The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-22 00:00:00

SHIPPING—This Day.

LONDON, June 22.—Wind this day at noon—South-
Westerly; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.
PORTSMOUTH, June 21.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Her
Majesty's ship Kurrachee, from Malabar and Calcutta.
OFF PORTSMOUTH, June 21._Arrived—Swiftaure, from
Melbourne.

POOLE, June 20.—Wind S.—Sailed—Nymph, for New-
foundland.

PLYMOUTH, June 21.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Patriot,
from Belize; Saxon, screw steamer, from the Cape of Good
Hope.

KINGROAD, June 21.—Arrived—Ceres, from New York;
Enterprise, from St. John's, N.B.
ABERDEEN, June 20.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrived—Har-
monia, from Callao.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH..
SonTRAmpToN, Monday Morning.
Arrived--Violet, and Britannia, from Cardiff.
Sailed—Mermaid, for Torquay.

DEAL, Monday Morning
Passed, June 21-1. C. R. J. Commercial Code, Jenny,
and Emily, of Teignmouth, from West, for North ; Mary
Hugherson, from New York ; Jane Lake, barque, from
Jamaica ; Investigation, barque, from West—all for Lon-
don ; Clitmere, from London, for Liverpool ; Anne Mary,,
from Leghorn, for Chatham.
Passed, June 22—Ellen of Guernsey, from the north, for
west ;;Queen of Avon, from London, for Rangoon; H.M.S.
Reynard, from the west.
Anchored—The Levant, from London, for Cardiff, hav-
ing been in collision off Beachy Head, damaged, has put in
here.

The Opposition in the new French Chamber will
number 35.

Mr. W. Chambers calculates that the monthly
issue of cheap periodicals in the United Kingdom of a
strictly improving tendency is 8,043,600; of works of an
exciting nature, but not positively immoral, 1,500,000; and
of works of an immoral tendency, under 80,000.

Mr. Rarey has been varying his attendance on the

sick horses of the Federals with a trip in a reconnoitering
balloon. The sensation was, for "purely strategic reasons,"
not long indulged in, as a rifle-ball through the edge of the
car gave him sharp notice to quit cloudland.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON CHATHAM,
AND DOVER RAILWAY.—On Saturday last an acci-
dent happened to a guard in the service of this company
named Henry Maidment, which resulted in immediate
death. The deceased was a guard on the goods train which
arrived at Canterbury on Saturday morning, and was stand-
ing on one of the trucks holding on by a piece of iron whilst
some shunting was going on, when by some means he was
jolted off and fell on the rails, and before the carriages could
be stopped, they passed over him, completely smashing his
head and chest.

A BASE SUBTERFUGE OF THE ENEMY—ABOUT
THE BALLOT.—A correspondent of the Examiner
signing himself "A Member of the Reform Club," writes :
—" When Lord Palmerston, with that adroitness which
marks him so great a master of the art of debate, seized
upon the point, I can hardly say fact, that the Reform Club
had abolished the vote by ballot, of course he was glad to
catch up any stone to throw at the strong array of argu-
ments which had demolished his usual line of battle. But
what are the facts? The Reform Club took umbrage at
the tyranny of the minority, and stopped the practice of
one black ball out-Toting nine. They now have placed the
elections in the hands of a select committee. That is the
simple fact, nor did objection to the Ballot-box as a modo
of election guide the decision of the Club."
THE ROBBERY AT THE STALYBRIDGE RELIEF
OFFICES.—On Thursday afternoon, Mr. James Kirk, the
treasurer to the Stalybridge Relief Committee, discovered

that John Sargent, the confidential clerk to that body,
had absconded with £324. It seems that the delinquent
had been leading an irregular life in the borough for at
least a week, and had received notice of discharge for
absenting himself from his duties without leave. He
had drawn the necessary funds from the Bank to pay
the shopkeepers about three o'clock on Thursday, and
about four o'clock the Committee were considering
his case when he was suddenly missed, and holding the
key of the safe he was enabled to walk off with the money
without any warning. It is stated that he was seen
walking up Mottram-road, and he may have taken a train
for Yorkshire. All the numbers of the notes have been
advertised, and a reward of £3O is offered for Lis apprehen-
sion and the recovery of the money. we are happy to add
that Mr. John Leech will make good the loss, so that the
poor will not suffer from this disgraceful robbery.
THE CASE OF THE ALEXANDRA.—The case of the
Queen against the owners of the Alexandra, the
vessel seized a short time since at Liverpool on the ground

