The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-13 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA,

(Prom the Special Correspondent of the Tmes.)
NEW YORK, FEB. 25.
On Friday evening I left Montreal on my way
back to Washington, and had some small experi-
ences of the difficulties of travelling by railroad in
a North American winter. During my short stay
in Canada I heard frequent complaints of the
Grand Trunk line because time was not kept and

the trains ran off the track. For the most part
they were unreasonable, though they might be
founded on fact. It is impossible for railway
managers to be responsible for snow storms and
drifts, or for accidents caused by the effect of in-
tense cold on metalwork. All that astonishes me
is that the trains are able to make such good time
of it, though no one can be supposed to look favour-
ably on a detention of four or five hours, hungry
and frowsy, in a long overheated box on wheels,
filled with some 40 or 50 fellow-creatures in a state
of high wrath and perspiration. Those abominable
stoves ! They are perhaps indispensable, but they
are nuisances. Mr. Blackwell, the managing direc-
tor—whose health has broken down in his endea-
vours to set the railroad right, so that he is obliged
to reti're, to the regret of all who served with him
—has made some very interesting researches on the
contraction and expansion of the Victoria-bridge,
but, as his observations will, no doubt, be made pub-
lic on his return, I shall only say that the durabi-
lity of iron and all its other properties are tested to
a great degree in these latitudes, and that it would
not be quite safe, even if it were practicable, to run
the trains at a high rate of speed during the winter
here. But the frozen frontier is by no means an
adequate defence in case of war. In two hours from
Montreal the American station at Rouse's Point is
reached. American influence in the shape of news-
papers, periodicals, and ideas, extend much further.
Among the passengers there was less exultation
than might have been expected, though a confident
opinion was expressed that the neck of the rebellion
was broken, and that only a few kicks and convul-
sive struggles were to be expected from its galva-
nised extremities; indeed, Americans almost justify
Mr. Bancroft's assertion that no man can under-
stand them, and that De Tocqueville was unable to
penetrate the mysteries of the national character.
There was a sort of pride in the way they spoke of
the fighting of the "rebels" at Donnelson and of
the heavy losses. " They're not so easy to be
whipped. It's only our chaps could• have done it.
Although Saturday was the day eaf Washington's
birth, and was to be celebrated all over the Union,
there were no great signs of jubilee in the villages
and cities we passed on our way. There were
" Stars and Stripes " waving, to be sure, from
steeple and window, but in no great abundance.
The cold and snow, which lay deep till the train got
south of Albany, may have had the effect of pre-
venting out-door manifestations. Certainly, there
was no token of any unusual excitement or anima-
tion on the platforms and in the railway stations.
There seemed a great deal of sympathy for the loss
sustained by the President, who was tenderly
attached to his little boy Willie. It is likely that
he has made a favourable impression on the popular
mind by his recent course in politics, notwithstand-
ing some drawbacks and obstacles connected with
the less public affairs of his .administrative life.
But the favourite of the day is Mr. Stanton; he has
touched the heart of his countrymen. They like
his sharp, clear-cut manifestoes, and his sounding
pronunciamientoes. The recent successes are, they
think, somehow or other connected with his acces-
sion to power. Ile has, indeed, endeavoured to dis-
abuse the Northerners of the delusion that the
movements of Grant, Buell, and Landor are por-
tions of a concerted plan, each directed from head-
quarters in reference to the other, and has plainly
intimated that their victories are due to individual
inspiration, and to Fortune typifying the God of
Battles. One of his boldest acts has been the libera-
tion of the victims of the lettres de cachet of the
State Department, on the condition that they give
parole not to afford aid or comfort to those engaged
in hostility against the United States, and his
seizure of the agent of a journal which pretends to
exercise great influence in America as a spy has
been regarded with satisfaction, for it is proof of his
indifference to the enmity he will no doubt pro-
voke in the discharge of his duty, and of his con-
tempt for its power. Some discussion has arisen
in reference to his relations with General M'Clellan,
against whom something very like a cabal has been
formed inside and outside the capital. I have
what appears to me excellent authority for stat-
ing that Mr. Stanton gives his whole support to
the General; and is one of his most powerful and
trusty friends. It may be untrue that he uttered
the words of praise attributed to him by the
associated press reporter at the recent meeting
of railroad managers at Washington, but he
has privately repeated sentiments analogous to those
which appeared in the newspapers. One thing is
quite certain. The concentration of Federal troops
in front of Manassas has paralysed the best army
the Confederates have in the field, and has kept
them away from the west and south-west. It may
be considered, indeed, as the only well equipped
force (inferior as it is in that respect to the oppos-
ing army) which the Confederates have been able
to assemble. The prisoners who have surrendered
at Donnelson are described as being almost in rags.
Their arms of a most wretched quality. And yet
their sortie, or rather attack on the Federal right
was characterised by much energy and gallantry.
The prisoners taken at Roanoke were, as I heard
from a trusty eye-witness, altogether unfit for a
contest with troops provided with Enfield rifles
and rifled muskets. They were armed with all
sorts of firelocks, sporting rifles, smooth bores, flint
guns, and the like, and were clad in a great variety
of garments. What on earth they put themselves,
or were put on that island for, is not easy to see.
Pounded by gunboats from ranges which made it
impossible for their ordnance to reply with effect,
and cut off by water from escape, it would have
been much better for them to have blown up their
works (or to have spared time and money in build-
ing them), and left the inland to its fate. It is
obvious that the gunboats and mortar vessels armed
with 9in. and llin. Dahlgrens and 13in. mortars
must make earthworks such as the Confederates
construct untenable. When they approach close to
the guns, as at Fort Donnelson, they must prove
irresistible, and they cannot be touched by the ord-
nance directed against them. It is probable that
New Orleans will experience the truth of this as
Boon as Captain Porter's mortar flotilla is ready.
Savannah is in much danger. One of the citizens
told me to-day he did not think it could be
defended, and that it would be obliged to capi-
tulate, and New Orleans may be reduced to the
same necessity if the success which has attended the
Federals in the West follows them to the South.
The burning of Winton by the Federals is not
likely to conciliate the people, and as yet there is
but little proof of the strong Union sentiment said
to exist in most of the States. On the existence of
such a feeling must depend the ultimate and perma-
nent success of the Federals. If they are obliged to
garrison those enormous States, ruined in resources
by the conflict, amid if they must have an armed oc-
cupation of a hostile South, it is beyond one's com-
prehension to understand by what means they are
to bear up against the burden which will be placed
on the Eastern States. The mere administration of
the laws in the States by Federal officers will be at-
tended by the greatest difficulties. It will be re-
marked Icith surprise that the Confederate soldiers
taken prisoners are not at all destitute of funds, and
that they are well fed. Great quantities of stores
have also been accumulated by their Government,
much of which in the south-west has fallen into
the hands of the Federals. We now hear Nashville
surrendered or been taken, and that the
Confederates have resolved to make a stand at Mur-
freesb
-""gh- Columbus,
the Confederate cut off from all commu-
nication, is in
such danger that cannot see how
mains the heart can
hold it. Rut still there re-
the rebellion covered by a mass
of bone and muse].The
negroes follow the steps
of their retreating ratt
near General II 11n-.1 cD2ea rs
Indeed, if they come
lines they would get
a very cool reception. Tho
s the
signs
of athehttetlme
temper
sanguine.
rebellion is crushed out „e who think
One of the most hopeful
Con-
gress was its refusal to receive the flags of the Con-