The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-10 00:00:00

CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Times' Correspondent.)

HILL'S PLANTATION, ON THE PAIIUNKEY RIVER,
June 15.

I am writing to you from a most lovely spot, on
the banks of the beautiful Pamunkey River, which,
joining at West Point with the Mattapany, forms
the noble York River. lam sitting in the veran-
dah of an old substantial brick house, where Wash-
ington first met his wife, in the shadow and fra-
grance of honeysuckles and wild roses. Just above
my head a couple of wrens are building their nest,
and now and then a humming-bird comes to visit
the blooming splendour around me, vying in beauty
with large butterflies of exotic appearance. Before
me, on an Otaheitan mulberry tree, a mocking-bird
is pouring out its sweetest notes, which resemble
very often those of the nightingale. Between me
and the river is a lawn, with shady trees; and to
my right along the bank, extending up to the camp
at White House Landing, a thick grove of great
beauty, watered by small streanilets running parallel
with the river, and consisting of admirable trees,
festooned with wild grape and other creepers. Here
and there the magnificent white flowers of a mag-
nolia shine among the green darkness, sending
forth with the gentle breeze the most delicious
fragrancy.
Right before me, Colonel Ingall, Chief of the
Quartermaster's Staff, has pitched his tents; and
fieldworn, dirty train soldiers have established their
households on the lawn. The grove above men-
tioned has been trampled down by men and horses,
and the banks of the pure streamlets have been con-
verted into quagmires. Along the whole way from
here to the White House are camps to the right
and left, but not such camps as are an ornament for
a landscape, but wretched and beggarly-looking
camps, filthy and disorderly, and not improved by
whole negro families which have established them-
selves in tents and huts among the soldiers.
Parallel to the river, right up to its banks, where
it makes a turn above the White House, runs a
railroad, leading to West Point, as soon as the
bridge they are working at is finished, and up to the
camps before Richmond, which all get their supplies
from this large depot at White House, which the
people around now call " the town." This town,
consisting of shandies and huts, extends more than
a mile down to the White House, a property belong-
ing to the Confederate General Lee. The White
House is a simple, storied, country-house, covered
with white painted boards, and situate in the
middle of a green lawn, with fine trees, and en-
closed by a fence. Around the house, and a little
further down, are a few more outbuildings. Along
the river, from where the railroad approaches down
to the White House, over which the Union flag is
floating, are the different offices belonging to the
Quartermaster's department, and also the tent on
which is written " Post-office." There are every-
where floating wharves, and sign-boards direct you
to the Mail-wharf, Marine-wharf, &c. Alongside
of them are three rows and more of vessels of every
description unloading their treasures of salt beef,
biscuits, and supplies of clothing and ammunition.
Among these vessels are steamers of the most mon-
strous and most marvellous description, as you can
see them nowhere else but in America. Most con-
spicuous among them are the huge steamers which
bear a flag with the inscription " Sanitary Commis-
sion," and which serve as hospitals. The largest of
these is the Elm City, which looks like a floating
hotel. Everywhere on the transports you see large
numbers of boxes addressed " F. L. Olmsted," who
is the Secretary of the Sanitary Commission.
The scene on this river and among these ships
moving to and fro is most animated and lively.
During the last few days several transports arrived
with troops and horses and mules, all coming, as I
was told, from M'Dowell's army. More than 12,000
men are said to have arrived during last week.
The German Steuben regiment from Newport News
is now with M'Clellan, and the brigade of General
Max Weber, with his famous German Turner regi-
ment, which I saw when visiting Gosport navy-
yard, are now also in the advance of that army.
To describe the scene at this great depot near White
House in such a manner as to give an intelligible
picture would require more space than you could
give me. Niggers, mules, and immense quantities of
hay bales are the most conspicuous features in
this Quartermaster town. Pedlars and sutlers are
not tolerated, and whenever an audacious fellow
establishes a booth or tent in which lemonade, to-
bacco, gingerbread, and other innocent things are
to be had, his career is very shortlived, and his
store swept away by order of the Provost Marshal,
who protects the few privileged dealers in such
things who have settled their affairs with the direct-
ing powers. The largest of these stores, occupying
a good-sized shandy, is kept by an Irishman, who
has been twenty years in Ameriea, and calls himself
" army commissioner." He is, however, a gentle-
man who has travelled in Europe, and his business
is very extensive and lucrative. In his store you
find the most miscellaneous things—cigars and pan-
taloons, straw hats and pickles, potted lobsters and
shoeblacking, tea and toothbrushes—in a word,
everything except spirits, which are, however, to
be had by officers on special application.
Entering this store to buy some cigars, the owner
was pleased with my appearance. He knew my
name, and very hospitably and kindly offered me
his services, introducing me at the same time to
some colonels and other officers who were his friends
and customers. To him lam indebted for my pre-
sent lodging, for he took me with him and presented
me to the planter, who had to take in some Union
people because he was strongly suspected of being a
Secessionist. He owns a farm on this side of the
river, and another with above 1,000 acres on the
other side, which were worked by about 50 slaves,
of whom only a few remained, and who for the
greater part considered themselves as freemen.
Fortunately, there were among those remaining
some two or three women, who did the cooking in
a kitchen separate from the house; but that was
all, and the master had to wait on his guests him-
self. The whole family was on the other farm ; he
was alone in his house this side the river, always in
fear of being arrested.
After having posted my letter yesterday, I saw
en board my ship one of the captains of the two
schooners
which were burnt by the so-called " gue-
rillas" at Garrick's Landing, and also spoke to some
intelligent sutlers.Lth eawndholteeaemousntettrryrst: were well
e theCrheicka
acquainted with betweentravelled
hominy and Paraunky, having
at White
con-
stantly.
Between the unfinished railway bridge
House landing and New Castle, up the Painunity
River, a distance of about 10 miles,
Garrick's landing,
reckon, are
two ferries, the nearest being Garn
some four or five miles from White House landing.
There three or four schooners were lying on Friday
afternoon. They were attacked by some 50 or 60
men—Confederate cavalry—who fired at the crew
with carbines and revolvers, killing several people.
The captain of one of the boats made his escape
a boat with some of his men, the bullets whistling
over their heads. He had the presence of mind
to save his papers. This schooner and another
were fired at and burnt. Another lying outside
was cut loose, and saved by the captain of another
vessel. Almost at the same time another troop
of Confederate cavalry, probably belonging to the
same body of troops, about 150 men strong, at-
tacked a train at the railway station about two
miles from Garrick's landing, and about two and
a-half from that at White House. Some pPopie
were killed and taken prisoners, together with
a number of waggons, which were burnt. One
colonel, who was taken prisoner, escaped. It
was said that a strong body of cavalry was roam-
ing in the rear of the army, intending to attaek the
great depot at White House, and burning the sh ipping
there. As to the number of these troops no certain
information was to be had, for some estimated them
us high as 4,000, and others at so man? hundreds.
They were said to belong to Stenart's Confederate
cavalry; but where they came from was doubtful
Some were of opinion that they belonged to a corps
•standing against M'Dowell, had been eat off, and
tried to reach the army around Richmond, doing as
much harm as possible
on their way.
Others, how-
eever, would have that these troops went round the
-.right wing of the Federal army; having been in-
tiormed by farmers Hying there that there were no