The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1862.

Centreville. This movement and the masked posi-
tion of my division made an impression upon the
inhabitants, some of whom were in secret communi-
cation with the enemy, that our army had left, and
that nothing remained but a few regiments to gar-
rison this place. Jackson was signalled to this
effect. I saw their signals and divined their mean-
ing. About 5 o'clock on the afternoon of the 22d,
Ashby, believing that the town was almost eva-
cuated, attacked our pickets and drove them in.
This suceess increased his delusion. It became ne-
cessary, however, to repulse them for the time being.
I therefore ordered forward a brigade, and placed it
in front, between Winchester and the enemy. I
only let them see, however, two regiments of in-
fantry, two batteries of artillery, and a small force
of cavalry, which he mistook as the whole force left
to garrison and protect the place. In a little skir-
mish that evening, while placing the artillery in po-
sition, I was struck by a fragment of a shell, which
broke my arm above the elbow, injured my shoulder
and damaged me otherwise to such an extent that I
have lain prostrate ever since, I commenced mak-
ing preparations for any emergency that might occur
that night or the next morning. Under cover of
the night I ordered an entire brigade (Kimball's) to
take up a strong position in advance. I pushed for-
ward four batteries, having them placed in a strong
position to support the infantry. I placed Sullivan's
Brigade on both flanks to prevent surprise and to
keep my flank from being turned, and I held Tyler's
Brigade in reserve to operate against any point that
might be assailed in front. In this position I
waited and expected the enemy's attack next morn-
in. My advance brigade was two miles from the town,
its pickets extending perhaps a mile further along
the turnpike road leading to Strasburg. About 8
o'clock in the morning I sent forward two officers
to reconnoitre the front and report indications of
the enemy. They returned in an hour, reporting
no enemy in sight except Ashby's force of cavalry,
infantry, and artillery, which by this time had
become familiar and contemptible to us. General
Banks, who was yet here in person, upon hearing
the report, concluded that Jackson could not possi-
bly be in front, or be decoyed so far away from the
main body of the rebel army. In this opinion I be-
gan to concur, concluding that Jackson was too sa-
gacious to be caught in such a trap. General Banks
therefore left for Washington. His staff officers
were directed to follow the same day, by way of
Centreville. Knowing the crafty enemy, however,
I had to deal with, I omitted no precaution. My
whole force was concentrated, and prepared to sup-
port Kimball's Brigade, which was in advance.
About half-past 10 o'clock it became evident we
had a considerable force before us ; but the enemy
still concealed himself so adroitly in the woods that
it was impossible to estimate it. I ordered a por-
tion of the artillery forward to open fire and un-
mask them. By degrees they began to show them-
selves. They planted battery after battery in
strong position, on the centre and on both flanks.
Our artillery responded, and this continued until
about half-past 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when I
directed a column of infantry to carry a battery on
their left flank and to assail that flank, which was
done promptly and splendidly by Tyler's Brigade,
aided by some regiments from the other brigades.
The fire of our infantry was so close and destruc-
tive that it made havoc in their ranks. The result
was the capture of their guns on the left and the
forcing back of their wing on the centre, thus plac-
ing them in a position to be routed by a general
attack, which was made about five o'clock by all the
infantry, and succeeded in driving them in flight
from the field. Night fell upon us at this stage,
leaving us in possession of the field of battle, two
guns and four caissons, 300 prisoners, and about
1,000 stand of small arms. Our killed in this en-
gagement cannot exceed 100 men ; wounded, 233.
The enemy's killed and wounded exceed 1,000. The
inhabitants of the adjacent villages carried them to
their houses as they were removed from the field of
battle. Houses between the battlefield and Stras-
burg, and even far beyond, have since been found
filled with the dead and dying of the enemy. Graves
have been discovered far removed from the road,
where the inhabitants of the country buried them
as they died. Gen. Banks, in his pursuit of the
enemy beyond Strasburg, afterwards found houses
on the road 22 miles from the battlefield in this
manner, and presenting the most ghastly spectacle.
The havoc made in the ranks of the rebels has struck
this whole region of country with terror. Such a
blow has never fallen on them before, and it is more
crushing because quite unexpected. Jackson and his
stonewall brigade, and all the other brigades accom-
panying him, will never meet this division again in
battle. During the night they managed to carry
off their artillery in the darkness. We opened
upon them by early light next morning, and they
commenced to retreat. General Banks returned
from Harper's Ferry between 9 and 10 o'clock a.m.,
and placed himself, at my request, at the head of
the command, ten miles from the battle-field, pur-
suing the enemy. Reinforcements, which we had
ordered back from Williams' Division, and which I
had ordered forward during the night, now came
pouring in, and with all these we continued the pur-
suit, pressing them with vigour and with repeated
and destructive attacks, far as Woodstock, where
we halted from mere exhaustion. The enemy's
sufferings have been terrible, and such as they have
nowhere else endured since the commencement of
this war; and yet such were their gallantry and
high state of discipline that at no time during the
battle or pursuit did they give way to panic. They
fled to Mount Jackson, and are by this time, no
doubt, in communication with the main body of
the rebel army. I hope to be able in a few days to
ride in a buggy, and place myself at the head of
I my command; but I have neither sufficient force
nor sufficient rank to do that service to the country
that I hope and feel I am capable of. No man
could be better treated than I am by Gen. Banks,
and yet if he and his command had been here on
the 22d you would have heard nothing of a fight,
because our wily enemy would not have been en-
trapped. I want an efficient cavalry regiment—the
3d United States Cavalry, for instance—and addi-
tional infantry. I wish you would see the Secretary
of War, for instance, in relation to the matter. I
can do the country service if they give me a chance.
" JAMES SHIELDS."
The Federal troops had occupied Shipping Point,
on the Lower Potomac, where the Confederates
recently had one of their most formidable batteries.
All the Confederates lately in that vicinity have
left, with the exception of a few cavalry, which
occasionally make their appearance at some distance
from the Federal lines.
The army under General Curtis, in Arkansas, at
last accounts had fallen back as far as Cross Timber
Hollows, on account of a scarcity of forage where
they were previously located. The Confederates,
numbering some 35,000 men, under Price and Van
Dorn, had retreated entirely across the Boston
Mountains, and were at Van Buren and Fort Smith,
receiving supplies from Memphis and Little Rock,
by way of the Arkansas river. The Texan troops
are represented to be much disheartened by the loss
of M'Culloch, and the death of M'lntosh was
severely felt among the Arkansas troops. Pike's
Indians had mostly returned home, the artillery
having, it is said, created a great panic among them.
Fayetteville is now unoccupied by the Federal
forces, though the Federal pickets extend beyond
there, while those of the Confederates come north to
the summit of the Boston Mountains. There will
probably be another encounter of the two armies
soon, though where it is not stated at present.
General Burnside has taken possession of Beau-
fort without opposition, the Confederates having re-
tired to Fort Macon, which they still held. A de-
spatch from Baltimore, dated the 30th, gives the
folloWing account :
" The rebels burnt the bridge on the railroad be-
tween Newbern and Beaufort, but it was being re -
paired, and the road would soon be in operation
between the two places. So far as our informants
know, all of whom came from Newbern and had
not been at Beaufort, there was no destruction of
property at the latter place, and a large majority of
the citizens remained quietly in their houses on the
approach of the Federal forces. All the rebel sol-
diers in the vicinity shut themselves up in Fort
Macon. Their numbers were variously represented
by citizens of Beaufort at from 300 to 600 amen.
The fort was said to be but slightly provisioned,