of being a Confederate cruiser, is to be tried in the Court
of Queen's Bench on Monday week before a special
jury, A very strong Bar is retained at either side, the
Solicitor-General " leading" for the Crown, and Sir
Hugh Cairns for the defence. The Solicitor-General,
who has already an enormous equity business (and is
said to be dreadfully overworked) brought down his
brief in the Alexandra case to the House of Commons on
Thursday evening, and, retiring to a snug bench in
the Ministerial gallery, lay down at full length to study
it. The brief was either very heavy reading or the
debate was very dull, but in either or both events the
effect upon her Majesty's Solicitor-General was the
same. The brief gradually fell from his hand, and the
great legal luminary surrendered himself to the arms
of Morpheus. The hon. and learned gentleman slept
serenely for some hours, during which one or two divi.
Speak
Speaker
either did not detect him, or, sympathising with a fellow..
Of yesterday
sions took place without his knowledge. The
sufferer, affected not to see him.—Cer. of Belfast I\eus-
Letter.
INCREASING INFLUENCE OF THE POLISH NA_
itshedeßciudesdsilaynssliinpptihneg
open
field,
TT ThOe NmAoLs t G
tOr
kEi
nRgN
fact
cEt Ni
sT
n. e
incapacity,Tem p s
now completely
Y from Russia.
but the
power of the occult national government dsaermso'n—st‘r‘aPtoedla,nodf
sitting at Warsaw
in the very midst of the Russian bayonets. That Govern-
ment works regularly; it has its newspapers, it imposes its
taxes, and, what is more significant,
it sends its summonses
even to the Russians residing in Poland, and those persons
consider it unsafe not to bow to them. One of these Rus-
sians could • think of no better plan of avoiding
payment of
the tax levied upon him thanthatof quitting
the country.
These significant facts are admitted by the Russian Invalid.
The same journal, under the pretence of giving a lesson
to parents and teachers, acknow:edges that young people,
almost children,' it says, are leaving their colleges to join
the insurgents. Nor is this all ; the national Government
has ordered all the Polish officers in the Russian army to
quit the army, and to act as becomes true patriots. Acting
upon these orders several very distinguished officers of the
garrison, and amongst them General Berg's own nephew,
at once disappeared. Such symptoms speak for themselves,
and need no comment"
KILLED BY A FLY.—A young officer of the 27th
Regiment of the Line, named Pondevaux, aged 23,
in garrison at Evreux, has just died under afflicting cir-
cumstances. Being at Paris on a few days' leave, he visited
the Jardin des Plantes, where he was stung on the upper
lip by a fly while standing near the wild beasts' cages. On
returning to Evreux he suffered some pain in the part
wounded, but in spite of the counsels of his friends refused
obtain surgical advice. The symptoms bccame aggra-
vated. and the poison spreading rapidly, the young man
expired two days back in great agony. It is supposed that
the insect had previously been feeding on putrid meat in
the dens of one of the carnivorous animals.

THE FIGHT AT PORT HUDSON.

The following further details of the fight at Port
Hudson are from the New Orleans correspondence
of the New York Herald :

NEW ORLEANS, June 1.
" A great mystery hangs over the fight at Port
Hudson on the 27th ult. Nothing concerning it is
allowed to be published in any of the papers of this
city, and no official information can be had from any
one on the subject. Admittance to the hospitals is
also refused, and although the wounded have been
arriving here in large numbers, we have been thus
far unable to obtain their names or condition. Why
this secrecy is observed is to all surprising. From
all that can be obtained concerning the fight it is
evident that our lines are well advanced from where
they were, and that we suffered no repulse except
on the left, and that was of no great importance ex-
Oepting in lose of killed and wounded.

