The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-04 00:00:00

AFTER A BATTLE.

A correspondent of the New York Times, describ-
ng the appearance of the scene of the recent battle
at Williamsburg after the fight, says—" The battle-
field at this place, on the morning of the second day
following, presented a most sickening spectacle.
Hundreds of men, friends and foes, mangled and
horribly disfigured, lay dead and even dying,
heaped in groups of six or eight, awaiting burial,
and scattered about promiscuously among the trees
and brush. One, a rebel, hung :dangling in
shreds in a tree-top, where he met his fate
by a shell bursting as it entered his body from
his own artillery. Large circles of clotted blood
lay around the trunks of the trees, while close be-
side, the newly-filled grave marked the resting-
place of the victim. The enemy were buried with
no preparation in trenches, while our own men
were carefully wrapped in blankets and tents, and
carefully laid to rest. Horses lay dead thickly
strewn over the plain, killed by the bursting shells
and bullets. In one of the forts was found a dying
wretch, striving with his shattered arm to gather
over him the mud in which he lay, spurning all
proffered kindness, .and hissing from his dis-
figured lips vengeance upon the Yankees. Forty
dead rebels were found in and about the principal
fort, Lieutenant-colonel Irwin, in command of the
Bth Alabama Regiment, and formerly United States
senator from that State, was found dead upon the
field, pierced with bullets. Major Ireson, of the
Eighth New Jersey Volunteers, who was taken pri-
soner after being wounded, was found upon the
field. His brains had been knocked out by the mer-
ciless foe. Other acts of barbarous atrocity too re-
volting to record were practised upon our soldiers
who fell into their hands. Among the rebel dead
was a young Indian, of most beautiful features. He
lay by the roadside, with his long black glossy hair
waving in the wind, pierced in his naked breast by
three buckshot and a ball, which is by far the most
fatal of any musket ammunition used in the service.
A great majority of those killed were found to have
been shot in the head and breast. Two were found
lying side by side, each having the other's bayonet
plunged through his body. For nearly half a mile
in the woods, which are remarkably clear of under-
brush, the soil is dotted with graves. The trees are
scarred with bullet marks, and broken and shattered
by shells and shot, while the ground is strewn in
every direction with clothing, knapsacks, havro.
sacks, cartridge boxes, and other trappings of the
soldier. In one small sapling, no larger around
than a man's wrist, I counted 12 distinct bullet
holes, within a range of six feet from the ground,
larger trees being perforated in proportion.
Muskets and rifles lay loosely about, or were
piled in huge stacks in hundreds, some of which
were bent, and twisted, and shattered, and even
pierced by cannon shot and bullet. Everything
indicated that this battle was the most desperate
of any yet recorded in this campaign."

SOCIAL SCIENCE CONGEESS.—The arrangements
for this great meeting are now complete. The proceedings
will be opened by a special service in -Westminster Abbey,
at 3 o'clock, on Thursday, when the Dean of Chichester
will preach. It has been arranged that the members should
assemble in the Jerusalem Chamber previous to the service
and proceed in a body into the abbey. The opening meet-
ing will be held in Exeter-hall at 8 30, when the president,
Lord Brougham, will deliver the address. We believe that
it will be highly interesting, and it is likely to command
the more attention as it is now many years since he deli-
vered an oration to the public in the metropolis. On Friday
the departments will assemble at Guildhall, at 11 o'clock,
for the reading of papers and for discussion, The evening
alrac arranged as follows :—Friday, June 6,—Education De-
par
PunishD a
rnent, National Education; Trade and International
Law etil
me reaent, Belligerent Rights. Monday, June 9,—.
tem ; soeilt
to Reformation Department, Convict Sys-
-1 meat, Middle-class
1
Working ciass'ea"omy Department, Habitations of the
Txuzesday, June 10,—Education Depart-
Effect
of
occupaatimination; Public Health Depart-
ment,Depart-
11.—Workhouse Visiti:na On Health. Wednesday, June
Lyttelton will take the ellcaisrclelY, Report of Society. Lord
Thursday, June 12.—Juris-
the art treasures °n
tiae,enlAt WS of the United King-
prudence Department, mania
dorn ; Public Health Derail
musztBZitary Statistics.
to-morrow
two ridaEyNsSfloNllOowTiOnNg
andS OthljeTii
collection which
has been for some months past collectin
Kensington Museum will be open- for private
gatat the South
collection consists entirely oi objects contribetXdew. The
. and includes a very large proportion of the fizest on loan,
art of former periods extant in this kingdom. Th e worksO 11 o f
tion includes goldsmiths' works, jewels, carvings in ivory,ee
decorative furniture, bronzes, porcelain and pottery, giasa
enamels, ancient illuminations, bookbindings, embroidered
vestments, miniatures, &c. Following the example of her
Majesty the Queen, who has contributed without reserve
many of the choicest art treasures of the Crown, almost all
collectors of importance in Great Britain have lent their
aid, and will have their collections represented by the most
valued specimens. The corporations and city companies,
the universities in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and
every important and public body have contributed ; so that
foreigners and visitors from the provinces will have the op-
portunity of comparing the treasures that have been laid up
in this country during past centuries, with the products of
modern art represented from al/ Pigs of the world in the
International Exhibition. It may, indeed, safely be said
that no such gathering has ever before been brought toge-
ther in one building.