The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-02 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

"---T
HE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
CL 11/TON-ROUSE, NIAGARA FALLS, Aug. 18.
The ri iendly intercourse between the Southern
eraiesar ie s and agents and the leading Democratic
politiciat .9 of the North and North. West continues
as active as ever. Separated for so long a period
from eau h other by the terrible exigencies of war,
and cow tected as many of them are by ties of mar-
riage at a 1 consanguinity, as well as by those of social
and political companionship, it is not surprising
that theF should take advantage of the agreeable pro-
pinquity of Canada to meet together for friendly dis-
cussion e n the woes of their once common country,
and the la ossi bilities of piece, if not of reconciliation.
The ef:J:ct has been to concentrate all men's atten-
tion upon the approaching Convention at Chicago,
and to throw back into the far domain of history the
plateorm o f the Convention of Cleveland which no-
minated General Fremont, and that of the Conven•
tion of Baltimore which nominated Mr Lincoln.
The nominee of Chicago—provided,as I have already
stated, the subsequent election be fairly and legally
conducted, without tampering with the ballotboxes
or dictation on the part of the military—will be
the new- President of the United States. All pre°.
vions "
.platforms" are but so much waste paper, and
the platform of Chicago, embodying two great and
essentietl principles—the first an armistice, and the
second a convention of the States, will be the living
reality, the acceptance of which 02 the part of the
statesmen who will secure the support of Chicago
will render useless the opposition of Gen. Fremont,
Mr. Lincoln, or any other candidate whatsoever
ato shall take his stand on the platform of the
ricorous prosecution of the war, and the uncondi-
tiooal surrender of the Southern people,
It is not to be imagined that the war party, whe-
ther composed of War Democrats or of such mem-
bers of the Republican party as have lost in Mr
Lincoln's ability to bring the war to a successful or
even an honourable issue, accept the idea that the
independence of the South will follow as a necesa
sary consequence of an armistice. On the contrary
they cherish the idea of reunion. They will nut
abandon the darling hope that North and South, in
spite of the bitter memories of the war, will again
shake hands in fraternal loving kindness, and con•
sent to be one people. They have a blind confidence
that the estrangement of the two is but temporary,
.and the innate affection perpetual. They are as
thorough believers in Destiny as the first Napoleon,
at td that Destiny they insist in the teeth of all ad-
verse argument is that there shall be but one great
nation on the North American continent, and that
it shah not only comprise the now belligerent and
estranged sections of the Federation and the Coate•
deracy, but at a later, and possibly not distant, day,
both Mexico and British America. The peace party,
properly so called, has no such ideas, but, as was
shown by the proceedings, at the preliminary Con-
vention of Syracuse, held to-day, and of which the
telegraphic reports are before me, will not interrupt
the harmony of the great Convention at Chicago
i)y insisting upon abstract principles which the
b elk of their coadjutors are not yet prepared to
reoognise. The War Democrats believe that union
will be the result of an armistice ; while the Peace
Democrats believe that the sword once sheathed
will not again be drawn, and that the Northern
people, when they have talked over the matter with
their Southern brethren in peaceable convention
will accept Southern independence—as George 111.
acceptedthe independence of the thirteen colonies--
reluctantly, and with a sorrowful heart it may be,
but with the conviction that separation, however
vainful, will be the best for both parties ; that if
it ey cannot be one flesh and blood, like man and
wile, they can be good friends and neighbours and
profitable customers ; and that, more than these,
they may enter into such a political alliance as will
secure them far greater influence in the councils of
civiiieation than they ever possessed since their dis-
ruption was first predicted as inevitable.