" In my account forwarded per steamer Morning
Star some errors naturally occurred, coming, as the
information did, from several sources ; but it was in
the main correct, I have, however, to change the
list of officers killed and wounded. The first infor-
mation we had was of such positive character that I
had no hesitation in forwarding it as correct ; but,
as it was not, no blame can be attached save to those
who refuse to allow authentic information to be had.
I am rejoiced to say that neither Gen. Nickerson,
Col, Clarke, 6th Michigan ; Col. Bulloch, 30th Mas-
sachusetts, nor Col. Payne, 2d Louisiana, are in the
least injured ; but I regret to say that Cot. Lull, Bth
New Hampshire ; Col. Bean, 4th Wisconsin, and
Capt. Wrotonaski, Gen. Weitzel's staff are among
the killed. I have several other names of officers
killed and wounded, but will not send them until I
have the most positive proof in regard to their
condition. The whole course pursued in the late
affair leads the secession portion of our com-
munity to think that General Banks has met
with a disastrous defeat, and they do not hesitate
to express the opinion. If it were not I know
to the contrary I certainly should think in
the same manner ; for I cannot understand the
policy of keepiug everything so very quiet, unless
it is for the reason that we do not wish the enemy
to know the loss we have sustained. The friends
and relatives of the many thousand men who com-
pose the Nineteenth army corps must not blame the
press if they do not receive information concerning
those dear to them, but the authorities, who deem it
best that nothing should be said about the matter.
I can imagine the anxiety for news from this depart-
ment when the intelligence reaches the North of
the late desperate fight, and would gladly do all I
can to relieve it, but it is out of my power at pre-
sent for the reasons above stated.
s, All accounts agree in stating that the attempted
assault on the left was most desperate. The bravery
exhibited by the 6th Michigan, 128th New Yerk,
2d Battalion Zonaves, and the 2d Native Guards
was never excelled, and bat seldom equalled. The
assault was led by General W. T. Sherman, com-
mander of the division, in person, and it was here
that our greatest loss occurred. When the details
of this affair are given to the public they will
afford one of the most brilliant chapters ever written
in military history, so far as the bravery of the
assaulting column is concerned. I have it from
authority that cannot be questioned that General
Sherman, with the eye of a military man, seeing
how utterly hopeless the attempt would be, and
knowing the frightful loss of life that would occur,
protested against the plan of attack, but all to no
purpose, the order being peremptory. Forming his
division into three lines, and leading them himself,
thi gallant and trusty soldier moved against the
immensely strong fortified position of the enemy,
feeling all the time that he was attempting an im-
possibiliiy- The result proved him correct, for
although some of his command crossed the ditch,
passed the abattis, reached the parapet, and planted
their colours thereon, but few of them returned to
tell the tale. The General was borne from the field
in the arms of his orderly, with a terrible wound,
and his command fell back to a position not sub-
jected to the terrible fire of the enemy. As an illus-
tration of how desperate the fighting was, and how
much our gallant fellows had to encounter, I give a
copy of a letter written by the lamented Col. Bean,
of the 4th Wisconsin, who fell on the 28th. His
description is in regard to the night of the 27th.
Be says :
"‘ I will give you the first day of the battle of
Port Hudson. It is the morning of the second day
on yetaich I write. I came off the field last night
after the battle had ceased, crippled so that I was
just able to make a few rods to a horse. I lamed
myself by some violent exertion, jump, or fall in
