The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-05 00:00:00

AMERICA.

QUEENsTOWN, Tuesday Morning.
The Inman steamer City of Baltimore, from New York
the 24th January, has arrived.
The question of foreign immigration was brought before
Congress on the 21st, and legislation for its protection and
direction urged.
In the Senate, on the 22d, Mr. Wilson offered a resolu-
tion, which, on his own motion, was laid over, instructing
the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire whether Gen.
Burnside has formed any plans for an advance since the
battle of Fredericksburg, and if so, whether such plan has
been interfered with by any subordinate General or any one
else. A communication was received from the President,
transmitting the report and correspondence relative to the
exportation of arms for the French army in Mexico. The
bill to provide for the comfort of sick and wounded soldiers
and the efficiency of the medical department was passed,
with several amendments.
The House went into committee of the whole on the bill to
provide ways and means for the support of the Government,
several sections of which were adopted. An amendment that
none of the money raised under this act shall be expended
in the purchase of negro slaves, or as a compensation for
slaves emancipated by any State, or for arming, equipping,
and supporting fugitive slaves, was rejected by a vote of
29 to 72. Mr. Hooper's substitute far the bill was rejected
by a vote of 31 to 79. Without arriving at any decision,
the committee rose,
The second advance of the Army of the Potomac across
the Rappahannock has been put off, partly from
the state of the weather and partly from alleged ineffi-
ciency in the Quartermaster's department. The following
are the latest despatches :
" Head-quarters, Friday. Jan. 23.
" The tempestuous weather since Tuesday last, and the
consequent impassable state of the roads, have rendered
any advance of the Army of the Potomac beyond the Rap-
pahannock a matter of utter impossibility. The same
causes so delayed the transportation of the pontoons and
heavy artillery to the designated points as to prevent a sur-
prise of the enemy at the points proposed to cross. This
afternoon the clouds broke away, and the influence of the
sun is telling' favourably upon the soil. Several Paymas-
ters have already arrived, bringing joy to the soldiers and
relief to their families at home, A delay in the payment of
those actively employed may occur."
" Washington, Friday, Jan. 23.
" We are in possession of full details from our corre-
spondents with the Army of thaPotomac of the. late pro-
posed and partially executed movement against the enemy.
It 'appears that the tremendous rains have so terribly
affected the roads that it was utterly impossible to move
artillery, even if the infantry could be got over, added to
which fact, the Quartermaster's Department, as usual.
when any important movement is being executed, was be-
hind with its supplies. The consequence is, that the order
for an advance has been changed to one for retrograde, and
it is possible that the Army of the Potomac has executed
marches of advance and retreat, and are now again mostly
in their old cantonments, nothing damaged by conflict
with the rebels they had no opportunity to meet. No blame
falls en General Burnside, who, had his plans been fol-
lowed, would have made the movement weeks ago."
Previous to moving, General Burnside had issued the
following address to the Army :
" Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp, near
Falmouth, Virginia, Jan. 20, 1863.
" (General Orders, No. 7.)
" The Commanding-General announces to the Army of
the Potomac that they are about to meet the enemy once
more. The late brilliant actions in North Carolina, Ten-
nessee, and Arkansas divided and weakened the enemy on
the Rappahannock, and the auspicious moment seems to
have arrived to strike a great and moral blow at the rebel-
lion, and to gain that decisive victory which is due to the
country. Lot the gallant soldiers of so many brilliant bat-
tle fields accomplish this achievement, and a fame the most
glorious awaits them.
"The Commanding General calls for a firm and united
action of officers and men, and, under the providence of
God, the Army of the Potomac will have taken the great step
toward restoring peace to the country and the Government
to its rightful authority.
" By command of Major-General Burnside.
(Signed) "LEWIS RIM:MOND,
" Assistant Adjutant-General,
(Official.) " EDWARD M. NEILL,
" Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,"
A correspondent, writing from Acquia Creek, on
the 21st, says—
"lf the storm continues with its present fury during the
day, the Rappahannock, the Rapidan, and all the small
streams, which we will have to cross before Gen. Lee can
be outflanked, will be swollen so that the experiment
will be a very hazardous one, and its success very
doubtful. Not having, on account of the storm, been
able to reach the main body of the army, I cannot
state definitely how far the initiatory steps of the pre-
sent movement have progressed ; but from those who
loft the front this morning, and were not encumbered with
a horse and his trappings, and reached here in time for
the Washington boat, I learn that the orders
counter-
manded which
were issued last evening were this morning anc%
mended on account of the severity of the storm,
ays.
Upon wil
several
whose side Providence is in this sudden k
be seen. The wind and the rain havehc made havoc hnaLocliweitihn
the schooners, canal boats, and blaacreg.es, which
They can now be
hundreds at the wharfs at thiviesr,
Pand butting and pounding
seen floating all over thweer
re
all upon the grand spree, and
each other as if they
were totally indifferent wheth the Army of the Potomac
al
a
for the next month had anything er
to eat or not. Gener
Siegel, who guards the rear, and has under special
chargethe
at Acquia Creek, Belle Plain, and Liver-
poolSie landing
Point, has done all he could to protect the property on
the shore,
and as yet but little has been lost or damaged ;
but the night was so intensely dark, and the wind rose to a
furious gale so quickly, that it was impossible to save all the
vessels, and at the same time protect the vast amount of
property on the land. At Acquia Creek the ground upon
which the depot buildings hays been erected is separated