The simple truth of the matter is that an armistice
suits all parties except the men who expect to obtain
contra' ::KEI rroeu taie cie....weee fn. pply ;n3 f
army lend navy. It even suits some of these, who
see looming up on the verge of the horizon the pros-
spect of a war with France or Great Britain, for the
possession of Mexico or Canada, as the sure result of
peace between the North and South. It suits the
Lincoln Administration, which is in sore distress for
money as well as for men, which cannot print off
many more hundreds of millions of greenbacks for
fear of sending up the premium on gold to 500 per
cent., and which cannot enforce a conscription for
fear of exciting armed revolt or revolution in the
streets of the great cities. It suits the men of basi-
neee, whose affairs are getting into what is called a
t‘ snarl," or entanglement, in consequence of the de-
preciation of the currency, and the great and daily
fluctuating uncertainties attendant upon all domes-
tic as well as foreign commerce. It suits the pro-
fessional classes, who ace their liabilities increase,
while their earnings diminish. It suits the lam ,
bourers, who see in it a decline of the prices of the
necessaries of life, as well as the abandonment of the
hated conscription. It suits the Democratic party,
because it gives them a chance of power. It suits the
Republican party, because it extricates them from a
difficulty which is otherwise insurmountable—viz.,
the prosecution of the war without sufficient money
or men. It also suits the army, which has lost
confidence in its Generals, and which, moreover,
would be glad of the opportunity to return home on
furlough. It is the first time since the commence..
ment of the war that any considerable body of the
people have been so reasonable and dispassionate,
and although the results expected are as different
as the interests and idiosyncrasies of sects, parties,
intrigues, and doctrines can foreshadow or hope, the
great current of politics runs bat in one direction—
towards a compromise to be effected by negotiation
rather than the sword.
As regards the candidates, Gen. Fremont in the
current slang, nowhere ; Mr Dean Richmond manes
no sign; and if Gen. MiClellan should accept the
Chicago platform, and be nominated by the conven-
tion on the 29th, the contest will lie between him
and Mr Lincoln. Already the indicationa are patent
that Mr Lincoln will endeavour to distance him in
the race, or throw him out of the course altogether,
by declaring himself in favour of the armistice and
convention to be proposed at Chicago. His letter
to all whom it may concern is no logical impedi-
ment in his way. He may urge that, as an indivi-
dual, he could only treat with Southern emissaries
or plenipotentiaries in the way therein described ;
but that if the question is to be taken out of his
hands, and debated by a general convention of the
people, as the constitution provides and describes,
he cannot consistently with duty object to such a
deliberation, or to the preliminary armistice, which
would be absolutely necessary before such a con-
vention could be summoned. Thus the question
stands at present, Mr Lincoln being in posses-
sion has much of the solution in his own hands.
If he really desire re-election, and fear to attempt
a coup. cr etat and a military revolution, he has a
better chance of effecting his purpose by accept-
ing the proposal of an armistice than by opposing
it. The War Democrats foresee the possibility
of such a movement, and are consequently more
bitter and personal in their denunciations of
his imbecility, corruption, and usurpation of uncon-
stitutional po veers than they have been at any pre-
vious period of his contradictory and inglorious
career. Tne friends of Gen. M'Clellen are particu-
larly rabid, from which it may be inferred that
they have more dread of Mr Lincoln's opposition to
their favourite then they have of tient of any other
candidate, present or prospective. It should be
added that the friends of the South are as hostle to
Gen. M'Clellan as the friends of Gen. M'Clellan are
to Mr Lincoln, and that, all things considered, the
South would prefer the armistice and the convention
under MrLinculn's auspices than under those of any
other President as yet known to have a chance of
election. The names of the ex-Preaidents Franklin
Floret: and Millard Filmore are no longer mentioned
in connection with the office. The two Seymours'
tho timid one, who is now Governor of New York,
and the bold one, who was formerly Governor of
Connececnt, seem to have dropped wholly out of
the list of available candidates. General Grant has
scarcely a political friend left, and has ceased to be
a " Napoleon," a Titan in a blue coat," a " hero,"
or anything but a failure as great as any whom the
war hag produced.

The 3d battalion of the Grenadier Gnarls, under
the command of Col. his Serene Highness Prince
Edward of Saxe.Weimar, arrived yesterday after•
noon at the Chelsea Barracks, from 1 month's duty
under canvass. The battalion returned from the
camp by road, bivouacking at Bagshot-heath on
Tuesday night, and on Wednesday night at Hones*
low-heath.

Yesterday Col. H. D. Harness, C. 8., director of
the Royal Engineer establishment, Chatham, come
menced his half-yearly inspection of the companies
at headquarters and the detachments for colonial
service and surveying duties at Brampton barracks.
