The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-08 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Special Correspondent of the Times.)
NVASHINGTON, MARCH 25.

Written amid the troubles of arranging for a
passage with the expedition, and of the prepara-
tions necessary for it, this must be a brief letter.
Every day troops are starting from Alexandria for
Fortress Monroe. There are now about 38,000 or
40,000 men assembled near Old Point Comfort, in
addition to the force under General Wool, and about
45,000 are following, so that M'Clellan will take
the field at the head of at least 85,000 of the
best infantry which the United States have in
the field, with upwards of 100 guns and 4,000
cavalry. The opening of the Potomac has rendered
it possible for this force to be moved without ap-
prehension of calamity. Had the Confederates
retained their batteries the steamers crowded with
masses of men could not have been despatched, and
much delay would have been caused in sending
them round by Baltimore. Heintzleman has al-
ready landed his division at Newport News. No-
thing is known of the Merrimac, but she is supposed
to be undergoing repairs. If she made her appear-
ance among the flotilla it would be like a hawk
swooping on a flock of sparrows, and I am not
quite sure but that she may be preparing for some
such onslaught. The Monitor is lying in readiness
for her, and the Mystic, another steaming gun-case
in armour, will soon be down there. All the naval
authorities here tell me they will be quite prepared
for her in ease she tries to come out, and that she
will not be permitted to do any mischief.
The events of the week so far as they are known
since last Saturday are the check of the Federals
in their attempt to force Island No. 10 above
Memphis, and the defeat of the Confederates
under Jackson, in an attack en the Federals at
Wlnchebter. It seems that after his arrival at Cedar i
Creek General Banks received orders to march
across towards the old position of the Federal troops
in front of Manassas, and he started accordingly,
leaving a division under General Shields in Win-
chester. As soon as Jackson heard that Banks had
left the place he made a dash at it, either under
the idea that it was unoccupied, or that he could
overwhelmihe force in possession of the works.
Shields was apparently outside the town, and might
have been marching on Strasburg, which is not yet
in the hands of the Federals. Jackson, having with
him the troops of Smith and Longstreet, attacked
with 15,000 the division of 8,000 or 9,000 strong
under Shields. It must have been a very heavy
skirmish on an extended and protracted scale,
rather than a general action, inasmuch as it lasted
eight or nine hours, and the Confederates lost but
600 or 600 men—the Unionists some 400 or
500. The former fled in great confusion after dark,
pursued by Shield's cavalry, throwing away their
i muskets, of which more than 1,000 have been found,
and leaving two guns, caissons, and several hun-
dred prisoners in the hands of the enemy. A letter
1 to a friend of mine from a surgeon in the field says
1 the writer counted 226 dead Confederates on the
I field. The pursuit was continued yesterday, and
1 some skirmishing occurred, but there are no precise
1 accounts from the field. This bold attempt of Jack-
son to create a diversion on the Federals' flank, and
to menace Harper's Ferry and Maryland, has how-
ever been quite frustrated.
General M'Clellan and headquarters have gone
1 to a house on the hill near Alexandria, and they
I will brobably embark this week.

CRIPPIEGATE SAVINGS-BANK.—It appears from
the annual statement of accounts of this establishment, re-
cently published, that the number of contributors for the
year ending November last,. including six charitable institu-
tions and 13 friendly societies, was 3,700 ; and the total
amount of balance duo to them was £70,125 16$. 4d. Tho
sums received from depositors within the year amounted to
£18,561 Ils. 4d., and the amount repaid during the same
time, including interest, was. £23.114 11 s. sd. The ex-
penses of management during the year amounted to
£389 lls. Bd., and the surplus which had accrued for the
same time was £6415x. 6d. After tho payment of all the
depositors the whole of their claims in full, there remained
aolear surplus of £864 168 6d, exclusive of the bank pro-
perty.

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