the abattis. When or how Ido not recal, so that
my leg is stiff and I cannot walk. I wrote you
from Simmsport when I received —'s letter. We
lace to Bayou Sara, then
marched from that p
crossed the river and marched here. Here we found
ourselves in a dense Southern forest, one mile and
a half through, our pickets and the enemy's meet-
ing midway. The day before we had driven them
so far in, losing 100 men killed and wounded. On
the further edge of the forest there are a series of
deep ravines, beyond high bluffs. On these bluffs
the enemy's forts are built—strong redoubts flank-
ing each ether, covered and connected by rifle pits.
There is a cleared space in front of tae forte of six
to ten hundred yards', the trees having been felled
so as to form a formidable abattis. Oar negro re-
giments had cut a road through the forest for our
artillery as far as our pickets extended. At 4 a.m.
we marched in line, driving in the enemy's pickets,
and in a few moments more falling on their infan-
try in rifle pits this side of their abattis. driving
them through it over into their forts. When we
commenced the march we were in three lines, and
two were in front of my regiment. When we got
through it I was in front of everything. We pressed
down through the abattis and halted en a crest of
.hills within near rifle shot of the breastworks. Of
course when we got through there was the most
ine.etricable confusion, and it was the diligent and
excel, sive work of hours to bring the regiments to-
gether and into line again. The abattis and woods
were filled with stragglers, cowards, and men look-
ing for tl, eir regiments. I finally succeeded in
getting .men and a hundred others, hopelessly
separated fro Da their commands, organised and in
position, and as I said before, in the very front of
the whole army. Of course it took time to make
our way through tia' abattis, and we were under
the murderous fire of ten or twelve cannon
and of all the infantry' 1,1 the rifle pits. I cannot
give any description of this fire, because, as at Baton
Rouge, I was perfectly uncamacious of it, and didn't
hear a cannon ball or a rifle shot whiz, though the
men were fast falling on every same of me. My
anxiety to press my regiment forward and to keep
it in order wholly absorbed me. But during those
few fatal moments in which w 3 were crawling over
and under the felled trees, and through the branches,
some of my best •
men fell. Captain Craigon WAS hit
with a musket ball, not mortally I hope, and the
poor fellow lay there am
an ox, laughing at his ong
the trees bleeding like
wound, and cheering on his
men. Capt. Herren had his leg knocked off. It has
since been amputated, and life is questionable, and
n
be lies on his bed crying,
the for his leg, and now
that he did not get intoforts. Lieutenant
Fierce, of the same company, Was shot in the arm
but seemed quite consoled when I told him the re-
giment
was ahead of everything. Lieutenant
Chittenden was hit in the breast ; how badly I do
not know. Our whole loss
:wring the day was about
aallbiAttt°i:,kanid
andth3eoowworasst
70 killed, and wounded,
the field. Having ed
pass
under the crest of the
finding shelter for the men
hill, 1 halted, and in half an hour the mensilence drove
away the gunners from their pieces and d
every cannon but one—that being out of range—
nor dare a man of the rebels show his head above
,the breastworks. The number of their killed and
ye,ounded must have been great before they
inbtionod their guns. I have just been reading the
Herald of the 7th of the battle of Chancellorsville,
and of the attack made on Saturday by the rebels
on Sykes" division of regulars, the rebels outnum
bering them three to one ; of the terrible fire and
thinned ranks, and "courage beyond comprehen-
sion of our men" in withstanding the fierce attack;
and no doubt it was a fine thing ; but the whole
division, it states, lost nearly 150 men, while my
single regiment lost half that number in the same

