The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-09 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—The truth as to the last great battle in
front of Chattanooga has had a long struggle to
reach the light. It was fought on the 19th and 20th
of September, and through nearly three weeks the
fragments of intelligence have been arriving by no
less than five steamers—the Scotia, the Adriatic,
the Damaecus, the Hansa, and the Etna. It is only
by the last vessel that full particulars of the en-
gagement, and distinct admissions of the disaster
the result has brought upon the Federal army of
the West, have been received. Three of these
steamers left New York between the 24th and 26th,
when the result must have been completely known
to the Government, since on the latter date a long
description of the battle, the positions occupied,
the alternations of success during the two days of
conflict, and the total confusion of the disorderly
retreat that closes the story, was published. Most of
the main incidents, and certainly the final catas-
trophe, we might have received several days ago,
had they not been purposely kept back by the
Northern Government, that prohibits the transmis-
sion of any news not acceptable to the official party
from New York northward to Boston or Cape Mice
in time for the steamers bound to Europe. To delay
the arrival of disastrous tidings on this side of the
ocean, even for a single day, is considered a great
point gained, and if the suppression is well-timed
the supposed advantage of perplexing European
opinion may be increased by a silence of three or 'our
days longer. The telegraph thus becomes a very im-
perfect speaker that we are always asking " to tell
us more." But it does not; its liberty of speech is
suspended, along with the Habeas Corpus Act, end
the few fitful utterances it makes always break off, in
a provoking manner, at the most interesting points
of the narration. tis felt that there is much to
come, but the thread is effectually snapped, and the
end has to be inferred and deduced from the few
very enigmatical sentences that are allowed to pass.
The superiority of the modern telegraph system
has thus been acquired in vain. The messages of
the old post and board telegraph of our fathers
were very liable to be " interrupted by a fog."
But the puzzling mists that surround most of
the American war news are wilfully raised by the
wizards of the official departments at Washington.
Fortunately, their spells are soon broken by
another power. The truth in a few days is re-
vealed, more or less willingly, by the Press. And
though in their comments on patent facts the
official journals express very singular opinions, and
draw conclusions opposed to all the premises, the
reports of the correspondents are compelled to a
general accuracy. A bias can be perceived, but
it does not go so far as total ,perversion. They
are not so bold in assertion as the first telegrams,
that, by the official announcement of " substantial
victory," prepareithe Northern cities for intelligence
that turns it into a " crushing defeat." But it is
from the earliest details, in which so much is sup-
pressed together, while most of what is given has
been " manipulated" by the Government, we are
compelled to form our conclusions as the broken and
perverted tale arrives. It is some satisfaction to find
that the later and full accounts of a military opera-
tiou quite confirm, even in points of detail. The
small policy of concealing the truth from Europe
is defeated when, by a constructive process, a very
near approach to the actual history of affairs can be
given from a series of fragments intended to mislead.
The ample details of the battle of Chicamauga
that had reached New York on the 26th so fully
confirms our previous conclusions from all we could
deduce from the official style, that we need not go
over the whole story of the conflict again. The re-
sults are in no respect modified. The defeat was
total, as we inferred, and the disorder of the retreat
greater than we were prepared to expect from the
character of the Western troops. But the causes of
the disaster are now explained. The defeat of
Rosencranz is ascribed to the better tactics of the
Southern commanders rather than their superiority
in numbers. By the manuer in which the Southern
attack was made Rosencranz was compelled to
change the disposition of the greater part of his
army after the battle had actually begun. He seems
to have divined where the real assault was to be
made, bat not to have discovered it soon enough.
The shifting of the divisions, moved to strengthen
the weak points of his position, gave the Confede-
rates an opportunity of throwing a crushing force
on the points left imperfectly protected by the corps
moved up to fill the vacancies. The result of the
fighting on 'die 19th was not decisive. The Federals
held their ground, but part of their army had been
badly shattered, and the day could hardly be
claimed as a triumph of the Union arms. It was
at this crisis the first telegram stopped, with the
alarming announcement of a substantial victory.
During the night of the 19th the Federal position
had to be changed again, and on the 20th the Con-