In addition to the companies of Royal Engineers
now doing garrison duty, the officers, non-commis-
sioned officers, and sappers composing the detach-
ments for New Zealand, to augment the 6th com-
pany, together with the detachments for St. Helena
and for the companies employed on surveying
duties, were also inspected by Col. Harness, who at
the close of the parade examined the books and
other official documents belonging to each corps and
detachment. The reinforcements of the Royal En-
gineers under orders for embarkation will embark
on the Bth inst., in her Majesty's iron screw ship
Orontes, Capt. H. W. Hire.
The reinforcements for the Ist battalion of the
12th Regiment and the 43d Light infantry for the
depot companies of those corps at Chatham garri-
son, together with the detachments for the 2d bate
talion of the 14th Regiment, 2d battalion of the 18th
Royal Irish, 40th Regiment, 50th (Queen's Own),
57th Regiment, 65th Regiment, and 68th Light In-
fantry, have received orders from the Horse Guards
to be held in readiness to embark for New Zealand
in the course of the present month, the Black Ball
clipper ship Light Brigade, 2,500 tons, which has
been chartered by the Government to convey the
reinforcements to New Zealand, being under orders
to embark her troops at Gravesend on the 20th inst.
The trials which have taken place at the Royal
Engineer establishment, Chatham, under the direc-
tion of the committee of officers appointed by the
War-office, for the purpose of testing the merits of
the Belgian and Austrian pontoons, have been
brought to a termination, and have resulted in a
highly favourable report being made on the descrip-
tion of pontoons received from Belgium, which are
considered decidedly superior to those in use in the
Austrian service. An order has since been received
at Chatham for the Austrian pontoons to be re-
turned into store at once.
The Ist company of Royal Engineers has received
orders to undergo a course of fieldwork instruction
and sapping and mining at head quarters, Chatham,
previously to embarking for colonial service. The
Ist company, now stationed at Devonport, will be
relieved by the Bth company of Royal Engineers,
now on passage home from China, and shortly ex-
pected to arrive at the Royal Engineer establish-
ment, Chatham.
The troops brought home from Bombay and
Kurrachee in the Salamanca and Louisa, hired
sailing transports, as reported in The Sun of yes-
' terday, were disembarked yesterday morning from
those ships at Spithead, under the supervision of
Col. Shadwell, Assist.eQaartermaster-Gen., and
were forwarded to their destinations, the invalids
to the Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley,
and the time-expired men to their regimental
depots. The ship sailed for the Thames about noon.
The white or St. George's ensign was yesterday
hoisted by her Majesty's ships at Portsmouth, as
the ensign for the future for the Royal Navy. Rear-
Admiral of the Red George Elliot, superintendent
of Portsmouth dockyard, and Acting Commander-
in-Chief Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, at the
Channel Islands, changed their flag from
red at the St. George's Cross, which will
in future be the only flag flown by an
admiral, according to his rank of admiral, vice or
rear, at main, fore, or wizen. The blue ensign is
now given by the Admiralty to ships manned and
officered, or partially so, by the Royal Naval Re-
serve. The red ensign remains the flag of the ordi•
rtney rvio.nantilP gerViela
Her Majesty's iron screw steamship Warrior, 10,
Captain the Hon. Arthur A. Cochrane, from Tor-
bay, arrived in Plymouth Sound early yesterday
morning. She afterwards took in coal, and, being
detached from the Channel Squadron, was appointed
to sail at noon for Gibraltar, where it is probable
she will continue for the remainder of her time. She
was commissioned in August, 1861.
On Saturday last the Royal Sovereign turret ship,
Captain Sherard Osborn, C. 8., started from Ports-
mouth for Portland on her first cruise since her con-
version to a turret ship. The dockyard mechanics
were at work on board the ship in Portsmouth
harbour at 1 p.m., but at 6 p.m. the ship was rid of
them and steaming out of the harbour. That night
she anchored in the Solent. On Sunday morning
the anchor was weighed, and with three boilers out li
of her six, working at the lowest grade of expansion,
the ship steamed through the Needles against a
fresh breeze,tmaking 5.4 knots. The same day she
anchored in Portland Roads, and remained at anchor
until Tuesday morning, the interval being occupied
in clearing up ship and setting matters straight.
On Tuesday morning steam was got up in two
boilers, the anchor weighed, and the Royal Sove-
reiga steamed about the bay between Portland
Roads and Weymouth, her crew being exercised in
bringing the ship to anchor and weighing again
under different circumstances. During Tuesday
night it blew very heavy from about S.W., and
continued to do so throughout the following day.
