The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-23 00:00:00

THE SUN.

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1862.

A week's later news from America leaves
M'CLELLAN in the position he retained at what is
now to be known as the tattle of Fair Oaks. In-
deed, the constant rain had so swelled the Chicka-
hominy that the valley was impassable for troops,
and enforced an armistice of many days. During
that time he has, however, been making assurance
doubly sure, for he has been reinforcing his
army by considerable additions, but whether to
the extent of 60,000 men, as reported, may be
doubted. He has now given us an exact account
of his loss in the last bloody battle ; it amounts to
89) killed, 3,627 wounded, and 1,222 missing-
-6,739 in all. This, therefore, is his least loss. What
that of the Confederates was we have no means of
knowing accurately. 8,000 was mentioned in a
Richmond paper; from the nature of the last day's
fight, it having been a battle with the bayonet, it
must have been severe.

There is no information at all trustworthy of
Confederate proceedings. We are left to conjecture
whether they will evacuate Richmond, as they have
done so many places, before the Federals know
anything about it, or -whether they will fight to
desperation. if the former be their intention, the
weather has singularly favoured them; since, on
account of the swollen state of the River Chicka-
hominy, which keeps the Federals five of six miles
north of the city, they could not pursue them, nor
even know what is going on. We hear no more of the
rumour that the Federal gunboats had forced a pas-
sage before Fort Darling, from which they were
repulsed in the recent attempt. We fear the worst;
though a ' fierce attack, repulse, and subsequent
evacuation of a place seems to be quite a Confede-
rate line of things ; yet Richmond, their capital,—
with the toss of which they would be far worse off
than Italy without Rome, which he has not yet
had—may prove an exception. If they cannot
bring up forces in proportion to the rein-
forcements M'CL-ELLAx is receiving, of
which they are sure
to hear, they will
probably not fight ; but if any of BEAU-
REGARD'S army can get round by
the very long
route open to it, in time, and they
can adequately
reinforce themselves, they will then probably fight
to desperation, and the locality of the battle
may
deserve the name of Aceldama.

In the West the Federals appear to be entirely
triumphant. BEAUREGARD'S army seems to be
melting away, probably from want of the means of
support. They have stripped the country, for
HALLECK finds the women and children of all
classes perishing for want of food, the men having
been Paced into the army. Money, be says, is use-
less, food must be sent them, and, to the credit of
the North, this is being done with the utmost
promptitude and generosity. A great number of
prisoners have been taken who at first wished to
be exchanged, but, on second thoughts, have pre-
ferred to take the oath of allegiance to the Federal
Government. Perhaps they find they have better
commons for carrying a Federal musket. BEAURE-
GARD'S losses by casualties, prisoners taken,
and desertions are estimated at from 20,000 to
30,000. Some of the last are men of Tennessee.and
Kentucky, who were being taken south between
more trusted regiments.
The naval victory on the Mississippi was com-
plete, and
Was followed by the surrender of the
river capital, and Port of
t Tennessee, Memphis. But
one of the Confederate gunboats got Away, and she
was being pursued.
e are not told how many
vessels the Federals had, but we know from a pre-
vious account that they w.
ere in a superior condi-
tion. The rebels had eight.
On this occasion we
had a little illustration of naval
fighting with
"Rams." The commander of the ',Re__
gives us a description of his work. m Fleet"
Republicans as