The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-01 00:00:00

ever, offered to bring me to a kind of antler of the '
regiment of the " lost children" (enfants perdus).
My guide was a German, from Mannheim, in
Baden, whence he emigrated after the revolution.
These poor refugees from Baden I find scattered all
over the North of America. The bluffs round York-
town are all intersected by rather deep ravines,
through many of which you have a fine view of the
river, and into which the Secessionists have built
some of their log huts, which are all occupied now
by negroes—or " darkies," as they are called here
more generally—and numerous colonies of very big
rats. One of the largest of these huts, built on a
slope, was, however, occupied by a sutler. At one
of the windows, serving as a bar, was standing a
fine and intelligent-looking young man, acting as
barkeeper, and before it were some soldiers in a
&nave dress. The sutler, his barkeeper, and these
soldiers were all Germans, belonging to the " lost
children." Poor lost children they were indeed, most
of them. I might have called them by their names,
so well did I know the tongue of the class they be-
longed to—lost sons of noble Prussian families, who
had been officers once in the army, or in some other
branch of the State service.
I was struck by the face of the young barkeeper,
who could not 'deny that he was a Berliner, al-
though his accent did not betray him much. He
did not attempt to conceal his name, and I heard a
strange story, which was, however, confirmed by all
the others. He was a Count B—, the son of a
high officer of Berlin. He had studied theology,
and had been induced by some missionaries to go
over to America. I suppose his expectations were
not fulfilled, for when Colonel Comfort, who com
mended these comfortless "lost children," made up
his regiment in New York, he accepted a place as
chaplain, and was sworn in as such, However, he
said that he had been cheated in some way, and in-
stead of becoming a clergyman he had to shoulder
the musket, as a private. This not suiting his taste,
the young clergyman became a barkeeper to the
sutler. However, when anybody died he had to
put on a decent coat and preach a sermon.
These poor fellows complained very much. They
had not received one penny of pay for seven
months, and were almost starved to death, for the
supplies they got—mostly salt meat and biscuits—
were so exceedingly bad that they generally threw
them away, and lived on beans, and very often
musty biscuits. I have seen myself this salt meat
lying about and smouldering in the hot sun, filling
the air with a disgusting smell. They have nothing
to drink but bad water, and dysentery and fever
are the consequences.

which might show in France or Austria without
being found much fault with by the inspecting en-
gineer. All the edges and salients were sharp, and
everywhere it was required the sand was covered
with turf. The guns—rifled guns of heavy calibre,
and howitzers—were all placed very well, and the
magazines were convenient and suitable. Most of
the guns were pivot guns, and I have no idea how
a ship, if not iron-plated, could pass such batteries.
The guns towards the river were the heaviest, and
some conical shot placed at their side were of an
enormous weight. These guns were protected by
traverses against shot coming from the sides. In
the middle of the fort, which was provided with
a well and other necessary things, was a redoubt
in preparation. The whole fort was not finished,
although in a serviceable state.
- •

Lower down, on a place called Glocester Point,
quite close to the landing of the ferry-boat, was a
fortification which they call here a water-battery,
although I do not see any reason why it might not
stand and do good service in the middle of the land.
This water-battery was quite as good as the fort
above. It consisted of a polygon armed with 12
heavy rifled guns, commanding the surface of the
river to the right and left. In the rear towards the
fort was a little appendix to the redoubt, but in
connexion with it, and containing a very heavy
rifled pivot gun, whieh could fire to every point of
the compass ; the land magazines here were very
ingeniously arranged, serving, at the same time,
as traverses, covering the low standing guns,
which in this water-battery did not fire over the
bank, as in the fort, but through rather wide
embrasures. Only the solitary pivot gun fires over
over the bank. In the centre of this water-battery
stands a shell-proof loghouse, which is covered all
over with earth and turf, and which was to have
been built long ago, and previous to the fort; it
served as chief magazine. At two sides of this re-
doubt were built more recently two other smaller
ones, to shelter some part of the garrison in case of
bombardment. This whole water-battery is com-
manded by the fort, and in case of it being taken it
would be of no use to its captors.
I cannot understand why the Confederates evacu-
ated these fortifications without even an attempt to
defend them. The commander must have been
either a coward or a fool. I was told that the Con-
federates got frightened at a very big gun of the
Federals which had a longer range than their hea-
viest guns. The guns have all been spiked. None of
them have burst or been otherwise destroyed. There
are everywhere shot and shell lying about, and no
sentinels to guard these things, for there are no
people to steal them. The whole country seems to
have been visited by pestilence. Without the
"darkies" the evacuated districts would be as silent
as churchyards.

