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

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA,

A;nrei sl
)21.
(From the Special Correspondent o
of
RiKh T
It begins to be whispered that the attack on
Charleston was peremptorily ordered by the War
Department; that Admiral Dupont disapproved
it, unless he could be efficiently supported by
General Hunter; that General Hunter, not having
more than halt the men requisite, declined the re-
sponsibility ; that their joint remonstrances were
unavailing; and that finally the Admiral was
ordered, nolens volens, to force the passage with his
iron-clads. The officials at Washington appear to
have taken a sudden fancy for the celebration of
anniversaries; and they calculated that if they could
but recapture Fort Sumter, and announce the fact
to the people of New York assembled in Union-square
on the 11th, they would perform a grand coup de
theatre, perpetrate a highly dramatic and agreeable
act of vengeance, fire the Northern heart with new
enthusiasm, and administer a heavy blow to the
South. But the President, though he issued positive
orders to the Admiral, is reported to have taken
counsel with his second thoughts, and to have come
to the conclusion that the War Department was
wrong in disregarding the remonstrances of its
officers, and to have despatched his private secretary
on a special mission to Port Royal, countermanding
all previous instructions, . ordering that the attack
should be abandoned, and that the Monitors should
all proceed to New Orleans to co-operate with Gen.
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the iron-clads engaged in the unavailing struggle
had been so seriously damaged as to be unable to
proceed to the Mississippi without repairs. This
is the story which has been brought from Port
Royal by persons who profess to speak on authority,
and which is in ell probability correct in its main
particulars. It will not tend to increase the public
confidence in the wisdom of the Administration,
though it may help to prove that Mr. Lincoln him-
self has more practical common sense than the
people who surround him.
General Banks is undoubtedly in peril in New
Orleans. He was sent to that city against his will,
with the malicious hope that he would so damage
his military and political reputation by his adminis-
tration of that difficult department as to fall out of
the list of candidates for the Presidency. This
question of the Presidency is the stumbling-block
in the way of every Northern man who aspires to
serve his country; and, lest Banks should become
too popular and powerful, it was graciously deter-
mined to give him a chance of ruining himself. But
the military authorities of Washington overshot
their mark. In sending him to Louisiana with a
force wholly insufficient to hold that State, and to
co-operate for the reduction of Port Hudson and
the clearance of the Mississippi, they incurred the
risk not only of ruining Gen. Banks, but the still
more imminent risk of losing New Orleans and the
whole of Louisiana. Hence it has been found abso-
lutely necessary to strengthen his hands; and hence
the iron clad fleet, as soon as it has been repaired in
its weak and damaged places and mounted with
guns of greater calibre, will make its way:to the
mouth of the Mississippi. It is the wisest act of the
Administration, The possession of Charleston and
all the cities of the Atlantic seaboard would have
been of no real value to the North. As long as
they are blockaded, wholly or partially, the South
must suffer; but the capture of Vicksburg and Port
Hudson and the possession of the entire course of
the Mississippi from New Orleans to St. Louis
would do more than defeat the South, where it can
not afford to be defeated. It would sooth the su

fering and discontented North- Western States, re-
store some portion of their trade, and sensibly dimi-
nish the chances of a new secession. Unfortunately,
however, for the North, it is not alone Gen. Banks
who is in danger. Gen. Rosencrans is believed to
be in a most critical position. The Cumberland
River, which runs its long, tortuous course through
the heart of Tennessee, and floats the gunboats and

he steamers that supply his armies, ie only nay

gable in the winter months. Its waters have already
fallen four feet, and are sinking so rapidly as to

make it a question of a few days whether he can
continue to maintain himself without making a for-

ward movement against the enemy. The Confede.

rates under Gen. Joseph Johnson, their best, most
popular, and most trusted commander, are full of

confidence that, whether Rosencrans offers or ac.

cepts battle, he will be defeated. Thus it looks, as
the Americans say, " as if it would soon thunder ail

around." The indications certainly are that within
the next three or four weeks stirring news may be

expected both from Tennessee and Louisiana.
The Loyal League meetings, or, as they are now
popularly and appropriately named, " the Contra -

"tors' Meetings," are becoming a farce. They are
held in a succession far too rapid, and addressed by

speakers far too well-known and " used up" to offer
any attractions to a public so enamoured of novelty

as that of New York. The anniversary meeting of
the capture of Fort Sumter by the Confederates

having been a failure, not only in number, but as

regards the gratifying announcement of the recap-
ture which its originators expected to make, it was
determined to summon another Loyal League meet-
ing, to celebrate the anniversary of what is called
" the great uprising of the people" two years ago
after Fort Sumter had been taken, and the Massa-

churetts Volunteers had been killed in the streets

of Baltimore. The venerable General Scott, who

very recently notified by advertisement that the state

of his health and his daily increasing infirmities
would not again permit him to address or be present

at a public meeting, was persuaded to reconsider his
determination. It was arranged that he should not

attend to speak, but that he should preside from the
balcony of the Fifth-avenue Hotel, where he resides,
and that the meeting should be held in the street
below. It was expected by the originators of the
display that curiosity would draw together a con-
siderable crowd—and it did so. Madison-square
was tastefully decorated with flags; cannon were
fired ; at intervals bands of music were stationed at
the street corners and at the stands where the
speakers were to hold forth ; a procession of sailors
from the Navy-yard at Brooklyn was marched to
the scene; and the "Express Companies," which do
the carrying and forwarding business of this
country, sent a long cavalcade of waggons, some
drawn by six and most of them by four horses,—
gray, bay, black, and brown—to add to the excite-
ment and attraction of the day, and plelse themot
of small boys that congregated to see the show, The
day was bitterly cold, and a cutting north-east
wind was blowing. But General Scott was true to
his word, and took his place on the balcony at four
o'clock, closely rn nflL'd up in a large great-coat, with
a high collar, which allowed only a portion of his
He w
face to be seen.as attended by his physician,
lest there should be any danger to his health. After