The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 23, 1868:

of most of these holiday soldiers, indeed, I may say •
of all, for none anticipated what was to follow. I,
too, was out also, for although I looked forward to
a little work, I candidly acknowledge that I never
expected anything like what has taken place.
Shortly after our formation we were moved by cars
to Virginia, and, after a little marching and coun-
ter marching, pitched into the enemy at Bull Run
and at Stoney Bridge (commonly called the battle
of Manassas). The -, as our company was called,
was not present there, being on duty over the stores,
&c. Little or no fighting took place after that, both
parties being busy preparing for a grand pull. The
authorities then began to drill the gentlemen volun-
teers, to knock some notions of discipline into their
heads, and a great number of ridiculous ones, about
equality and such stuff, out of them. At this time
companies elected their own N.C.O. and officers. I
knew well enough that under these circumstances I
stood no chance of promotion among them. They
were all brothers, cousins, or somehow related to
each other; and besides, my ideas of military disci-
pline rather scared these gentlemen. I may here
mention that the right of election, except in the case
of the junior lieutenant, has very properly been long
since abolished. In October of that year, the colonel,
without consulting anyone, promoted me to be ser-
geant_ In March, 1862, we retired from Manassas,
and then the boys began really to feel what the
hardships of a soldier's life on service are. The wea-
ther was awful, and the roads all but impassable.
Next came the Valley campaign, as it is called,
where our brigade showed what it was made ; and
though you may think me a little too much my
own trumpeter, I will mention an incident
relating to myself which occurred there.
At -- our company, along with other
companies of the brigade, were ordered out as skir-
mishers to cover the advance. It was the first time
that our boys had been under regular hard fire.
As we moved on the enemy opened upon us from
the skirts of a wood in front. The fire was very
hot and heavy, and some of our boys began to tum-
ble over, and altnough not scared, yet the others
were certainly anything but comfortable.
Just in front of us vAs a fence; so, giving a rat-
tling shout, I yelled out, " To the fence, boys; take
the fence !" and, suiting the action to the word, I
rushed at it, cleared it, and, without firing, dashed
at the enemy with my bayonet. The skirmishers
all followed. The enemy's skirmishers were driven
back, and in a short time the day was ours. . .
Thus things went on until after the battles at
Richmond, when I was again promoted by the
colonel to be sergeant-major. A few more fights, a
lick or two more for me, and then came the three
days of Fredericksburg, and another Yankee army
had disappeared. Two days after the battle, being
at the colonel's tent on some duty, he handed me a
letter he was about to despatch to General Lee, our
commander-in-chief, recommending me for a com-
mission for repeated acts of gallantry, &c. Pending
the reply, one of the companies having a vacancy,
offered me the lieutenancy, which, of course, I ac-
cepted. A most flattering approval of the colonel's
application was sent by the commander-in-chief;
and so determined was he to grant me the step as a
reward, that, as the company electing me happened
to have no officers remaining, I was at once gazetted
as captain, and ordered up the same day, without
previous warning, before the Board of Examiners,
stood a three hours' examination, and came off with
flying colours, compliments, &c. And thus, my dear
-, ends the yarn. And the late -, of the
-, is now a Captain of Rebels. How say you to
that, old fellow ?

[The friends of the writer of the above, not having
heard from him since the beginning of the war, suc-
ceeded in communicating with an officer of high rank
in the Confederate army. His kindness in replying
to their inquiries does so much credit to his heart,
and affords so interesting a finals to the preceding
narrative, that we cannot refrain from giving his
letter. Both communications came by the same mail.
"Headquarters, - Brigade, Jan. 26, 1863.

"D-ar Sir,—Yours of the 12th, making inquiries
of Mr. —, of my brigade, has just been received.
I am happy to inform rn that he is still attached
to my brigade, and is in perfect health. He has
been wounded in some two or three different battles,
but his wounds though severe have left no ill effects.
Mr. -- joined as a private in one of the compa.
vies of my old regiment, and it may be gratifying

to his relations to learn that he is now a captain in
command of one of my finest companies, having
been promoted to this positiom for gallant and meri-

torious conduct. He is in all respects one of the
finest soldiers I have met with in our army, and is
unexceptionable as an officer. Captain - is at
present on picket duty. When he returns, he will,
I presume, avail himself of the opportunity of writ-
ing to his friends in England, and sending his let-
ters through you.

" ---,, Brigadier General Commanding."