federates repeated the tactics of the previous day.
First attacking the left of the line and pushing it
beck, the Southerners threw all their force on the
Federal centre, which had been weakened to the
extent of one third. It could not sustain the shock.
The regiments began to spread out like a fan, wider
and wider, till at last they were broken into frag-
ments. The breaks caused by the shiftings of divi-
sions from one point of the line to another were so
promptly perceived and turned to advantage by
the Confederate Generals that they proved fatal
and caused the loss of the day. The Federal line,
after being thus broken, could not again be formed.
The army was in fact, as we had previously stated,
cut in two. At this point of time the disorder
began. Streams of demora.,ized, uncontrollable
troops, flying to the rear, were all that remained of
a large portion of the army. Four divisions were
thus broken and dispersed, only one retiring in
tolerable order. All afterwards was the confusion
of a rout, crowds of stragglers in mob-like disorder
making good speed towards Chattanooga. A
partial rally was made, and General Thomas was
enabled so far to check the pursuit as to save the
Northern Army from total destruction. The whole
incidents of the two days, it must be admitted, are
very candidly summed up by the American narra-
tor,—" While the struggle of the first day ended
in a drawn battle that of the second resulted in
a disastrous defeat." Bed formation of the line
of battle, bad tactics on the field, and the
absence of some commanders at the most critical
period of the fight, are alleged as the causes of the
disaster. Two seem to have disappeared, though
nothing is said of their having been wounded.
Rosencranz himself had also to quit the field before
the battle was quite over. It is added that
6. while the army may be considered as safe enough,
it is certain, if the enemy have the advantage of
greater numbers, flanking movements will compel
Rosencranz to retreat across the Tennessee, in
case reinforcements should not promptly reach
him." This was also a contingency we ventured
to anticipate, and, considering the position of Burn-
side, already threatened with an attack, it seems
extremely probable. There is also a chance of the
Federals having their supplies cut off and being
compelled to surrender. It' this should occur it
would be the first capitulation of the war. In the
old War of Independence the surrender of two Eng-
lish Generals and their forces hastened the end of
the contest. Nothing so decisive has yet occurred
in the present American struggle, but the present
situation of Rosencranz, liable to be surrounded, un-
able to advance, and with a difficult line of retreat,
is in a peril not dissimilar to those of the English
troops that could neither be moved or supported.
But the scene of this last great battle is so distant
from the populous Northern cities that we doubt if
it will very deeply affect public opinion or advance
the pospect orpeace. The Indian name of the battle-
field meal; 9 the " Stream of Death." The great losses
on both sides give the name a new and terrible fit-
ness. But the oft-repeated tale of carnage makes
small impression on the American mind,
_eveh
though the difficulty of filling the thinned ranks is
becoming every day more evident.
HERALD.—The proprietor of a public-house must
be driving a roaring trade, of one sort or another,
when his potboy wears a gold water:appraised at
70
guineas, So many curious points of interest present
themselves in the story just told at the iiddlesex
sessions, where a Mr. Binks attended for the ids of
justice and for the recovery of his watch, which )7as
stolen from him on the 16th of last month, that we
cannot forbear drawing attention to the narrative of
the prosecution. The watch was traced into the pos-
session of Thomas Skendall, barman, aged 24, " of
very respectable appearance," in the employ Bush
landlord of the Bull and Anchor publichouse,
Holborn. Mr. Bulks, it was stated, had lost the
watch on the morning of the St. Leger race dayo,
whilst he was leaving the King's-crose station.£l7,
10
had bought it of a friend some time before fo
and the face or dial was ornamented withlr2 dia-
monds—one for each hour. When the unlucky
owner next saw his choice and valuable Property
ethene
diamonds were gone, and the white dial
eh. d
gilt so as to totally change ohraed-
its appea,r,anh
over, the name of the original maker Ad
popular chronometer '
been altered to that of the an:
out on the trial of
ma-
nufacturer" Dent." It
came
e receiving the
this Thomas Skendall, for feloniouslyben
stolen, that all these
watch, knowing it to have e.
a watch-
at his request by
alterations had beer made
maker in the neighbourhood, who apparently, ace
nt
cording to his own innhce declaration, saw nothing
one ma er s nae for
unusual in substituting
f d•
-ling the dial-p ate o its a-
another, or in despoiling
affixing a new ring or bow
mond attractions, or in t h
Nothing would
to the handle of the watch.
tradesman's senses
evi-
dently stimulate this guileless.
doing • and probably,
into a suspicion of. wrong- ,
until the judge reminded him that he was liable to
I • diottnent for being " memory after the fact,"
itn in•