• e'

and it was not believed it could hold out more than
a week. Its ultimate capture is, of course, a matter
of certainty. General Purnside was at Beaufort.
Perfect order reigned at Newbern, and a number
of citizens had returned to the place. Gen. Foster
was military governor of the city. The rebels were
believed to be in strong force toward 6 Kingstown,
35 miles on the road to Goldsborough, and their
scouts frequently appeared in the vicinity of New-
bern. The expedition to Washington was success-
ful. It consisted of about 1,000 men, with an escort
of gunboats. Two companies of the Massachusetts
22d landed and took the place. The stars and
stripes were nailed to a tree before the Court-house,
and left there. The citizens received the invaders
without any apparent excitement or apprehension,
some few expressing Union sentiments, while the
mass had nothing to say either way. After hold-
ing the place all day, and gathering all the infor-
mation they could, the expedition returned to New-
bern."

The National Intelligencer announces tha occu-
pation of Augustine by the Federal forces at the
request of the inhabitants ,
" On Friday, the 21st inst., Commodore Dupont,
having received from the mayor and inhabitants of
St. Augustine an invitation to take possession of
that place, several gunboats, with the battalion of
Marines, proceeded down and came to off the har-
bour, where they found that Captain Doughty, of
the Wabash, had taken quiet possession of the place
with his Marines and SOME Volunteer soldiers under
General Sherman. The Volunteers had possession
of the fort, and the Marine guard were quartered
in the town. The gunboit brought the bodies of
Acting-Lieutenant Budd, commanding the Penguin,
and Captain Matthews of the Mary Andrew, who
were killed at Mosquito :nlet, 60 miles below St.
Augustine, while in a reconnoitering expedition up
the inlet."

