The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-11 00:00:00

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climate of such States as South Carolina and
Georgia, wintered there, be converted into the best
cavalry corps which this continent has ever seen.
Great and important service may be shortly ex-
pected from the command of General Stuart. A
feeling of bitter irritation in consequence of the
unmolested raids which recently agitated the city
of Richmond, hut which were singularly unpro-
ductive of other results, has taken possession
of the public mind ; and it is safe to predict that
some offset to the achievements of Gen. Stoneman
will before long be put on the file. If ever the fine
and enthusiastic army of Gen. Lee, reinforced sine,:
the battles of Chancellersville by the large corps of
Gen. Longstreet, and strengthened by the addition
to the command of Gen. Stuart of at least 10,000
sabres, might be contemplated with confidence, that
confidence is assuredly not out of place at the pre-
sent moment. I am assured that the muskets picked
up on the battlefield amount to not less than 50,000.
MAY 19.
The almost unbroken success which has cheered
Secessia since first I took up my abode within its
limits can scarcely be expected to be wholly unat-
tended with disaster. A casualty which at first ap-
peared likely to be disastrous in its consequences
aroused Richmond from its slumbers at two :n the
morning of the 15th inst., and for a time imperilled
the very existence of the Tredegar Works, the
largest and most successful ironfoundry in the Con-
federacy, at which most of the heavy guns, and
notably the Brooke guns, have for the last two years
been cast. It is true that if the Confederacy were
prevented from producing any more guns, the incon-
venience would scarcely be great, in consequence of
the immense amount of superfluous artillery which
they have already taken from the enemy. But there
is demandfor more of the famous Brooke guns, to be
employed in a service which will hereafter become
apparent, and the destruction of the TredegarWorks
would in this respect have been a serious calamity.
I am happy to say that the fire which burst out in an
immense woollen factory, and afterwards extended
to the Tredegar Works, did serious damage to the
latter, but not such as, in the opinion of Captain
Brooke, to interfere with the progress of the
numerous guns of which he is superintending
the manufacture, and which are now approaching
completion. The feeling that with the sweet must
also come the bitter has latterly induced a deal of
anxiety in regard to the operations of Gen. Grant's
army along the Big Black River, which is traversed
by the railroad which connects .Vicksburg with
Jackson, and runs out into the Mississippi about 30
miles south of the former town. It may be remem-
bered that in a former letter, while deprecating the
censure of your readers for not giving them more
searching revelations in regard to this country, I
intimated the probability of an incautious word
furnishing a hint to the Federals about Vicksburg
which might be pregnant with mischief to that gal-
lant little city. There is now no harm in saying
that it was impossible to inspect the defences of
Vicksburg without coming to the conclusion that
its only vulnerable point was by an approach along

the Big Black River. It is true that even by this
approach, infinitely more promising though it be than
any attack from the direction of the Yazoo River,
the difficulties are stupendous, and at the end there
is, in Vicksburg itself, a nut so hard to crack that
in my opinion no Federal molars will be strong
enough for the job. The ,reader may remember my
description of the network of lunettes, redans, re-
doubts, and other works which surrounds Vicks-
burg and protects its rear, and whichrs by far the
finest system of works which I have hitherto seen
in the Confederacy. Add to this the difficulty of
moving such an army as Gen. Grant's through a
country as tangled and infinitely more hilly than
the wilderness which witnessed the recent battles in
Virginia, and some conception of the arduous nature
of the task which he has on hand, and which he
seems to have hitherto discharged with activity and
ability, may be formed by the English reader. He
is assisted by a fleet scarcely less powerful than that
which was recently foiled before Charleston, and
commanded by two of the ablest officers in the Fede-
ral navy, Farragut and Porter.
The great and absorbing interest of the recent
operations near Fredericksburg fixed the eyes of
both sections mainly upon that neighbourhood, and
it was not until the smoke which overhung the val-
ley of the Rappahannock had cleared away that the
attention of the Confederate public was attracted to
the fact that, contrary to my own and the general
anticipations, another formidable attack, conducted
along the approach which has long been felt to offer
most promise to the assailants, was threatening the
little hill city of Vicksburg. For a considerable
time past it has been found that it was almost im-
possible to check the passage of Federal transports
and barges under cover of night down the Missis-
sippi, and accordingly a large number of vessels
have successfully run the gauntlet of the Vicksburg
batteries, subject only to the loss of a heavy percen-
tage of their numbers. As there has throughout
this war been a reckless disregard of property on
the Federal side—a disregard which at the present
moment may be nothing but wise economy—Admi-
ral Farragut did not scruple to sacrifice many of his
vessels in order to get a larger number than he
sacrificed below the obstruction he offered at Vicks-
burg. His troops were marched over the tongue of
land across which the attempted canal has been car-
ried, and were embarked upon the surviving trans-
ports beyond the range of the Vicksburg batteries.
It appears that the defences thrown up by the Con.
federates at Grand Gulf, which is situated at the
mouth of the Big Black River, 30 miles below
Vicksburg, were only seriously taken in hand after
a large number of Federal vessels had succeeded in
getting past the batteries at Port Hudson and
Vicksburg. These defences were designed to ob-
struct the passage of vessels up the Big Black,
which is navigable, though not without damage to
large vessels, for a considerable distance from its
mouth. A heavy bombardment of the few and
light guns planted by the Confederates at Grand
Gulf necessitated the abandonment of that post, and
a subsequent battle at Port Gibson, which was again
abandoned by the Confederates, left their enemy in,
and opened a door along the Big Black to the rear
of Vicksburg. The evacuation of Port Gibson was
followed by that of Bayou Pierre, and General
Bower fell back with his small Confederate force
towards Vicksburg, bnt not until his gallant little
band had done some excellent fighting.
It was at this stage of the proceedings that Gen.
Joseph E. Johnstone appeared on the scene. His
first arrival was not in time to save the city o. f Jack-
son, against which the Yankees were led with
John tun,
prising activity activity by Gen. Grant. Gen.
whose reinforcements bad not come up, was obliged
to retreat hastily from Jaokscn, whic• h was occupied,
hours, by the Federals, 'who
though not for many
subsequently fell back towards a lit• tle place called
Raymond, though whether with a design of attack.
lag Vicksburg in the rear, or of retreating towards
the base of their operations, their vessels on the
Mississippi does not yet appear. It is obvious that
there must be great difficulty in supplying such an
army as Grant's—said to consist of 40,000 or 50,000
men—in such a country, 50 miles away from their
base. There is also a report that his trains have
been cut and interfered with by the one-armed Gen.
Loting, an active and enterprising officer. Be this
as it may, it is manifest that Gen. Grant has not a
moment to lose, and that his only chance of taking
Vicksburg will be by a coup de main, before John-
stone is strong enough to fall upon his rear.
Within the lines of Vicksburg is Gen. Pemberton,
in command of a very strong force, amply provi-
sioned for some weeks to come. In the neighbour-
hood of Jackson is Gen. Johnstone, with an army
already numbering 11,000 men, which is being ra-
pidly increased by reinforcements flowing through
Meridian, It is difficult to form accurate opinions
in regard to these Western operations, concerning
which our information has always been vague; but
President Davis expresgeF.i hirm•olf as thoroughly

