The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-21 00:00:00

CLITIL WAR IN AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
The Royal Mail steamship Arabia, Capt. Stone,
from Boston on the 9th, and Halifax on the 11th
inst , via Queenstown yesterday, has arrived.
A telegraphic summary of her news has already
been received.
The New York Post is informed that Gen. Scott
had been in Washington several days, and had
a room at the War Department. It is rumoured
in Washington that the general is to become Secre-
tary of War, with General Banks as assistant
secretary.
The latest fighting before Richmond of which
the papers contain any account, appears to have
taken place on the 3d inst., and the following ac-
count of it, and of the proceedings of the army of
the Potomac on the 4th of July, is from the corre-
spondence of the World, dated on the last-men-
tioned day :
" The enemy on Thursday morning, at about 9
o'clock, commenced an attack with cavalry, artillery,
and infantry, on the rear of the army, and it was
feared that another heavy engagement was about to
take place. The whole army was immediately
drawn up in line of battle. By a reconnoissance,
however, it was discovered that the attacking force
-was not very considerable, and General Davidson,
with his brigade, was ordered to attempt to cut
them off and capture or disperse them. He suc-
ceeded in taking a number of prisoners and six guns.
The rest sought safety by skedaddling, and were
pursued by our troops four or five miles with much
loss. The first firing was into the woods in front
of the lines of the army, as the rebels evidently sup-
posed that we were occupying the woods in force.
" The Monitor, Galena, Nangatuck, and the re-
sidue of the gunboats, threw a large quantity of
shot and shell over our army into the woods and
beyond them, making any position in the vicinity
very unpleasant to rebel occupants. The enemy,
however, continued casual firing until four p.m.,
w hen the bold dash of General Davidson, and the
general ineligibility of the place, caused them to
retreat.
" The anniversary of the nation's independence
was celebrated by the army appropriately. The
following exercises were ordered for the day by
General M'Clellan :—A national salute at noon at
the head-quarters of each army corps ; immediately
thereafter bands to play appropriate national airs.
The general commanding will visit the troops dur-
ing the afternoon, when the troops will be paraded,
and a major-general's salute fired in each corps.
Hereafter the usual calls may be sounded, and the
bands permitted to play.
" General M'Clellan reviewed the troops in the
afternoon, as announced, and was received with the
utmost enthusiasm along the lines. The soldiers
have the most unlimited confidence in the general's
military capacity. They express no apprehensions
for the future under his command. They do not
consider their retreat a defeat, but believe that it
is a part of M'Clellan's plan. They do not believe
that their leader has made a movement that was
not justified by sound military policy. They think
that the capture of Richmond will come in good
time, in accordance with M'Clellan's plans, and are
anxious to boded whenever he gives the word to
do their part towards that result, so the troops, of
course, cheered their young commander as he rode
along the lines. As he passed on he made a few
remarks to them, thanking them for their gallant
conduct, encouraging them for the future, and tell-
ing them their labours were not yet over. The ad-
vance of six miles, as I stated, has changed the
front of the army towards Richmond. General
Sumner's corps, which previously lay on the banks
of the river, has been advanced two miles. The
divisions of General Franklin, Keyes, and Heint-
zelman have been moved back on the road and face
outward. There is considerable difference of opi-
nion as to the capture of Richmond from this posi-
tion. It would look to be a tedious operation, re-
quiring great force, but with the help of the gun-
boats might not be so difficult as it seems. There
are many that think that a general ad-
vance towards Richmond is not improbable
at no distant day. Richmond papers claim
a victory in the eight days' fight on the peninsula,
although they acknowledge a loss of 30,000 men.
The death of Stonewall Jackson is positively de-
nied, and he is said to be now in command on the
left bank of the Chickahominy."
A letter in the Boston .Tournal of the 9th gives
the following as the state of affairs-with M'Clellan's
army, as furnished by gentlemen who left it on the
sth inst.:—
" General M'Clellan has secured his army from
further assaults. He is safe, but there can be no
immediate advance upon Richmond. He is con-
fronted by an immense army, while his own is
weakened. He must be reinforced. His men are
not disheartened, but, on the contrary, are sharp-
ened for the final fight. They have no thought of
giving up. They want to be put on an even footing
with the enemy for a seeond fight. They defeated
the rebels in every battle on the south side of the
Chickahominy. How long General M'Clellan had
premeditated a change of his base I do not know,
but when he found that the rebels had been largely
reinforced, and intended to attack him, wisdom de-
manded activity on his part in carrying out his
plan. The falling back from Mechanicsville on
Friday encouraged the rebels. The crossing to the
south side of the Chickahominy raised their expec-
tations to the highest pitch. It is plain that the
rebel commanders were out-generalled. They did
not find out General M'Clellan's plan till too late
to prevent its execution. They thought they had
his supplies when they rushed pell-mell towards
the White House, but they found an empty nest
instead of a bird with golden plumage. Had
they known his plan, they could have precipi-
tated the 50,000 troops which afterwards came
down upon Heintzelman along the Charles City-
road, south of White Oak swamp, and M'Clellan
would have been annihilated. His escape was
another of those narrow margins which
have marked this war, an evidence to all thought-
ful reverential minds that He who holdeth the sea
in the hollow of ni • •
s tend has this cause in his keep-
ing.
He has left the Chickahominy swamp and is
upon James River. His camps are upon high land.
He has water in abundance. His men can bathe
daily. He has water communication. The enemy
cannot attack him except in front. A Baltimore
captain informs me that the • situation is very un-
healthy. City Point is said to be
one of the worst
11
places in the world for fevers.
Ima a not say how
large an army Gen.
ArClellan has under his com-
mand, but if he could be adequately reinforced there
Without n
aig.
need be no delay in the camp rein-
forcements he must wait.
earnest. They meanin
" The rebels are madly
to win. Human life is to them so much capital stock
to be sunk if need be to ensure succ fought
success. They
through the six days with desperation. M'Clellan's
batteries cut great gashes in their ranks ; but mad-
dened by whisky, heedless of life, they rushed on
heedless of their fallen comrades and of the sure.
death awaiting them. The slaughter on both sides
was fearful. Not less than 30,000 men were put
hors de combat. I have the authority of a general
for saying that that is an under estimate."
The war correspondent of the New York Times
places the Federal losses before Richmond at about
25,000. The New 1 ork, Tribune gives General
Andrew Potter's name as the authority for the
statement that the rebels have lost 75,000 men in
the recent battles.
The .11ew York Herald having stated that the
plans of the commander of the Potomac army have
been thwarted by the interference of the War De-
partment, the Washington correspondent of the
New York Evening Post says that this statement is
pronounced entirely false by the highest authority.
The New .
6)k rrl 5.5 5
imune s letter of the sth sap—
Yesterday our
rivr
pickets advanced from four to
five miles from the no enemy, who
seem to have mysteriouslyand sa
retired.w General M'Clel-
Jan has advanced his lines down to the Chicka-
hominy', and no fears are now entertained of a
gank movement in that direction. By noon to-day
Geal neleli ah expected
to have
hisposition
ner
so fortified as to be able to bid,
defiance to the
enemy in any shape they might choose to come."
The Herald of the, 6th says :7-
ver
a some of the gunboats have gone op tie ri