Advices from Key West to the 24th inst. bring
intelligence from the Gulf Squadron. The report
that Commissioner Yancey had been captured and
taken to Key West is now positively denied. A
vessel had arrived from the Passes of the Missis-
sippi, having left there on the 19th. The steamers
Richmond and Brooklyn were at the head of the
Passes, and heavy firing had been heard in that
direction. The movement against New Orleans was
expected to take place immediately, thoughnothing
authoritative was known regarding it, The health
of the troops at Key West was good, but several
cases of smallpox had occurred at Tortugas.

A French man-of-war, late of the Vera Cruz fleet,
was at Havannah, with 27 cases of yellow fever on

board.

Two of the crew captured on the Magnolia are on
board the Huntsville. They report that active pre-
parations were being made at New Orleans to resist
any attack. Several gunboats were building there,
and martial law would soon be proclaimed. The
Huntsville brings home some 200 bales of cotton,
part of the Magnolia's cargo, and 247 bales of to-
bacco, captured from the schooner Zavalla, off

Berwick.
A skirmish at Murnmonsville is reported from St.
Louis. On the night of the 26th inst., a band of from
500 to 800 Confederates attacked four companies of
State Militia at Mummonsville, Polk county, Mobile.
They were completely defeated, with a loss of 15
killed and a large number wounded. Our loss was
none killed, but a number wounded, among the lat-
ter were Capts. Stockson and Cosgrove, severely:

Some of the movements of the Southern army are
reported from Confederate sources. The Huntsville
(Alabama) Sentinel of the 13th says,—
" Pensacola has not been evacuated, but troops
enough are left there to man the batteries, which
can resist Fort Pickens and the fleet. Mobile is not
to be abandoned, as reported. Its means of defence
are considered ample, and were arranged by Gen.
Bragg, who knows what he is about."
The Xorfolk Day Book of March 19 says,—
" That part of the army on the Potomac in the
vicinity of Dumfries, the Evansville batteries, &c.,
are understood to have evacuated their various po-
sitions on Friday last, and they have since fallen
back. We have reports that General J. E. Johnston
is at a point not far from Rappahannock station, on
the Alexandria and Orange Railroad, and between
the Rapid Ann and Rappahannoek rivers. And an-
other, that he is falling back to Gordonsville, which
we do not credit. The point occupied by General
Holmes not being a matter of rumour, but of know-
ledge, we will leave the enemy to discover. On
Wednesday last Serjeant Wade, with a squad of
the Carolina Light Dragoons, captured two of the
enemy, about one mile from theEvansport batteries,
The prisoners proved to be Wm. T. Baum, of Phila-
delphia, belonging to Gen. Hooker's staff, and Mr.
Gregg, telegraph operator, of same division of the
Federal army. President Davis, in secret session,
had advised the Confederate Congress that the pri-
soners released by the Yankee Government upon
parole be absolved from their oath and allowed to
take part in the approaching struggle for indepen-
dence. He urged it as a retaliation for the infa-
mous and reckless breach of faith exhibited by
Lincoln in the exchange of prisoners. Attempts
are being made to raise troops by conscription.
Editors and compositors are not to be enrolled ex-
cept for local duty. The New Orleans Delta of the
26th, referring to the gallantry exhibited by Capt.
Rucker in defence of the battery at Island No. 10,
says, One single battery has thus far sustained the
brunt of the bombardment, repulsing the Federal
gunboats and sending one of them back to Cairo
crippled, for repairs.' The Memphis Appeal says
the recent reverses of the Confederate army are
nerving them with new faith, confidence, and hope,
and it entertains no doubt of the ultimate success
of the cause. Van Dorn and Jefferson Thompson
are concentrating a large force at Pocahontas,
Arkansas, preparatory to an attack upon the Fede-
rals at New Madrid, and General Pope will be com-
pelled to evacuate, so the A ppecasays. No damage
had been done at Island No. 10 up to Wednesday,
but the Confederates have sunk two Federal gun-
boats. The works at Fort Pillow have been com-
pleted. General Pope is building flatboats at New
Madrid to transport his troops across the river to
the Tennessee shore. In Mississippi the planters
are piling their cotton ready for firing. General
Pillow has gone to Richmond. A despatch from
New Orleans, dated March 26, says the Confederate
steamer Vanderbilt (?) foundered at sea with all on
board. The Memphis Appeal is issued on a half-
sheet. In view of the scarcity of lead it suggests
that the lining of tea chests be run into bullets. The
ladies of Charleston are contributing their jewels,
silver spoons, watches and money to build a gun-
boat."