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confident about the issue of the struggle in
State, and no one in Richmond is so well
to form a correct opinion as he is. It won
that it' Grant advances directly against the tre-
mendous works at Vicksburg he is prepared to
stake his all upon that cast of the die Unless he
succeeds, and succeeds at once, he will apparently
have General Johnstone in his rear and General
Pemberton in his front, the number of their col-
lective forces being fully equal to those of Grant.
I'his prospect does not seem very promising for the
Federals, but they have got into such a stolid atti-
tude. of insouciance at New York and Boston that
Lothiog but some such casualty es the peril of Wash-
ington wi:l ever disturb them. What is likely to
be tho result of the operations of the next few
weeks your readers can judge as well and perhe.ps
better than I; but let them rest assured that the
cctivity of the Confederates is likely to be not less
remarkable, and, as it seems to me, likely to be
more successful than the activity of their opponents.
In only one spot will a defensive attitude probably
be pre,e!vecl—a!ong the line which General Bragg
.nd his army arc holding in front of Generai Rose-
crans. Whether the latter will be able to main-
tain himself where he is when the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers, along which his supplies are drawn,
have fallen so low as to be no longer navigable
seems very problematical. Anyhow, it seems
scarcely possible that a great crisis, momentous as
regards the future issue of this weary war, can fail
to be reached before the Ides of Jane.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
Mr. E. J. Reed, chief constructor of the navy,
paid an official visit to Sheerness dockyard on
Monday last, attended by Mr. Moody, master ship-
wright. He inspected the dockyard school for
apprentices, while the candidates for admission
were undergoing examination. He then proceeded
to inspect the Scylla, 20, screw steam corvette, and
thence went to the factory. He finally went on
board the Arethusa, 30, screw steam frigate. While
on boord this vessel a telegraphic message arrived
from the Admiralty, requesting his presence imme-
diately, and he left for London by the 3.15 train
from Sheerness.
The Orlando, 46, screw steam frigate, 3,740 tons,
I,ooo,horse power, Capt. George G. Randolph,
having completed coaling, was removed from the
coal bulk to moorings in Sheerness harbour on Mon-
day last, where she is now receiving her stores and
ammunition, being ordered to ship 100 tons of the
latter. These duties concluded, she is to be got
ready for sea with all despatch, and will proceed to
Devonport for the West India and North American
stations.
The Scylla, 21, screw steam corvette, 400-horse
power, chief engineer in charge Mr. James Gillies,
is being brought forward in No. 1 dock, Sheerness
dockyard, for the first-class steam reserve of that
port. She is expected to be ready for sea about the
20th inst.
The Cossack, 30, screw steam-corvette, 1,296
tons, 250,horse power, Capt. W. Rolland, was
swung for the adjustment of her compasses, yester-
day, in Sheerness harbour, and her crew have been
transferred from the naval barracks at Sheerness to
the ship. She is expected to be ready for sea by
the 16th inst.
The Herring, gunboat, Commander Lieut. John
R. D. Cooper, tender to the Edinburgh coastguard
vessel at Queensferry on the Firth of Forth, has left
Sheerness to resume her duties in the north, after
having been refitted and supplied with new boilers
in Sheerness dockyard.
Her Majesty's steam storeship Rhadamanthus,
Master-Commander Raymond, has commenced re-
turning stores at Woolwich, in preparation to go
down to Sheerness to be repaired, in consequence
of the entrance of the outer basin at Woolwich
being closed by a coffer dam. The officers and
crew of the Rhadamanthus will be transferred to
the Dee for service, with the exception of Mr.
Edward R. D. Mayne, acting second master, who
has been dismissed the service.
The Vivid, steam tender to the Fisgard at Wool-
wich, went down the river on Tuesday on trial of
her boilers and machinery. Mr. John Frickett,
chief engineer and inspector of machinery, attended
on behalf of the Admiralty. The trial was satis-
factory, the speed realising 13 knots 8 decimals per
hour. Her boilers, manufactured in Woolwich
dockyard, her engines, by Messrs. Penn and Sons,
were thoroughly repaired, and the vessel com-
pletely renovated and made good throughout.
The powerful hydraulic press for bending armour
plates, manufactured by Messrs. Westwood, Baillio,
and Co., of the Isle of Dogs, for her Majesty's
dockyard at Pembroke, underwent an official trial
on Tuesday, Mr. Patridge, inspector of machinery
at Woolwich, being in attendance on behalf of
the Government authorities. The press is a dupli-
cate of the one erected a few weeks ago in Wool-
wich dockyard. The plates of 41 inches and one of
3 inches in thickness were placed on the ram cold,
and were subjected to a pressure of 461 cwt. per
circular inch of the ram, which is equal to a pres-
sure of 1,823 tons, being the greatest pressure yet
obtained by any machinery. All the joints of the
pumps and press were perfectly tight. The plates
bent were 3ft. 3ih. wide, and were curved 11 inches
in the width. Two plates, one 42 inches thick and
one 3 inches thick, were then turned over and
placed in the press with the Ik-inch curved side
downwards, and by working the press up to 24 cwt.
per circular inch, or 940 tons on the ram, the plates
were bent 21 inches—viz., from 11 hollow to 1k
round in the width. The same firm are manufac-
turing three similar presses for the Russian Go-
vernment, and also the huge iron rudder, to
weigh 13 tons, for her Majesty's 30 gun iron steam
ship Achilles, 6,079 tons, building at Chatham. The
rudder will be ready for delivery at the end of the
present month.
The following appointments were made yes-
erday at the Admiralty :
Dr. Donald Wlver, acting assistant.surgeon, additional,
o the Royal Adelaide.
John Frazar, do.
Dr. Joseph Whitaker, do.
Alfred Wm. Whitley, to the Victory.
Wm. 1). Wodsworth, do.
John Ward (a) surgeon, to the Trincomalee.
Edward J. Bennett, paymaster, do.
Dnr..FG.eEo..V3 sol‘rlis,oDno,npoagyrah, to the Active.
to the Aboukir.
---
surgeon,
Commander John A. Shears,