time, and their spirit, dash, and good humour roes

every moment. My admiration for my men is
beyond bounds.'

" The above exceedingly interesting later was
round in the colonel's portfolio, and was unfinished.
[t gives a better idea of the severity- of the fight
:han any other account we have, and shows how

much our forces had to encounter. Th ere is a tale
yet to be told regarding the assault, and I doubt
not it will go to prove that the lives of oar gallant
men have been sacrificed in order to accomplish in
a day that which, according to military science,
should have taken a much longer time. It will re-
quire the use of the spade, to which our people of
the North are so much opposed, before Port Hud-
son can be taken. This fact should have been dis-

covered at first ; had it been, the lives of many

brave fellows would have been saved, and but little
time lost. Port Hudson will fall, that is certain, but
it will take a few days before we are ready to com-
pel the enemy to surrender. It is closely invested.

Our men are under its formidable works, and not a
spider can enter or escape without detection. A
sortie cannot be attempted, and no force can raise
the siege. I had hoped to have sent you the infor-
mation by the steamer of to. morrow that Port Hud-
son was in our possession, but I am better satisfied
to wait a few days longer, in order to know that
when it is attacked it will be with entire success,
than to have to chronicle another assault in which
we were repulsed with frightful slaughter.
" It must not be supposed that our forces are idle,
for they are not. Fighting or skirmishing is going
on all the time, and our men are working like
beavers. On the right General Weitzel's men are
within 20 feet of the enemy's works. So close are
they that conversation goes on between them, and
although the rebels have three heavy guns pointing
over the parapet they dare not attempt to load them,
for if a man makes the attempt and shows his head
above the parapet, he is shot down at once. Our
fellows are behind logs, and a hat cannot make its
appearance without receiving a dozen shot-holes
through it. Such is about the present situation at
Port Hudson, and it will continue the same for a
few days at the most. Frank Gardner, the rebel
general in command at Port Hudson, is one of the
best men in the service of Jefferson Davis, and he will
maintain his position as long as possible. It is said
that his men are anxious for him to surrender, but
he refuses, saying he will defend the place as long
as a gun can be fired. I am confident that if he
holds out much longer our people will become so
much exasperated that when they do get inside but
little mercy will be shown the garrison. Such is
generally the case, and I believe it would be impos-
sible for the officers to restrain their men if we have
to carry the place by the bayonet, as I think we
will, after a proper bombardment, Some of the
prisoners we have taken say that the garrison are
harassed to death ; they are shelled all the time, if
not by the army, by the ships, and they have no rest
in consequence. They represent the number inside
to be about 6,000 men. Multiply that number by
two, and I apprehend it will be nearer the truth.
They also say that their loss in the fight was not
over 100. A flag of truce has been sent in, under
which the dead have been buried and the wounded
collected.

"Although, as I said before, no positive infor-
mation can be obtained respecting the number we
have lost, still I hold the first report I sent you is
near the truth. Ido not think that a less number
than 2,000 will cover all the casualties on our side,
although some persons try to bring the number as
low as 800. From the number that have arrived
here I form my opinion, knowing that many more
are yet to come down, The majority of the wounded
were hit in the lower extremities, showing that the
rebels fired low. They used for projectiles pieces
of lead pipes, nails, pieces of chain, and everything
of the kind they could obtain ; Some of the wounds
received from these missiles are of the most terrible
character, lacerating the flesh, and crushing bones
in a manner to effectually prevent recovery.
" I very much fear that by the next steamer,
even if it does not occur before the sailing of the
Continental, I shall be called upon to record the
death of Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman. He
appears to be sinking rapidly, there having been no
reaction since his wound was received. It seems to be
the impression among those surgeons who have seen
him that amputation of the leg should have been
performed at once, instead of attempting to save it.
His nervous system was completely shattered
by the shock, and the weather, since his arrival in
the city, has been anything but of a character to
benefit a wounded man. General Sherman is too
well known to make it necessary for me to say any-
thing regarding him. We can ill afford to lose the
services of such men at the present time, for they
are sadly needed in the army. I hope for theipest
in his case, however, and trust that his life may be
spared, but it is, I fear, hoping against fate.
" I am pleased to say that Lieut.-Col. Smith, of
the Zouaves, is doing very well. His recovery will
be slow but sure, and the probabilities are that in
time he will be again able to take the field. He
may be proud to command such men as his battalion
is composed of. They are heroes every one of them,
and as well drilled soldiers they cannot be excelled.
Thelon in this battalion,numbering about 400 men,
was but little, if any, short of 100. They were
amongst those who penetrated the enemy's works,
and mounted the parapet when our flag was placed
there, and none of the number escaped being killed
or wounded.