Having no money, the antlers give credit as long
as they can bear it, furnishing them, for a bond,
with tickets for 5, 10, or more cents, up to a dollar.
You may imagine the prices charged by these sut-
lers. For a loaf costing them sc. they take 25c.,
and in this proportion for every article.
The sale of spirits being strictly prohibited, the
sutler of the " lost children" dared the less to keep
such articles, as he was only tolerated. The sol-
diers, standing outside his wicket, were anxiously
waiting for a barrel-full of water, which was to be
converted into lemonade, and sold at sc. a very
small glass. This lemonade, a small piece of very
bad chocolate, and half a dozen of yet worse honey
cakes, were all I could get, and with which I must
be satisfied for dinner. .

This morning at nine o'clock I went up the river
in a Government steamer. It was intensely hot,
and it was almost impossible to write. The river
is very fine, and its wooded shores produce much
fine scenery. _ .

WHITE-HOUSE, JUNE 14.

We arrived here yesterday about 3 o'clock p.m.
The river presents a very animated scene, for it
is filled with hundreds of vessels of every descrip-
tion, among them some 20 of the largest steamers I
have seen, and resembling rather floating hotels
than sea-going ships. One of the largest, generally
plying between Baltimore and New York, is used
as a hospital. The Pamunky river, which with the
Matapony forms at West Point the York river, is
at this point as wide as the Thames at London-
bridge, and the shores are adorned with beautiful
trees.

Now, I do not know whether I was more disap-
pointed with the town or with the fortifications of
Yorktown, neither being worth the name of town
or of fortifications. There are yet some traces of
earthworks made by Lord Cornwallis, but they are
not used now, and look very insignificant.