The New Orleans Crescent of Thursday, the 20th
ult., says :
" If there was such a thing as a paper-market to-
day, it was not perceptible to my optics. Money
is abundant, and good securities can be placed at
rates less than 5 per cent. per annum. The banks
are confining their transactions to the renewal of
maturing obligations, and as commercial paper in
amount, as well as quantity, has dwindled down to
an insignificant sum, the large surplus which they
held has been in part invested in the five million
loan of the State. The question of a general re-
tiring of the circulation of ourbanks is yet unsettled.
Our bank presidents could not come to any mutual
agreement. The demand for small change still
continues, though the vacuum is being
gradually filled up with the issues of the
State Treasury, the Bank of Louisiana, and
State Bank. The cutting or dividing of
notes still continues. We conceive it to be our duty
to call attention to the fact that the cutting of the
State Treasury notes will cause considerable trouble
on settlement. These issues cannot be settled in
the same way as banknotes—that is, when presented
for funling in half-notes. Therefore, we say, do
not divide the Treasury notes of the State. The
movements in gold and silver coin appear to be
voluntarily diminished. Some few sales take place
daily, but not in sufficient sums to command a no-
tice. As expected and predicted in our last, flour
advanced yesterday to 22 dols. per• barrel. Has the
time not arrived for our authorities to intervene ?
The Committee of Safety might be authorised by
General Lovell to take possession of the flour in
market and account to the owners thereof at a rea-
sonable price for the same. It is supposed that 18
dols. or 20 dols. per barrel might be considered a
fair price. Flour, on the 17th, Monday last, was

selling in Memphis at 14 dole. to 15 dols. per barrel. 1
Of course, as soon as the au: ante here is acted on,
there may be a corresponding advance Liere, which
market, by-the-bye, is the only one from which
may expect supplies hither. True, we have been
led to expect we should receive supplies from Red
River, but expectations in this respect have nothing
to sustain them. We learn that the Committee of
Safety secured several hundred casks of rice, which
will be sold out at cost to consumers. They must
go further, and secure all the flour at market."
Major-General Lovell has proclaimed martial law
in New Orleans. Pierre Soule, W. Frerd, Henry
D. Ogden, and Cyprien Dufour are Provost-Mar-
shals. General Beauregard appeals to the planters
for their bells, to be cast into cannon. The Cres-
cent opposes the proposition to burn New Orleans.
It says :
"The remarks freely made about burning the city
are entirely out of place. We should like to know
what is to become of the tens of thousands of women
and children in such an event. Fortunately, these
remarks come from those who have nothing at
stake, not owners of property; or, perhaps, they
have removed their families into the interior, and
got all their securities in their breeches pockets, and
will advance into the country on the first appear-
ance of the invaders. There are a good many of
these kind of people about our city."
The discussion of the Southern Congress upon the
mode of establishing trade with Europe has taken
a curious turn. The Richmond Examiner of the

10th says :
" It is known that for some days past Congress
has been discussing in secret session the propriety
of sending additional commissioners to Europe, to
negotiate a sale of the entire cotton crop on foreign
account, assuming its purchase by this Government.
The discussion in secret session took a different turn
from what was primarily intended, it being moved
that our present embassies to Europe should be re-
called, and that our diplomatic relations with Eng-
land and Fiance should be terminated for the pre-
sent. This proposition has been renewed in open
Congress, and is understood to be chiefly intended
as an exhibition of spirit and resentment at the
shuffling and selfish policy, especially of the English
Government, on the question of our recognition."
With regard to the Confederate navy, Congress
has not removed the injunction of secrecy from any
of the reports of the heads of departments, with the
exception of that of the Postmaster-General. The
Richmond Eraminer learns, however, that the esti-
mates of the Navy Department have been largely

increased under the secret acts of the Provisional
Congress, which have authorised the enlistment of
2,000 additional seamen, and large additions to the
officers of the navy. The officers of the navy autho-
rised to be employed under these Acts are two cap-
tains, five commanders, 50 lieutenants, 10 assistant-
paymasters, 30 assistant-surgeons, 100 acting-
masters, 100 acting midshipmen, 30 acting first
assistant-engineers, 50 acting second assistant-engi-
neers, and 50 acting third assistant-engineers.