to-day, and others will soon follow. A certain
general
who was looked for to-day has not yet ear-
rived, but we have hope of seeing him before going
down of the sun. This great point (,f interest is
becoming more and more important. A few days
longer and Richmond will be ours."
An army letter to the herald states that the
rebel prisoners say—

" Long before the evacuation of Corinth the
troops from Beauregard's army began to arrive at
Richmond, and continued to arrive steadily until
that event took place, by which time 50,000 ar-
rived, and subsequent to the evacution 25,000 more
arrived from Corinth ; and these 75,000 men are
the flower of Beauregard's army ; they are the
best troops of the old army of Manassas, and have
not, as a general thing, been engaged in the late
battle, but are held in reserve ; that the whole
number of troops at Richmond amounts to fully
200,000, and that General Lee has chief command,
and that Generals Beauregard, Johnston (he was
wounded), and Jackson were commanders of corps
d'arinee under him. In regard to the report of
Jackson's death, they speak of it in such a manner
as leads me to think it a mere ruse." _ _

A telegram of the 17th from Fortress Monroe,

says :
" An officer in charge at Savage's Station during
the last battle states that all the silk and wounded
were removed before the rebels reached there.
" Another small rebel gunboat beside the Teaser,
ventured down James River on the 3d, and was
sunk by our gunboats. General M'Clellan has ad-
vanced about seven miles up the river, but no fight-
ing has been heard of for the last two days. Ten
transport steamers are here to-day. The Elm City
and the Knickerbocker have each over 500 sick and
wounded on board. The Knickerbocker goes to
Washington and the Elm City to New York. No
person is allowed on board the Elm City to obtain
information. Five deaths have occurred on board
since leaving Harrison Landing.
" Three regiments of cavalry left for up river this
morning. A flag of truce has returned from White
House. All was quiet there and no rebels seen.
She brought some 50 contrabands and a few strag-
glers.
" Gen. Burnside's flag boat arrived here this after-
noon.
" A flag of truce returned to-day from a cruise up
York River. At Cumberland they found 90 of our
wounded, whom they brought a mile away, but the
rebels compelled them to the hospital. All was quiet
to-day on James River."
A Cairo despatch of the Bth says :
" The Steamer Sunshine, from Vicksburg on the
3d, has arrived. The bombardment was continued.
The town deserted, except by the military.
" The news from White River is not encouraging
Col. Fitch still held St. Charles. No relief had yet
reached General Curtis. The whole country bor-
dering on White River is reported in arms, except
those flying from the conscription, which is en-
forced in the most vigorous manner. Boats are fre-
quently fired on from the shore."
The Grenada Appeal of the 3d says that large
numbers of Confederate troops have gone from
Jupels to Water Valley, forty miles south of Holly
Springs. Breckenridge's division has gone to Vicks-
burg. A large number of Mississippi troops have
gone to Richmond. Nearly all the Government
stores have been taken to a place occupied by 2000
or 3000 rebels. They have burned all the tressle
works of the bridges between Memphis and Cold
Water.