On Wednesday morning steam was got up in four
boilers, two-thirds power,,and the ship was taken
outside, and off the Race made a good eight knots
against a strong wind and a heavy head sea. Capt.
Osborn then took the ship into the Race, and when
fairly in the midst of the roughest water put her
broadside to it and let her roll and tumble about as
she pleased in order to test her turrets in as con•
elusive a manner as possible. The vessel rolled
quickly 11 deg. to leeward, and 10 deg. to wind-
ward, and under these circumstances the turrets and
guns were manned, and the former revolved and the 1
latter run in and out as would have been the case
in action with an enemy in the same position and
under the same conditions. It was found that the
turrets were perfectly manageable, and the guns
could be handled with the same ease as in smooth
water, excepting, of course, that a little more care
was required from the men in working them. The
ship being still kept in her rolling position the guns
in the turrets were next trained nearly fore and
aft, the winch handles let go and breaks slacked up,
and turrets and guns left to themselves, the ship
rolling in an arc of 21 degrees. As, however, every.
thing remained immovable, and it was found the
men could take hold of the winch handles and set
the turret revolving, or leave them as they pleased,
without leaving any check upon the turret's move-
ment, this was deemed both by Captain Osborn and
Captain Coles quite sufficiently conclusive of the
turrets' steadiness and working under as almost un-
favourable conditions as could be met with, except
in a gale of wind. The guns were seenred, and the
Sovereign returned to her anchorage in Portland
Roads, where, as she lies at anchor, she has the look
of a monster gunboat, and as a gunboat simply has
she been handled by Captain Osborn since leaving
Portsmouth harbour. In steaming through the
Solent on Saturday the Royal Sovereign's steering
gear from the pilot-house forward answered admi-
rably, and the vessel answered every movement of
her rudder as quickly as a wherry could have done.
The Highflyer, 21, screw corvette, steamed out of
Portsmouth harbour yesterday, and made a pre-
liminary trial of her machinery, which proved quite
1 satisfactory, preparatory to commission. The High-
flyer has recently undergone a thorough repair to
hull and machinery.
The screw corvette Cadmus, 21, 400 harem power,
in dry deck at Chatham, preparing for the pennant,
has the whole of her wire standing rigging set up,
and a consid
Sherabe is
portion of her topmast rigging
to be expedited in her fitmeuts, as
in place.
she is required for immediate commission, and
aiditional hands have been placed on her. Since
she has been in dock she has undergone very exten-
sive repair to both hull and machinery, and she is
now in Calla as sound a state as when launched.
She has been fUrnisteed w:th a new Griffith's pro-
peller in lieu of the Admiralty screw.
The deaths of the following officers have
.beet,

officially reported at the War-office since the Ist of
August :--Gen. Sir J. H. Reynett, K.C.8., K.C.H.,
colonel of the 48th Regiment; Lient.-Gen.Sir J. 8..
Eustaee, K.H. ; Major-Gen. D. Grant, Royal Artil-
lery ; Cols. 3. Heatley, 69th Regiment ; and T.
Prior, sth Fnaileers. Capts. L. Maehell, Royal Ar-
tillery ; G. W. F. Snell, 38'h Regiment ; J. A. Pal-
liser, 76th Regiment ; R. H. Ker ; J. B. Leatham ;
G. Randall ; D. Pratt, 16th Dragoons ; and M. W.
L. Coast, paymaster, Rifla Brigade. Lieuts. H. E.
Yorke, Royal Artillery ; A. M. Rowan, 13th (Prince
Albert's) Light Infantry ; J. Miller, 60th Rifles ; G.
Worsley, 39th Regiment ; and J. Burn, 72d High.
landers. Ensigns A. B. Duncan, 57th Regiment;
B. Alt, 98th Regiment ; and J. S. Dixon, 94th
Regiment. Quartermaster W. Evans, 88th Con.
naught Rangers; Assistant• Commissary Gen. W.
H. Dalrymple.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—John. T. Moore, assist..surg.,
additional to the Duncan ; Alex. G. Bain, acting
assist.•surg., additional to the Duncan ; and John
Adams, assist.-engineer, to the Asia, as super-
numerary.