he had treated the job from this barman in easy cir•
cumstances—too easy circumstances for his character
of honesty—as one of common and every:day occur-
rence. With all the mutations which this article of
luxury had undergone, the original maker, Mr.
Adams was still, happily for Mr. Binks, enabled to
swear to its identity. "He had not the least diffi-
culty in identifying it; it was worth 70 guineas."
" The plate on the watch," continued the witness,
" was the same that the diamonds were set in.
There was a peculiarity in the make of oue stud,
and he had not the least difficulty in identifying the
watch. The F and S for fast' and 'slow' had

not been altered. The letters were engraved out
of his house. He did not swear to the watch
by these letters, but by its general appearance,
and many other peculiarities of it." The police
tell the rest of the tale. They had gone to
the Bull and Anchor public-house, High Hol-
born, saw the prisoner and the " manager,"
and, after a little parley, obtained the watch, which
the prisoner was very loth to part with. The
" manager," however, who at the appearance of the
police saw that matters had gone a little too far,
told him to restore the watch. On the person of the
prisoner £6 12s and six watch keys were also found,
so that it would seem that the barman has a fancy
to or trades in these personal appendages. Then
the diamonds were found at the pawnbroker's hard
by. The prisoner of course protested that he bonght
the watch " of a man in Seven Dials," for £l4, with
whom, as is most likely to be the case, he declared
he had had several dealings. Before the judge
other ugly circumstances respecting the ordinary
habits of " Thomas Skendall" were detailed. Last
June he was charged at Bow-street Police-court
with receiving stolen cigars, the produce of a
burglary. The police-sergeant, 11 F, affirmed
that, on that occasion, " his employer went to the
prosecutor and begged him off from prosecuting, but
the case was quite complete against him. He had
frequently seen him hanging over the counter at his
master's conversing withconvicted thieves. His mas-
ter kept the Bull and Anchor, High Holborn, which
was the resort of thieves." Happily for the safety of
unsuspecting, casual, and innocent customers of the
Bull and Anchor, High Holborn, this matter of the
house's reputation is to be brought before another
tribunal, and there, we may presume, this facile
"employer" will be called upon to explain away,
excuse, or account for the bad character of his
house. Otherwise it would have been necessary to
ask the brewers and distillers who supply and sup-
port the Bull and Anchor, High Holborn, whether
the character of the house and of those frequent-
ing it is known and accepted "in the common
order of things." Meantime the barman "of very
respectable appearance" was sentenced, for his pos-
session of Mr. Binks's diamond watch, to a term of
four years' penal servitude. And the complying
watchmaker, who had assisted him in his crime, was
dismissed by the lenient judge with a caution—a cau-
tion, it may be hoped, that will always be before his
eyes in any other repairs he may have to perform on
watches from which the maker's name is to be
erased. Of course we must have thieves and re-
ceiving-houses, the fence-shop and the melting-pot ;
but that does not reconcile us to an establishment
like the Bull and Anchor, High Holborn, and its
respectable-looking barman. In one of the most
crowded thoroughfares in the metropolis we
are introduced to a public-house in full swing,
which the police declare is " a regular
place for the reception of stolen goods."
What are the licensing magistrates about, and who
are the " men of capital" who have put the present
occupant in this public-house and keep him there?
Crime is everywhere sheltering its predatory habits
under " respectable appearances," but this unblush-
ing occupancy of a house in the frequented neigh-
bourhood of High Holborn, by " a manager" who
keeps a professional thief for his barman, should be
at once attended to, especially whets the barman is
able to equip himself with a 70 guinea watch which
he had bought of a mutual friend.
DAILY NEWS.—A hard electoral battle has been
fought at Coventry for Mr. Ellice's vacant seat.
Both parties claim the victory, Mr. Arthur Peel's
committee quoting a majority of seven, and Mr.
Morgan Treherne's a majority of 147, for
their respective candidates. If Mr. Treherne is
really returned, the proceedings of the House of
Commons may again be enlivened by some of the
originality and vivacity which have been wanting
in them since the days of the lamented Sibthorp.
Although put forward by the Conservative party,
Mr. Treherne is not a Conservative. It is his plea-
sure to describe himself as an "unmitigated Tory."
As such he contested the borough before the pass-
ing of the Reform Bill ; he has been doing it ever
since, and he boasts that his opinions are now what
they were in the fine old days when his followers
marched under the blue banners of " Church and
King." The reports of the canvass and election
speeches in the local journals show us that " the
party" has this time got a representative of
strong individuality. Mr. Treherne professes
a "thorough and hearty detestation of Whigs,"
which he sometimes expresses strongly, and
sometimes in a delicate manner. " Every-
body and everything about him appeared to hate
Whiggery. He had a parrot at home which cried,
Damn the -Whigs ;' and although he should be very
sorry to use such language himself—even if he did
express himself strongly sometimes—he could not
say that his feelings towards the Wnigs were more
friendly than those of his parrot." But Mr. Tre-
herne disdains to stick at words ; he is a man of
action. Last Saturday he told his followers—" He
was an old man, but he could fight a blow or two
yet, and he never intended to desert his friends.
He should be very sorry if such interruptions were
given to them as to render it necessary for him
to take his place side by side by them ; but if
the necessity arose he hoped that two of them
would take and hold him so as not to interrupt
the action of his arm, but to keep him on his
legs as long as he was able to strike a blow."
Clearly Mr. Peel, who neither keeps a parrot nor
challenges his opponents to a fight, met his adver-
sary at a great disadvantage. Mr. Trehorne's battle
horse was the French Treaty, which has " ruined
Coventry." He belongs to that school which used to
set up toll-gates on all the highways of commerce.
Three years ago we pulled down the gate on our side
of the road to France, and so far made communica-
tion and exchange easier. Mr. Treherne tells the
Coventry people that this is wrong, and that if we
cannot have the road with no gate at all, we had
better have two gates and double tolls. He does
not mind telling the weavers that they were
robbed when the ribbon-weavers at last got leave
to lay out money where they could get the
ribbons they liked best. This is the style of
politicians who succeeds to the seat of the great
manager of the Liberal party. It is a pity that
the representation of an important borough like
Coventry should fall into the hands of a Morgan
Treherne, but it is not surprising. What can we
expect but that the constituencies will go off wildly
upon false issues of all kinds, when the leaders of
the Liberal party proclaim that there is nothing
worth fighting for but their own precious selves.

IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING,

BIRMIN—MIAM, Thursday Evening,

The great meeting of the ironmasters of this district for
the quarter was held in the Town-hall here this afternoon ;
there was a large attendance, the trade in the other iron-
producing districts being well represented. The tone of the
assembly was such as to lead to the inference that the re-
cently advanced prices will be maintained ; home con-
sumers evinced more willingness to give out contracts ; and
on the part of those who are engaged in the export trade it
was evident that there was more confidence in the future of
prices, though the wisdom or policy, whichever it might
be, that dictated the last advance was not generally
recognised. The ironmasters point to the state of the labour
market, which has forced on the recent rise in the price of
iron, and in that respect the cause assigned is strong, for it
is quite certain that labour is decreasing in the South Staf-
fordshire district ; the decline is going on almost daily, and
at this moment there are departments which it is impossible
to fill. A continuance of that condition must keep up prices.
The transactions to-day were not large, but most of the
producers of finished iron are well supplied with orders, and
had consequently no disposition to press for orders ; the
fresh contracts entered into at this meeting were at the full
none of the leading makers being disposed to
tacceptrad e p
belowriccs
the rates fixed at the preliminary meeting ;
and the second class houses are obtaining better prices in
proportion than is usual. L was mentioned, too, that the
works are al: in fall operation ; where such is not the case it
arises from a difficulty in the way of procuring labour, or in
some other respect on that account. The fact of the North
Staffordshire and Welsh makers being well placed with
regard to orders must help materially to sustain the trade
in this district,
With regard to pig iron, the prices are not quite so well
settled as they are for the manufactured article—the pig
masters ask about £3 17s 6d to yi per ton for good hot blast
mine iron, but consumers concede it reluctantly, and many
of them aro in a position to abstain from purchasing, they
having stocks of pig bought at low prices ; moreover, there
is the competition with the inferior makes of pig iron of
Northamptonshire and the North, which is being pressed
into this market at this moment at fully ss, perhaps 7s 6d,
below the pricy of the pig iron of this district. if, however,
the demand for finished iron keeps up, Staffordshire pig iron
will readily command the price above quoted.
Tho trade in Shrophire pig iron is steady, and prices
have advanced in proportion to the rise upon pig iron, the
produce of this district.
In reference to North Staffordshire iron, it may be noticed
that the advances in the price recently made will place the
general scale relatively higher than it is in South Stafford-