General Hindman has issued an appeal to the
people of Arkansas, and says that he intends to
annoy the enemy in every possible way, and asks
the people to do their part.
The Little Rock Gazette of the 28th says that the
Federals have evacuated Indian Bay, and St.
Charles, and the whole lower White River, and
have gone in the direction of Memphis. General
Curtis left Batesville and crossed Black River, and
is supposed to be marching towards Cachebridge,
with a view to reach the Mississippi River via
Crowley's Ridge.
The Philadelphia Press has a despatch from
Newbern, dated July 2, stating that General Burn-
side's entire army is in motion against Richmond.
Richmond papers of July 4 have been received.
They contain full details of the late battles. They
claim a victory as the general result, but admit a
severe defeat on Tuesday. The Examiner says
15,000 will not cover their losses in killed and
wounded during the week; The impression of
military men on the peninsula is that 30,000 is
more likely the number.
Complaint is made of the inhuman treatment of
Confederate soldiers by the Federals on the penin-
sula. Several Georgians, it is said, were hung,
and many bodies mutilated, but this is affirmed at
Washington to be untrue.
Captain Wilkes, who played so prominent a part
in the Trent affair, is appointed to the command
of the James River flotilla, and Acting Master
Fred. D. Stuart was expected to be his chief execu-
tive officer.
The Washington Star says:—
" On Friday last a division of General M'Do well's
corps took up their line of march for Warrenton,
which point they now hold. We pre-
sume this movement is preparatory to a prompt and
proper concentration of General Pope's army."
The return of Mr. Seward to Washington is
thus referred to by the correspondent of the New
York Post
Mr. Seward has returned and reports that the
people will sustain the Government heartily in this
great crisis. He discovered on his trip that the
Government committed one blunder, that of trying
to conceal the disaster from the people. It is now
perceived that this policy has had a bad effect upon
enlistments. The people, especially in New Eng-
land, resent this attempt to conceal the disaster from
them, and have really supposed the army of the
Potomac to be in a worse condition than the facts
would warrant. Mr. Seward comes back prepared
for a fresh onset of the European interventionists.
It is fully expected that the sympathisers with the
rebellion will make a great deal of noise, but the
best judges of our foreign affairs do not believe that
France or England will actually interfere in the
present condition of our affairs. Actual interven-
tion, it is believed even by foreign ministers here,
will not come for six months yet. By that time
all the peninsula disasters can be fully retrieved
and Richmond taken."
It was rumoured that Commodore Foote would
soon be placed at the head of a new naval expe-
dition, which was being got ready.
Great efforts were being made by public meet-
ings, patriotic addresses, &c., to promote volun-
teering. The common council of Buffalo had ap-
propriated 80,000 dole. to raise a new regiment
there, giving 75 dols. bounty to each recruit, in ad-
dition to the Government bounty.
Nassau advices of June 28 say the steamer
Ovieto was under seizure by the British war
steamer Greyhound, with a prize crew aboard.
111 the
Senate, on the 7th, the Tariff Bill was re-
ported back
from the finance committee, with
amendments A motion to take up the bill for
the admission
Rouse Western Virginia was thrown out.
In the
members
enepresentatives, on the same
lay, several
ser!adtezbated
and
were excused from further
attendance, on the plsea that they wished to return
to their homes to .
into
raising troops. The
effect the new slave trade
tSreenaatytewas
l ptaoseseadrr.oyn
the
Bth,
the T
ariff Bill was
up and ' a variety
including of amend-
ments
agreed to,
were one raising
taklenn the
that on sheet
50e. per gallon, and the
A bill to amend the act of
dutyiron abouton p i3r3i t sp
et or c
8 invasion,
• was also introduced-
was introduced. A bill
1795, calling on- the militia to suppress invasion,
emen-
datory of the act prohibiter.;
the slave trade.the Treasury_note
the committee of conference on
In the House of Representatives the report of
Bill was agreed to.
000,01)0 dols.
Under this bill, as finally passed, 35,
are to be issed in small notes; 50,000,000 dols. are
reserved to secure the payment of temporary de-
posits, leaving the issue for circulation at
100,000,000 dols.
The bill providing for the discharge of state pri-
soners was debated and passed.
It was expected that Congress would adjourn
sine die on Monday, the 14th inst.
The commercial intelligence has been generally