THE POLISH QUESTION,

Le Pays publishes a full summary of the despatch
addressed by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs
to the Duke of Montebello, the Ambassador of
France at St. Petersburg, to be communicated by
him to Pi ince Gortschakoff. It says :—" The Mi-
nister commences by stating that the insurrection
of which the Kingdom of Poland is at present the
theatre, has given rise to serious anxiety in Europe,
which was enjoying a state of tranquillity that
no proximate event seemed likely to disturb.
The lamentable effusion of blood and the pain-
ful incidents which mark this struggle have caused
a deep emotion everywhere. The Government of the
Emperor has, therefore, only performed a duty in
expressing to the Court of Russia the reflections
which this state of affairs suggests to it, and in call-
ing its solicitude to the dangers that are connected
with it.

" A character and exceptional gravity are given
to the disturbances in Poland by the fact that these
disturbances are not the result of a temporary crisis.
Every one understands that effects which are repro-
duced every generation cannot be attributed solely
to accidental causes. The periodical convulsions of
Poland are the symptoms of an inveterate evil.
They leave no doubt upon the powerless attempts
hitherto made to reconcile that country with the
situation granted it by the treaties.
" The despatch goes on to state that those con-

tinned perturbations, whenever they occur, become
a subject of alarm to Europe. Poland occupies a
central position on the continent; it cannot be agi-
tated without the States which touch upon its fron-
tier suffering a commotion which is soon felt
throughout the whole of Europe. We have had
proofs of this whenever the Poles have taken up
arms.

" These conflicts, as is proved by the one we now
witness, have caused great anxiety in the public
mind. But, moreover, if they are prolonged, they
might trouble the relations between Governments
and lead to the most lamentable complications. it
is therefore in the interests of all the powers to
obviate these continually reclining dangers.
"The Minister expresses the hope that the Court
of Russia will listen to these observations, which are
well worth its attention, in the same spirit as that
which inspired them to the Government of the Em
peror. Re entertains the confidence that the Court.
of Russia will still show itself animated, under these
circumstances, by those liberal views of which the
reign of his Majesty the Emperor Alexander has
already given so many striking proofs, and that, in
its wisdom, it will admit the necessity of measures
which which will give Poland conditions that will assure
a durable peace.
I, The Minister concludes by requesting the Am-
bassador to leave %copy of the despatch with
Prince Gortschakoff.
_. .

- ---
Le Pays adds the following,—
" We can only confirm what we have already
stated respecting the despatches of England and
Austria, which, except a difference in the wording,
are written in the same sense and draw the same
conclusions."

them a trial. •In
ciated by all persons who have
.once given.
kidneys, and
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able to fulfil the duties essential to good health.

has supplied them with translations of the Board of Trade
Manual.
" 18. While thus endeavouring to realise a few practical
results from some of the voluminous accumulations of facts
hitherto usually remaining bound up on the shelves of
many a library, or stored in observatories, it may be that
some insight has been obtained of the manner in which
atmospheric changes are occasioned, and air-currents or
winds set in motion, around our world, chiefly by the sun
and moon. The luni-solar theory to which I refer appears
to be so much in accordance with observed facts that each
month adds to my own impression of its truth; but it would
be wrong not to say here, distinctly, that it is not yet ad-
mitted by the highest scientific judges.
" 19 In order to estimate fairly the nature and. practical
value of these latter results arising out of the Meteorologic-
office, it may be stated summarily that, as the objects are
to save life and property, to enable small vessels and boats
to avoid or prepare for dangerous winds, and to take full
advantage of favourable weather, to inform ships about to
leave port, or approaching land, and generally to inform, if
not to caution, the maritime community—their importance
is self-evident.

" 20. The daily forecasts so extensively, yet without
public cost, sent :everywhere by the newspapers (whether
the full tables are published by them or not), together with
the regular tabulation of facts observed in numerous and
widely-separated places, afford general information now
highly appreciated by a very large and increasing majority,
altnough they are at present only tentative, and liable to
errors of judgment, in drawing conclusions, however reliable
the facts.

" 21. Lastly, sir, I would request that you will notice a
few other papers appended to this report, with a view of
showing that while a new and extensive utilisation of me-
teorology has been pressed forward, for the advantage of all
classes, a continuous advance has been made in carrying on
the original purposes for which this office was established.
—I have, Sco., " R. FITZROY. Rear-Admiral.
" To the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, M.P.,
President of the Board of Trade."