THE ARMY.
N o
No. 2 B
arrivedat
13th
mr3thooßlrwch
igiadefßroomyaAad
llArtrials. T
Artillery
z`Tuesday
battery landed on the previous day at Gravesend
from the hired troop-ship Lord Warden, 96 days at
erY a
sea. The Battery consisted of Capt. Tottenham,
Lieut. R. P. L, Welch, Dr. Cashman, 205 non-com-
missioned officers and men, 13 women, and 32 chil-
dren. Two children belonging to a second-class
passenger died and 'were buried at sea off the Cape
of Good Hope, With this exception the ship was
exceedingly healthy.
The headquarters and first squadron of the sth
Battalion Military Train to be relieved by a similar
squadron of the 4th Battalion from Aldershot, left
Woolwich yesterday for the former place. They
consisted of Major Sella, Capts. Berry and Baby,
Lieut. Bruce, Ensign Simpson, Adj t. Hesketh, Surg.
Macbeth, Veterinary-Surg. Fleming, four staff ser-
geants, seven sergeants, two trumpeters, and 119
rank and file.

EXETER HALL.—The National Choral Society
will give a performance of Mendelssohn's " Hymn
of Praise" and Rossini's "Stabat Mater" on Wednesday,
the 24th, under the direction
wh of Mr. G. W. Martin. In
addition to Mr. Sims Reeves Co has transferred his ser-
vices from the Sacred Harmonic Society to Mr. Martin and
the National Choral Society), Madame Alboni has been en-
gaged, and will make her first appearance in sacred music.
This will be the only performance of the above works this
season.
Mr. H. BERKELEY'S MOTION ON VOTE BY BAL-
LOT.—This motion comes on for discussion in the
Rouse of Commons on Tuesday, the 16th of June, when
we hope all those members who profess to be advocates for
freedom of election will be in their places to give it their
support. The recent elections in Paris are strong proofs of
the efficacy of the ballot to protect the voters from being
intimidated by the power of one of the most despotic of
Go-
verzin;cnt',