" The transport steamer M'Clellan, Capt. Gray,
arrived here on Saturday evening, bringing Gen.
Stone to take a command in this army. His arrival
is opportune ; for he will, no doubt, be immediately
placed in command of the division of Gen. Sherman.
He is a good soldier, and will certainly fill with
ability the position thus unfortunately made vacant.
He will have the opportunity in a few days of
wiping out all that has been said against him, and
throwing the lie into the teeth of those who have
dared to impeach his loyalty and devotion to the
country's best interests. I venture to assert that
no division of the army will be more gallantly and
better fought than that of General Stone in the
coming assault upon Port Hudson, no matter what
prejudiced parties may say to the contrary. He
has many enemies here among the Radicals, who
declare him unfitted for his position. But he will
disappoint them all, or I am a false prophet.
" The arrival of produce from the Attakapas
country is about over, for that district has been
entirely evacuated by the army. We hear that
Kirby Smith, with quite a respectable force,
has arrived at Franklin, but I will not vouch for
the truth of the report. It is true, however,
that the entire country is overt un by guerillas ; they
even make their appearance at Barwick Bay. We
hear of roost horrible atrocities being perpetrated
by them on all who evince any lingering affection
for the United States, and it is even said that seve-
ral persons have bee❑ hung who ventured to guide
our army during its recent march. I have not the
least doubt that many of these reports are true. I
feared that such would be the case when the coun-
try was evacuated, and to hear that it has does not
surprise me. Oar lines may again be marked by,
the Mississippi river and Opelouss railroad, North-
Western Louisiana being again in possession of the
enemy for the time being.
"There is a rumour prevailing that Buckner with
a large force is marching to the relief of Port Hud-
son, but there is not a partic!e of foundation for the
report ; for not a man can be spared from Mobile,
Pemberton's army, Johnstone's, or anywhere else
to relieve Gardner. He is in a place from whence
be cannot get out except by his own exertions, and
tehfeste w2itillthavail him but very little. Mobile papers
affairshe
in
msimaskei inivearltyhogulogohmtyhetyeremnsdreeagvaorudrintgo
bßbgueeaetani vykua
pen —a
will
tt hh oa
be
:GI L
food
silly
vieyir
up the hopes of 'thielirb people that all will yet
tiVielee'
to come from Jackson, in wtical:t:
that Pemberton is doing
also, and that Mississippi annihilated, and that
teleg•.aptilc
catfish. They
gloriously
will
the Yankee hordes. Fortunat despatches, said
the
eec eared. of
people are told
ac,eyeahned Johnstone
ely
Om between General Grant and General Banks
is complete
uninterrupted, consequently we knovi thatanthsell se
reports are all untrue, gotten up merely to make
the people of Mobile and the rebels of New Orleans
o n believeever
every
h occasiont h the a
od success of their
everywhere.
46 The United states steam transport Cahawba,

Captain Baker, leaves tomorrow for New York.
She will take home Billy Wilson's Zouaves.' Col.
Wilson has been released from arrest, and goes with
them. lam of the opinion that he has been an ill-
used man—that his arrest was only done to
carry out the purposes of other people, there not
having been the slightest just grounds for it. Dur-
ing his arrest of over 80 days no charges were pre-
ferred against him ; for this reason I am led to be-
lieve that he was unjustly arrested.
"The fleet at Port Hudson are quiet, in conse-
quence of our army being in such close proximity to
the rebel works that the shells of the ships would do
more injury to our own people than the enemy. This
state of affairs must be exceedingly gelling to the
admiral and officers and men under him ; for they
are so accustomed to shot and shell, and being in a
row, that to see others in a fight and they not able
to take part in it, makes them feel out of place. It
will be fortunate if the capture of Port Hudson and
Vicksburg releases the large ships of this squadron
from further duty in the river. They are in need of
repairs from the manner in which they have been
torn to pieces with shot and shell, and they are more
needed at sea, and could be of infinitely more use
there than in the narrow waters of the Mississippi
River. After the fall of these two strongholds the
smaller vessels will answer every purpose in keep-
ing the river clear.
" From the coast westward we have no informant
tion, and probably will not until the arrival of a
vessel of war. There can hardly, however, be any-
thing from that direction of peculiar interest—at
least not for some time. Our blockading fleet off
Mobile are very watchful, and have of late been
doing a very good business. Still, with all their care
vessels slip in occasionally, and as often out. The
iron-clad raid, which we have been expec• ing daily,
has been probably deferred until another time, the
vessels being deemed necessary for the defence of
the city, an attack being feared from some direction
or other. The rebels, after Grierson's raid, expect
anything, and they would not be surprised if a regi-
ment of Yankee cavalry were to drop from the
moon. The name of Grierson has become a terror
to every man, woman, and child in this section of
the country, and they will not be again easy until
they hear that he, with his command, has left for
other parts. We have to-day an arrival from Pen-
sacola. Everything there is reported very quiet, no
excitement of any kind having occurred since the
destruction of the Preble. The enemy never came
in sight, and our forces there live in as much quiet
as if war and its horrors did not exist; but they
have not as comfortable quarters as formerly."