The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-11 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

Beyond the success of Asteroid in the Chester Cup, and
his subsequent defeat by Buckstone in the Stewards' Cup,
the racing last week possessed no feature of interest. If
Mr. Merry had started Buckstone in the former race he
must have beaten Sir Joseph's horse. No person who saw
Stradella and Buckstone in their encounter at Newmarke
will for one moment believe that it was the true form of the
French mare, as she beat both Buckstone and the Marquis
in a common canter, two of the b at horses in training.
Haddington ran an extraordinary game horse, and but for
the 101 b penalty he incurred by winning the Metropolitan,
Mr. Jackson would to a certainty have carried off the great
Cestrian price for the second year in succession, as Asteroid
was "all out" to beat him by a neck.
The Bath Meeting, which is generally disastrous to seve-
ral of the Derby favourites, will commence to-morrow.
The list issued by Mr. Reynolds comprises 12 items equally
spread over Tuesday and Wednesday, and though none of
the Derby "cracks" are engaged, it is very probable we
shall see what Baldwin is wade of, and get another peep at
Bright Cloud, who was hardly up to the mark when de-
feated by Cerintha, at the Newmarket Craven Meeting;
and besides these, it is not unlikely that Lady Augusta
will run, as she is also engaged in the Biennial. The
ston Stakes and Two Y, ar Old Biennial, have also mag-
nificent entries, and the Badminton stakes has already be.
come so Popular, that it secured 27 nominations, and
as the Bath and other handicaps have filled well, no
fear need be entertained of witnessing those shortcomings
which were last week so painfully apparent on the Hoodoo.
Tae field for the Three Y,l•ar Old Biennial will very likely
comprise Lady Augusta, Baldwin, Bright Cloud, Sauterelle,
Escape, Stockbroker, Gl norchy, Judea, and Watford.
With regard to Lady Augusta, Lord Stamford may very
likely reserve her for the Oaks, and in that case the race
will result in a match between Baldwin and Bright Cloud.
From the heavy Bums entrusted to Lord Palmerston's horse
for the Derby he ought to pull through. For the Two
Year Old Biennial 1 fancy Crytheia most. In the Bath
viz.a
Canary,
dS° merse s hßi raeniam Handicap
and
Portland. IS the stable John Day has thr, e engaged,
trust the former, he cannot lose after his running
with Haddington in the Metropolitan, but as Ca-
naries do not always sing when wanted, I shall repose
most confidence in BALHAM to furnish the winner.
The acceptance for the Bath Handicap not having been
declared, I will merely point out that the Danebury repre-
sentative (either Canary or Balham) will be hard to beat,
The County Members' Plate will likely fall to Sea Nymph
or Souveraine. The Weston Stakes is even more interest-
ing than the Two-yr-old Biennial, for Molly Carew figtlrea
in the list of company; but I am informed she will be an
absentee. In that case the Glenmaeson colt may atone for
his defeat at Salisbury. The Welter Stakes may be placed
to the credit of Judea or Tippler; whiist Livingston,
Crytheia, and Golden Dust will in ail probability be the
most dangerous trio in the Badminton Stakes,
The action for trespass brought by the Stewards of the
Jockey Club against Mr. Willes (" Argus"), will los tried
at the next Cambridge Assizes, Sergeant Ballantine has
been retained for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Hawkins, Q.C.
will lead for the defendant.
A FRESH MAN.

THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

(F?oni an Occasional Correspondent of the 7imes.)
CHARLESTON, March 4

On the 14th of January we sailed from Nassau for
Charleston, and on the following day were caught
in one of those terrific gales which burst with such
fury over that part of the Atlantic which lies imme-
diately to the north of the Bahamas. The tempest
subsided on the 17th as we got nearer the land, but
we had left the tepid waters of the Gulf Stream, and
the air became bitterlycold. A biting north-east wind
swept over the deck, and the sleet and rain fell inces-
santly. It seemed impossible for us ever to get warm,
and our teeth chattered as if we bad a shivering fit.
But in the morning we saw in the hazy distance the
shore of South Carolina, and then shortly afterwards
the low, dark hull of one of the blockading ships.
This was a fresh source of anxiety, and great was
our relief when we found that we had not been ob-
served. We passed the vessel, and got in safely half
a mile ahead up the channel. We had scarcely done
so when the look-outs whispered " Two more for-
ward." We thought we had eluded them also, but
we were mistaken. A bright flash, the rush of a ball
over head, and then the loud report of a gun let us
know that the fleet was aware of our presence. Then
rockets were discharged on all sides, and more guns
were fired. We were within no great distance of the
bar that guards the entrance of Charleston, some four
miles or so from Fort Sumter, inside of which the
hostile fleet never venture. In another 10 minutes
we should have been perfectly safe; but as we
approached two more ships were seen lying right in
the narrow channel over the bar, through which it
was necessary to pass. The captain hesitated about
proceeding further, and so nervous did he become
that he turned the ship's head round and ran her
out to sea again. She was followed by a howling
pack of cruisers, but speed, good luck, and darkness
favoured us, and by daybreak we were some 30
miles from shore, tossing about again in the Gulf
Stream. The same programme was gene through
next dhy, and then we had to return to Nassau for
coals. Under another Captain we returned on lan.
29th to try our fortune again, and this time there
was no hesitation. " Charleston, or beach her,"said
our new commander,and in one hour we ran through
the channel, and arrived safe and sound under the
guns of Fort Beauregard.

I had good reason to feel gratified with my recep-
tion at Charleston. I staid about a week in the town
visiting all places of interest, making friends, and
enjoying Southern hospitality. One's first idea,
after speaking to the people, was that they are an
intolerable set of boasters ; but I came to form a
better opinion of them. I found that they never ex-
press resolutions without making a determined
effort to carry out their purposes. The more I see
of the Southern ladies, and the more I hear of their
actions, the more I wonder at their heroism and self-
sacrifice. Words, indeed, cannot express any ad-
miration for them. The war could not have gone
on without them. The women of all classes have
sent, without a murmur, their husbands, sons, and
those they hold moat dear to the war; and in the
absence of the men they have tilled the fields, made
clothes for the troops, and nursed the sick. When
I consider the firmness of purpose and spirit of self-
sacrifice with the empty bragging and indifference
so prevalent in the North, I have no doubt of the
issue of the struggle. The Federals may bring
three millions of men into the field, but the South
will never be vanquished, On the 31st of January,
two days after my arrival, the
,ironclads went out
from Charleston and considerably damaged the
blockading fleet. Of course we were all much in-
terested in the event, and the capture of a ship-of-
war carrying nine guns up one of the rivers the day
before wonderfully raised the spirits of the people of
Charleston. At the end of the week I started for
Richmond, bearing letters of introduction from En-
gland to some of the principal men, and further forti-
fied with 2additional recommendations from my
friends in Charleston. The journey by rail, of 500
miles, was very tedious, as the rails and rolling
stock are in very bad order, there having been no
importations of material since the blockade. The
speed of the trains has in consequence been greatly
moderated to prevent accidents. However,
I arrived safe in the capital of the Confederacy
on the 13th of February. The city is one
great camp, and every one is endeavour-
ing to obtain an appointment in the army.
I saw at once that the chances of an Englishman
getting a military appointment were very small. I
paid a visit to the Secretary of War and other in-
fluential men, and received from all of them that
kindness and courtesy so distinctive in the South-
ern gentleman. I brought out from Nassau a box
of goods for Gen. Stonewall Jackson, and he asked
me when I was at Richmond to come to his camp
and see him. I left the city one morning about 7
o'clock, and about 10 landed at a station distant
about eight or nine miles from Jackson's, or, as his
men call him, Old Jack's camp. A heavy fall of
snow had covered the country for some time before
to the depth of a foot, and formed a crust over the
Virginian mud, which is quite es villainous as that
of Balaclava. The day before had been mild and
wet, and my journey was made in a drenching
shower, which soon cleared away the white mantle
of snow. You cannot imagine the Slough of De-
spond I had to pass through. Wet to the skin, I
stumbled through mud, I waded through creeks, I
passed through pine woods, and at last I got into
camp about 2 o'clock. I then made my way to a
small house occupied by the General as his head-
quarters. I wrote down my name and gave it to
the orderly, and I was immediately told to walk
in. The General rose and greeted me warmly. I
expected to see an old untidy man, and was most
agreeably surprised and pleased with his appear-
ance. He is tall, handsome, and powerfully built,
but thin. He has brown hair and a brown beard.
His mouth expresses great determination. Thelips
are thin and compressed firmly together; his eyes
are blue and dark, with a keen searching expres-
sion. I was told that his age was 38, and he looks
about 40. The General, who is indescribably simple
and unaffected in all his ways, took off my wet
overcoat with his own hands, made up the fire,
brought wood for me to put my feet on to keep
them warm while my boots were drying, and
then began to ask me questions on various sub
jects. At the dinner hour we went out and joined the
members of his Staff. At this meal the General said
grace in a fervent, quiet manner, which struck me
much. After dinner I returned to his room, and he
again talked to me for a long time. The servant
came in and took his mattress out of a cupboard and
laid it on the floor. As I rose to retire the General
said, o
" —aptain, there is plenty of room in my bed;
I hope you will share it with me." I thanked him
very much for his courtesy, but said "Good night,"
and slept in a tent, sharing the blankets of one of
his aides-decamp.
In
eria hadsaid
morning at breakfast
time 1 noticed that the the
G n
grace before the
meal with the same fervourremarked before.
An hour or two afterwards it was time for me to re-
turn to the station ; on this occasio ver, I had
a horse, and I turned up to the General's°w quarters
to bid him adieu. His little room was
va
stepped in and stood before the fire. I then noticed
so
tie
my greatcoat stretched before it on a chair. Shortly
afterwards the General entered the room. He said,
" Captain, I have been trying to dry your greatcoat,
but I am afraid I have not succeeded very well."
Tnat little act illustrates the man's character. With
the cares and responsibilities of a vast army 3n his
shoulders he finds time to do little acts of kindness
and thoughtfulness which make him the darling of
his men, who never seem to tire of talking of him.
Gen. Jackson is a man of great endurance ; he drinks
nothing stronger than water, and never uses tobacco
or an; stimulant. He has been known to ride for
three days and nights at a time, and if there is any
labour to be undergone, be never fails to take his
share of it. I thought of entering the army as a
volunteer, as many Englishmen have done, but I
have had the unexpected good luck to receive an
appointment in the inspecting department- I se-
lected Charleston as the scene of try labours, my
leason being that the whole force of the Yankee
armada is about to be thrown against this portion of
tihe State. I accordingly returned to this place, and
am now awaiting the fight. I have very good
pay, enjoy an excellent table, and am accommodated

