The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-08 00:00:00

STAMPED ....sd.

rejoining the main body under Roseneranz, at
Chattanooga, and us up to the 24t1a ult. no attempt
was made by the Confederates to dislodge the Fede-
ral army from its undoubtedly strong position at
this last-mentioned place, it is probable that for
some time at least the Northern General will re-
main unmolested. The Government at -Washington
are thankful for small mercies, and congratulate
themselves and the public that the army to whichthe conquest of the Central Sulks i was entrusted s
in comparative safety. The movements of the C:m.
federates are conducted with so much secrecy, and
efforts of the northern Generals to obtain accurate
information respecting either the position or the
strength of the Southern armies have uniformly
proved so unavailing, that only the scantiest mate-
rials are afforded for criticising the operations of
the Confederate Generals. At the present moment
the Government of Washington are totally igno-
rant what forces composed the army which, under
the leadership of Bragg, has inflicted on the
army of the Tennessee so disastrous a defeat. There
can, however, be but little doubt that Bragg re-
ceived considerable reinforcements subsequent to
his evacuation of Chattanooga, although it was not
at the expense of the army which, under Lee, holds
the south bank of the Rapidan. The Government
at Richmond are far too sagacious to risk the loss of
a battle in Virginia, and the possible seizure of their
capital, for the doubtful chance of obtaining a vic-
tory in Tennessee. For some time past an engage-
ment has been imminent in Virginia, and it rests
with either of the generals commanding the rival
armies to provoke a contest at a few hours' notice.
A portion of the Federal cavalry is reported to have
advanced in the direction of Gordonsville, and some
skirmishing has taken place. If Gen. Meade should
in truth contemplate a general Engagement, he will
be compelled to attack the Confederate army at a
considerable disadvantage. Gen. Lee commands
the principal fords of the Rapidan, and, if the wea-
ther in America has at all resembled that which we
have experienced in England during the past few
weeks, that river will be swollen to such an extent
as to render it a very formidable barrier against the
Federal advance. The interval of inactivity per-
mitted to the grand army of the North, since its
exploits at Gettysburg, has been protracted suffi-
ciently long to tire out the patience of Mr. Lincoln's
Administration ; and if the reports in circulation
are to be credited, the Aulic Council at Washington
have directed their general to resume the offensive.
It this be so, it is manifest that, in regard to their
social policy, the fruits of experience are thrown
away upon the Federal Government. The aggressive
movements of the Confederates have been so con-
stantly unsuccessful that there is but little proba-
bility of Gen, Lee assuming the offensive. If this
year's campaign in Virginia is to conclude with
another series of battles, the Confederate General
will take care that they will be fought on ground
of his own selection.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

The screw steam corvette Pelorus, 22, Capt.
Boys, made a trial trip outside Plymouth break-
water on Tuesday, under the inspection of Capt.
Edmonstone, Mr. Dinnen, and Mr. Steil, of the
steam departments,"and Mr. Edwards, master ship-
wright. Her mean speed in six runs at the mea-
sured mile was 10913 knots; mean revolutions,
55.7. Under half boiler power ehe made 9053
knots ; revolutions 45. The engines and boilers
worked in a very satisfactory manner, and the
speed attained was half a knot more than on the
former trial.

The screw steam corvette Scylla, 21, from Ports-
mouth, which arrived at Plymouth on Monday, left
yesterdayj(Wednesday) morning for the East Indies
and China.

The screw steam sloop Alert, 17, Capt. H. C.
Mejendie, from Scotland, which arrived on Tuesday
morning at Plymouth, has discharged her powder
and is gone up Hamoaze to be refitted for foreign
service, probably the Pacific station.
Yesterday Mr. W. Scamp, the deputy-director of
Admiralty works, visited Chatham, and inspected the
works in progress at the extremity of the dockyard
and at St. Mary's Island for the extension and en-
largement of the dockyard and naval establishments
by the formation of additional docks and basins. In
the course of his inspection Mr. Scamp paid a
lengthened visit to the island, over every portion of
the works at which he was conducted by Mr. Ber-
nays, under whose direction the extension of the
dockyard is now being made. Later in the day Mr.
Scamp inspected the new barracks which have been
erected by Messrs. Foord and Sons, Rochester, for
the Royal Marines, to provide accommodation for
800 men beyond the present number. A portion of
the new barracks is already occupied, and the re-
mainder will be ready for the reception of the men in
the course of a few weeks. The remaining portion
of the old Army and Navy Hotel, which, as well as
another hotel and upwards of 20 houses, was swept
away to make room for the new barracks, was sold
yesterday by direction of the Admiralty, and in a
few days will be taken down to make room for
the offices, cells, and other buildings which aro to
be erected on its site. The field officers' and sub-
alterns' quarters are also to be taken down and a
new block of building for officers erected near the
present officers' quarters, which will necessitate
the taking in of a portion of the dockyard. The
new barracks at Chatham, together with the cost
of the site, compensation, &c., will involve an out•
lay of about £BO,OOO.

THE ARMY.
His Royal Highness Field Marshal the Duke of
Cambridge, wearing his;full official uniform, yes-
terday rode down to Woolwich, attended by Col.
Clifton, Aide-de-Camp, and went through his last
inspection of the troops for the season, the 10th of
October being what is termed the close of the ac-
tive military year, The duke entered the garrison
at 20 minutes past 10. At the Royal Artillery
parade he was received by the local staff, consisting
of Colonel Buchanan (acting in the absence on leave
of the Major-General Commandant), Colonel Mit-
chell, commanding the division of Royal Marines;
Colonel Hawkins, commanding the Royal Engi-
neers ; Colonel O'Brien, commanding the 4th Bat-
talion Military Train ; Colonel Henry, command-
ing the Riding-house establishment; Major-Gen.
Sandham, Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal
Military Academy; Major Field, Acting Gover-
nor of the General Hospital, &c.; and the follow-
ing staff of the Horse Guards :—Generals Sir James
Yorke Scarlett, Sir Richard Airey, and Bloomfield;
Col. Lynedoch Gardiner, Col. Forster, and others.
The troops were formed in a contiguous line
throughout the review ground, flanked on either
side by the batteries of the Royal Artillery. After
performing the usual salute they were most minutely
inspected front and rear. Retiring to the flagstaff
the Commander-in-Chief inspected the marching
past, which, on account of the very moist and slip-
pery state of the ground, was difficult to perform
with the precision observed in their ordinary
movements. The men, however, acquitted them-
selves most creditably, and after marching past in
slow time the Duke ordered the commanding officer
to change the front, when they marched past in
brigades, formed in echelons of battalions from the
rear, and came into action. They were supplied
with 15 rounds of ammunition. The infantry were
drawn up on the rising ground at the extremity
of the common, and the batteries advanced under
cover of the battalions and fired several rounds,
limbered up, and retired to the rear. The whole then
formed in line on the Depot and 4th Brigade Roy!'
Artillery, and a general engagement commenced,
the batteries firing independently, and the infanarnild
discharging a well sustained round of volley
file firing from the rear. The whole of the batteries
then made a rapid advance and charged at full gal-
lop. The inspection terminated at half-past 12
o'clock, when his Royal Highness and Staff. pro.
ceeded to the Military
Academy inspected the
and
corps of gentlemen cadets under arms. His Royal
Highness and Staff lunched in the artillery mess
room, and at 2 left for London. In consequence of
the satisfactory wanner in which the evolutions
were performed,
and the unqualified
approval ex-
pressed thereof by
the commander-in-chief, the
commandant was
pleased to liberate all pri-
soners undergoing short Periods of confinement