•
To give you a description of the works constructed
by the Confederates would be both ridiculous and
almost impossible. The works at Centerville were
yet far better than anything I saw here at York-
town, for there the material used was clay and
sand, but here it is nothing but sand, and the heavy
rains have already half destroyed the works with the
exception of some apparently of older date, which
have been strengthened by turf. The sand ditches
are dry and shallow, and of no consequence; a good
horse would go through them and up the ramparts.
Some of the batteries are tolerably well built, and
strengthened by sandbags, which also are used in-
side where the declivity is too steep and the sand
would crumble down without being supported. But
all this is child's work, and a military man can do
nothing but shrug his shoulders at such works, and
wonder how it is possible that a general, command-
ing brave troops, could lie before such paltry forti-
fications so many weeks. European generals would
have stormed them without any of the preparation
usual in such cases, and not required more than a
day or two. The whole thing I saw in Yorktown I
cannot designate others ise than by saying that it
is a horrible muddle, a disgrace to every art of mili-
tary engineering.
The guns, however, were tolerably well placed,
and for the greater part good. The new ones, re-
cently cast in Secessia, looked very rough and un- An official inspection of the Honourable Artillery
finished ; the shot of all kinds, however, are very Company took place yesterday, at its headquarters,
well manufactured. Everywhere are balls and shells Finsbury, by Col. Pipon, inspector general of militia.
lying about ; many of the latter are yet charged, and There were about 300 of the infantry battalion, pre-
if not soon collected and removed much harm may sent, and adding to these the horse artillery, the
ensue. Many of the better guns have been burst, foot artillery, and the light cavalry, made up a total
and others have only been injured, in order to con- muster of about 400.
teal the fact of evacuation, which would have been The foot battalion was under the command of
betrayed if all the guns had been removed. One Lieut.-Colonel Lord Colville, Captain Brinewood C.
large 100 lb. gun burst in a very singular manner. Potts (adjutant), Majors Robinson and Snell, Cap-
The Yankees fired a conical shell, which struck very tains Field, Fox, Bindin, Volkenham, Riviere, and
close to this gun without exploding. The Southern Welsh, Lieutenants Eglise, Bourn, and Robson.
gunners thought it a very good trick to send this The foot artillery were under Captain Blockley,
shell back to where it came from, and loaded it into and the horse artillery was commanded by Captain
their big gun. Before firing, however, it exploded, Jay, and the light cavalry by Lieutenant Kearns.
bursting the gun and killing several people. Captains Baden and Matthews officiated as quer-
The works for the defence of Yorktown are all, termasters.
at least those to the west, dominated by wooded Colonel Pipon having arrived on the ground, and
hills. Between these and the works are other lower the necessary preliminaries having been gone
eminences, which are also very useful to the attack. through, the foot battalion marched past the re-
There the Southerners have, however, a work called viewing officer, first in slow and then in quick
Fort Beauregard. I was not inside it, but from the time ; they subsequently formed in line, in column,
outside it looks quite as wretched as all the other
works. This fort was taken by M•Clellan, and in reverse line, advanced in subdivision from the
centre, and formed line on two centre subdivisions.
from there he could do what he liked with the enemy's
File firing then commenced, which was followed by
works. firing in volleys by wings, which was admirably
When I went along a tolerably good rifle ditch, done. The left wing first opened fire, and
running along the Lincoln •avenue, I met a soldier, retired, the same movement was performed by the
walking with difficulty, and supporting himself on right, and repeated by both wings; the battalion
a stick. Asking him whether he had been wounded then advanced in direct echelon companies from the
at Fair Oak, he told me that he had been in that right, formed companies squares, and prepared to
battle, and was fortunate enough to escape unhurt ; resist cavalry ; the order was then given to reform
but that in crossing the Chickahominy he was companies, quick march, and the line was reformed.
poisoned by some poisonous kind of water ivy which The battalion next marched by fours and formed
grew there in great quantity. He showed me his quarter-distance column on No. 3, opened out to
leg, which was swollen, and covered with a very bad wheeling distance, and formed square on No. 1,
looking eruption, which must have been very pain- sections outward, the mounted officers in the centre.
ful. The man told me that not less than 1,500 sick The square having prepared to receive cavalry, the
and wounded as ere in the different hospitals at kneeling ranks fired a splendid volley, and the
Yorktown, which was to me almost incredible. battalion then retired in square, the officers still in
I longed very much for some chance steamer to the centre. Columns were reformed, a line was
come up and take me to White House, but the people formed on flank company, a volley fired, when toe
at the landing told me there would be none before order to advance in parade order was given. The
sunset. I therefore strolled along the river, where reviewieg officer having been saluted, a hollow
I met everywhere lazy soldiers stretched out in the square was formed.
shadow of the bluffg ; a few reading or writing ;
others fishing or bathing. The latter occupation Colonel Pipon then said—Lord Colville and gen -
selected tlemen, I really feel much obliged to you for having
seemed to me the most reasonable, and after having
given me this opportunity of seeing the Hon. Ar-
agood spot I was very soon in the middle . ,
of the - tihery Company of London. I have heard of the
beautiful salt river.
to find in the supposed great town corps from the first day that I entered the army.
Not being able
of Yorktown a
puce where to rest for the night, I
credentials, &c., the captain per-
I know that it dates its origin from a very early
tried to get admittance to one of the two ferryboats period of our history, and I know that as a corps it
plying between Yorktown and Glocester. After has had great and unusual privileges conferred on
baying seen my it for its steady and faithful attachment to our con-
mitted me to stay
on board, where I found his stitution and institutions. It is very easy for me to
brother-in- of a general
law, the brother see that the same spirit that animated your fathers
who had
distinguished himself in the battle of Fa •
ir Oaks. He and grandfathers still exists unimpared in the pre-
had just returned from seeing his brother, and was sent generation ; but I have also looked at you to-
waiting for the mail
1 steamer going to Old Point. day as a regiment of soldiers with the eye of a sol-
After tea the brother of the general, who was dier, and I have every reason to express myself
from Philadelphia, but very well known here, from perfectly satisfied with what I have seen. It is
coming down frequently for shooting, proposed to really surprising to see what willingness and intel-
show me the fortifications at Glocester, which, be ligence will do in spite of few opportunities.
said, were much better than those around Yorktown. Lord Colville said—We are very much obliged
On our way we entered many of the loghouses built to you for the character which you have given us.
by the Confederates ; I found them very spacious, His lordship then called for three cheers for the
lofty, and clean as almost all which I bad seen else- reviewing officer, a call which was instantly obeyed,
he shore I and was followed b a similar manifestation in re-
where. On an eminence gently falling off to t
It ust Bard to the noble l y
was built a fort consisting of six bastions. ra ord himself.
have been built by an European officer, for every- The horse and foot artillery then went through
gun practice
thing was well placed and well executed. All the withtheir great efficiency, and a light
and
charge
proportions and angles were as they ought to be, cavalry another congratulatory address
and it was built in a scientific business-like way. from the reviewing officer
It was the first earthwork to these three forces
I have seen in America closed the proceedings.

The railroad, going to the Chickahominy, comes
up close to the river, and just now they are at work
to carry it over it.
Near White-house extends a camp along the river,
to protect the immense quantity of supplies arriving
here daily for M'Clellan's army_ I have not seen
yet much of this camp, but intend going up this
morning to Despatch Station, some 17 miles from
here, whence I may best reach M'Clellan's head-
quarters. For this purpose I must call on the cap-
tain who has the command over the railroad, and
procure a pass. _ _ .

- This night there was a panic among the fleet here,
in consequence of a report that a party of Confe-
derates were close at band. They had, indeed, de-
stroyed higher up some schooners and killed several
people. All the ships here got up steam and fled as
quickly as possible, but that on board which I slept
remained, the captain not being so easily frightened.
It is now 8 o'clock, and most of the steamers are
returning.

A party of Confederates are reported to be a mile
and a-half from here. Troops are sent to reconnoitre
and to drive them back.

HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.