in most comfortable quarters, with some other Eug
lishmen, in a well-furnished house.

H

I have been at church to-day, the Governor of
South Carolina having proclaimed it a:- a day of
prayer. I leave to-morrow mornioß s,ith the In-
spector-General to examine some trocps at Seees-
sionville, a town some 10 miles from here. At any
moment we may be called out to fight, so I feel glad
to have a long letter in readiness in case I should
unexpectedly be disposed of by a Yankee bullet. For
some time we had an idea that there was a peace
party in the North sufficiently strong to detach some
of the States and to oppose Lincoln and his uncon-
stitutional acts; but the passing of the Conscription
Act and Finance Bills by Congress has dashed these
hopes to the ground, and the South is prepared to
conduct the war on a more gigantic scale this spring
than heretofore. The Emancipation Scheme is be-
lieved here to be nonsense, The slaves do not want
to rise, and will not do so unless under the pressure
of Northern bayonets. The Yankees thought they
could raise a servile war, but they have failed sig-
nally. I see little chance now, though I thought
differently some time ago, of this war ending until
Lincoln retires from office ; but it cannot be carried
on at its present prodigious scale unless the Yankees
meet with some great success.

MARCH 10,

lam finishing up this scrawl, as the gentleman
who is taking this to England leaves to-morrow.
We are living here very comfortably, and enjoying
ourselves, although we still expect to be attacked
every day by the Yankee armada. The weather is
lovely.