. _
The Tennessee State Legislature has passed the
war tax. On of the Memphis papers says :
" We would direct the attention of our readers to

the Act passed by the Legislature of this State to
provide for the payment of the war tax. The bill
received the approval of the Governor yesterday,
and is now the law. It will be seen that the State
has assumed and agreed to pay the tax. This is
right, and we congratulate the country upon the
promptness with which the Legislature and his
Excellency have disposed of the matter."
The strength of Manassas, as a defensible posi-
tion, is described by a correspondent of the Journal
of Commerce :
" I shall not pause here to speak of the strength
of this celebrated spot, further than to say, in pass-
ing, that it is one of the strongest military positions
in the world. The reasons for this opinion I shall
give when I describe the ground in another letter,
but it is enough at present to remark that if 100,000
men had advanced from Washington upon these
intrenchment, I do not believe that 20,000 would
have reached the fortifications on the summit of the
slope. The cannon of the rebels commanded every
inch of the approach within a mile and a half, and

there was neither tree, nor shrub, nor hill, nor hol-

low to protect an attacking column from the deadly
fire of 100 guns. Only in the rear was there any
possible method of dislodging them."
Again, the writer says of the number of troops
that might have been accommodated,—
" We ran down to the junction, a mile or so from
the station at which we had stopped. No railroad
buildings stand at the junction. I presume none
ever stood there. But the huts of the rebels abound
in :this vicinity, and their white tents are still
standing in great numbers near by. Indeed, for
three miles along the road the place must have
been like a succession of large villages, and still
presents that appearance. With entire respect to
those 'reliable' gentlemen, the newspaper cor-
respondents, who have so sedulously circulated
the statement that there was not accommodation
for 90,000 men at Manassas, I must very dis-
tinctly say that they knew better when they wrote 1
the statement. No man who has sufficient brains
to correspond with a third-rate paper could look on
the huts now standing and the ruins of those which
were burnt without knowing that they would com-
fortably hold many more than 100,000 men, and
with such a stowing as was practised at Sebastopol
in 1855 they could lodge 200,000. I speak of only
the huts and tents along the railway ; others were
abundant down towards Bull Run and Centreville.
This by no means proves the number of the enemy
to have been great, but it disproves the falsehood
which was designed to establish the theory that
they were few in number."
General Fremont has arrived at Wheeling, ac-
companied by his family and Major ZAgonyi, The
Wheeling intelligencer says :
"We understand that • some of the prominent
Union men of Western Virginia intend to urge upon
Gen. Fremont the importance of arresting 200 or
300 of the leading Secessionists of this section of the
State, and holding them as hostages for the release
of the Union men arrested and imprisoned in Rich-
mond and other places. We are not advised as to
whether the General will -make his head quarters
permanent at this point."
Another Military Department, to be called the
" Middle Department," is-created, consisting of the
States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
the Eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia, and
the counties of Cecil, Harford,Baltimore, and Anne
Arundel, in Maryland, to be commanded by Major-
General Dix, with head quarters at Baltimore.
A letter from Washington has the following in
reference to the alleged association of " Knghts of
the Golden Circle :"
"It appears from official correspondence that
towards the close of last year a letter written by a
Dr. Hopkins came into the possession of the State
Department. It was therein stated that an organi-
sation had been formed by which the members of
the Knights of the Golden Circle were to rush into
the army and service of the Federal Government, and
thus gain influence and position for carrying out
their treasonable schemes ; and further that Ex-
President Pierce was among the most prominent
members. When this letter was received a note
was sent to Ex-President Pierce, enclosing an ex-
tract from it, saying Your name is connected
with a secret league, the object of which is to over-
throw the Government. Any information on the
subject will be acceptable. Mr. Pierce, in reply,
expresses his surprise that even seeming credence
should have been given to the charge, appeals to
his general course as a complete refutation of the
slander, and remarks that he never belonged to any
secret league, society, or association; and further
objects to the form of the note. Secretary Seward,
in reply, explains that this was written by William
Hunter, chiet clerk of the department, explains the
circumstances under which he signed it, regrets
that it gave offence, and offers an apology."
A moderate business was transacted in flour on
the Ist at uniform prices. Wheat attracted rather
more attention, and was firmer. Corn advanced
le. per bushel, and closed buoyantly. Sugar, lard,
and tallow were in good request. Pork was plenty
and heavy ; beef moderately sought after. Bacon,
butter, and cheese were saleable and steady. Cot-
ton and resin were in demand at previous quota-
tions. Whisky favoured buyers. The changes in ,
other branches of trade Were not important.