shire.
The meeting here to-day was a cheerful one, all who aro
engaged in the trade as prcducers taking a cheerful view
with regard to the future,

Another Fatal Omnibus Accident.

Last evening Dr. Lankester, the coroner for Central Mid-
dlesex, held an inquest in University College Hospital
touching the death of a lad named Geo. D. Dennis, who had
been killed by one of the City Atlas omnibuses. The parents
of the poor boy were present, and Mr. T. Beard, of Basing-
hall-street, solicitor, appeared for the London General
Omnibus Company. Several witnesses were examined, and.
from their evidence the following particulars were elicited.
On Friday evening, about half-past 6 o'clock, the deceased
lad, who was 14 years of age, and who was employed as an
errand boy inan establishment in Tottenham-coart-road, was
crossing the end of London-street when he was struck on the
side of the head by the pole of one of the " express" City
Atlas omnibuses, which was entering London-street from
Todenham-ceurt .road. Immediately on being struck the
boy fell to the ground, and one of the fore and one of the
hind wheels of the vehicle passed over his body. He was
and conveyed to University College
at
toosnpcite picked up
Hospital, which close to the spot where the accident took
place, but he died before he reached the accident ward, so
serious and extensive were the injuries he had received.
One of his arms was badly fractured, his lungs were rup-
tured, his liver was nearly divided, and his dorsal vertebra)
were severed. A number of persons had witnessed the oc-
currence, and they all concurred in stating that the omni-
bus had just crossed Tottenham-court-road from Uni-
versity-street, and was entering London-street, when the
boy ran or walked quickly from the footway on the south
side of the latter street into the road, and that it would
have been impossible for the driver of the omnibus to pull
up in time to prevent the accident. There was, however,
a difference of opinion as to the speed at which the
omnibus was travelling. Mark Gibbs, the owner of a
fish-stall at the corner of London-street, said it was
going rather quicker than usual; while William Cox, who
had seen the accident from about the same spot, stated
that the speed was not higher than between four and
five miles an hour. This latter witness was corrobo-
rated by Mr. Walter Neck and other gentlemen, who wero
seated on the omnibus at the time, as well as by J. Pierce,
the driver, who said that he had met obstructions in crossing
Tottenham-court-road from University-street, and that con-
sequently he could not have been going at any great speed.
The jury found a verdict of "Accidental death;" but in
handing in their decision the foreman said they desired him
to make this statement--thatalthough in tlais particular case
the evidence obliged them to come to the conclusion that
the omnibus was not going at a speed of more than between.
four and five miles an hour when crossing Tottenham-
court-road, several of the jury were prepared to state of their
own knowledge that the same vehicle was in the habit of
crossing there at a speed of eight miles an hour, which in
such a thoroughfare was a very dangerous rate. In addi-
tion to this they could not express themselves in too strong
terms of reprehension concerning the system of omnibus
"nursing" which was being carried on along Tottenham-
court-road. It was positively frightful to look at the way
omnibus opposition was conducted along that street daily,
and there could be no doubt that some very shocking occur-
rence would take place if the nursing and racing of which
several of the were constantly eye-witnesses wet o
not put an end to. Dr. Lankester hoped that these observa-
tions coming from housekeepers in the neighbourhood
would havedue weight.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

I,`

MANCHESTER-THURSDAY.

At our market this morning the demand for wheat was
exceedingly lifeless, both English and foreign held steadily
for the prices of this day se'nnight, but there was no dispo-
sition on the part of millers to buy. Flour very inactive,
and buyers might have supplied themselves at 6d to is
per sack and barrel lower. New oats receded 2d per 451 b,
and new oatmeal sold slowly at a further decline of Is to
2s per load. Indian corn 6d per qr higher. The trade for
in Egyptian beans was firm.