
He then related as follows :—I am an American.
I have never seen my father. I came to Paris at
the age of ten with my mother, who owns two
houses in New Orleans. Three months ago she in-
formed me that she was going back to America, and
asked me if I wished to be put to school or as an
apprentice. I choose the apprenticeship. Then
my mother placed ma at a photographist's, and
paid four months in advance for me-100f. in ready
money and 400 f. in bills payable at her banker's,
Mr Borde's, in the Rue Taitbont. The banker re-
fused to pay, having nothing to my mother's credit.
Then my master turned me away at the end of a
month. Since then no one will take me as I have
no papers, and also because I am too delicate.
A lady (a woman of colour) came forward.
The President—You know this lad ?
Witness—l know that his mother abandoned him
he says she is at New Orleans.
The President—You can do nothing for him ?
Witness—lt is impossible for me, sir. I have
two daughters, and I have retired with them to Ba-
tignolles for economy. War is raging in my country,
and I cannot return to it.

The President (to the prisoner)—You were with,
out work for two months ?

Prisoner—Yes, sir.
President—How have you lived during that time?
Prisoner—As well as I could with what people

gave me.
President—Have you sought for work ?
Prisoner—Yes, sir, but as I have no papers no one
will have anything to do with me.
The Procureur Lepelletier—He is a Southern, the
Consul will not give him papers, the South not
being recognised.
Witness—The poor lad is of coloured race; he
has African blood in his veins ; they will do nothing
for him.

President—lf, in a week from this, you find some
one who would occupy himself about him, we would
adjourn the case for a week.
Witness—l have done all with that end; he is an
African ; people wont take him.
President (to the prisoner)—And you don't know
your mother's address ?
Prisoner—No; she was with a gentleman, and
she used to say to me when I made her angry, "I
will abandon you."
The tribunal adjourned the case for a week in the
hope that the publicity given to this affair may ex-
cite in young Muller's favour the commiseration of
charitable persona.

lines the city could be plainly seen, and objects
of special interest designated, while from some of
the public buildings skirmishing could be seen
with the aid of a common opera-glass. The rebel
headquarters were at Silver Springs, in tin resi•
deuce of F. P. Blair, sen. This was about the
only house spared from the flames in the Seventh-
street road. Postmaster-General Blair's residence,
adjoining it, was burnt, with all its contents.
Early and Breckinridge were two days at Blair's
house, and it was through the influence of Breckin-
ridge that it did not share the fate of his son's.
" The President and Secretary Stanton showed
their anxiety in the situation by being present at
the wharf where the steamers were unloading
troops, and hastening them to the front, while the
former, in eompany with Gen. Halleck, was at the
front a good deal of the time. All three were in
Fort Stevens, when several men were killed near
them.

"Various opinions prevail as to the real intention
of the enemy. Many insist that a feint was made
on this city to cover the retreat of the larger force
towards the Potomac, laden with plunder, while
others declare that a general attack was premedi-
tated and miscarried. Our forces are pursuing the
retreating foe, and the city has settled down into
quietness, after enjoying the most tremendous sen-
sation in its history during the war.
" The railroad and telegraph lines are being
rapidly put in repair. The former was only slightly
damaged. During the most critical period all the
forts were connected with the department by tele-
graph, the entire force of the American telegraph
officers being detailed as operators. In this way
troops could be centred on any weak part of the
line. The country adjoining the city on the north,
which a week ago was blooming with bountiful
harvests, is now a barren waste. The enemy de-
stroyed everything, even cutting down orchards,
firing haystacks, &a. The destruction of property
is very large. Our entire loss during the invest-
ment was between 400 and 500, including a good
many officers."

position, and its owner's face, which, despite the slouched
hat, was now more discernible. Not another word passed.
Mr Beard would not leave his seat, although he momentrily
expected to be grasped or struck. It was on the side of
the much-coveted, but yet distant platform ; and when there
he could give an alarm, if prevented from getting out of the
carriage. Still his position was becoming unbearable, and
the recollection of the recent horrible murder on the same
line of railway rendered him almost powerless. He was
becoming postively ill ; gradually, very gradually, he got
his hand as without a motive on the window space; the
whistle sounded ; not a movement betokened his intention
to leave; the train eased; stranger inclined slightly back;
the platform was reached ; " Low Station" was sounded by
the guard and porters; and as one of the men passed Mr B.
started up, twisted the handle of the door at the same mo-
ment, and was out, and the next was in an adjoining com-
partment well occupied, from which as the train again
moved forward he observed the wearer of the slouched hat
walking hastily away as though in quest of some one. On
arriving at Snaresbrook, Mr. Beard made a communication
of what had occurred to Mr \Vooton, the station• master,
and has since done so to Mr Superintendent Howie, K
division of police, so thoroughly convinced is he that a
murderous outrage was purposed, and would have been per-
petrated but for the plan he had adopted, or had he pro-
ceeded further in the carriage he first occupied.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.