The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-03 00:00:00

to such as ours there is something inexplicable abou

the command of General M`Dowell. Why a fresh
army of 40,000 is surrounded on all sides by despe-
rate encounters of hostile forces and moves not, is
the wonder of the country. For what purpose are
they held back ? To defend Washington ? From •
whom? They were unable to move so as to cut off
Jackson. Where they are they seem to us to
have no tangible purpose whatever. It would seem
now that the battle for the defence of Washington
must be successfully fought at Richmond ; but it
seems that the officials at Washington do not see it.
A Washington despatch of the 19th says :—" Sur-
geon-General Hammond has within the past five
days provided 15,000 beds for the sick and wounded
in hospitals here and in Northern cities."
The editorial correspondence of the New York
Times says that General M'Clellan has been labour-
ing under indisposition more or less severe for
several days. He was much better, however, and
was indefatigable in his attention to the details of
official duty.
A Fortress Monroe despatch of the 20th says :
There is nothing new to report. The weather is
sultry and unsettled. Skirmishing has been going
on in front of the army. The rebels have assumed
a more menacing attitude, and will probably try to
bring on a general engagement in front of their
worles in order to draw our troops within range of
their batteries Three deserters from the 4d Georgia
Regiment who came in yesterday reiterate the re-
port that the rebeN aro becoming desperate, and
greatly disheartened at their recent defeats.
A correspondent of the New York limes, writing
from Mechanicsville,Virginia, on the 16th, says :
Unusual quiet has prevailed in this vicinity since
yesterday morning. It is believed, from observa-
tions made from the balloon to-day, that the main
body of the enemy have moved to some other point,
and the impression prevails with many that Rich-
mend is being evacuated. The greater portion of
the tents on the'eminence opposite have disappeared,
and no soldiers were visible this evening, except
one company of infantry marching to the left and a
few pickets. Our tine or
pickets are within four
miles or Richmond, while
those of the enemy are
on the road a little above, and within speaking dis-
Lance of them-
The Secretary of -War had received a despatch
from General G. W. Morgan, dated camp near
Cumberland Gap, June 18. It states that his army
commenced to march at 1 o'clock that morning to
attack the enemy at Cumberland Gap,
--- On their
arrival it was found that he had evacuated that
very important position, his rear guard having left
only about four hours before the arrival of the Fe-
deral advance.
The fact appears to be well established that yel-
low fever had not made its appearance in New Or-
leans et the latest advices, June 10. The deaths in
the city during the first week in June were 122, not
an unusual number.
The American consul at Havannah having, how-
ever, informed General Butler that yellow fever had
made its appearance among the shipping at that
place, General Butler has established a regular and
effective quarantine.
Wm. B. Mumford, who had been convicted of
tearing down the Union flag from the Mint at New
Orleans, was executed on June 8. The effect of the
execution was profound.
A late Portland journal says—
The press speak of the rapid growth of Union
sentiment at New Orleans. We regret to say that
our private advices from the most reliable sources
do not warrant the correctness of what we see in
print. It is to he hoped, however, that the prevail-
ing feeling on the part of the inhabitants that they
are only a temporarily conquered people will give
wee -to a better idea. The good conduct of our
army and the re 'opening of trade will do the most
to so desirable an end.
On the 6th June, General. Lovell sent a fl 0. of
truce to New Orleans, stating that he was instructed
y
by the President of the Confederate States to sa
that he had heard Mr. W. Van Bentheysen, a
citizen of New Orleans, had been arrested and was