The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-17 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

The present arrival from New York throws an
indirect light on the battle before Richmond, which
gives us clear evidence of Mr. Lincoln's opinion of
it in a levy of 300,000 men. In the midst of the
Northern successes I ventured to assert in your
columns that those successes were delusive, that the
Federals were frittering away their strength, and I
estimated the recruits that would be required to
make up their ranks at the precise number now
called out. What can these recruits do now, even
if they can be obtained, which is by no means cer-
tain ? What will be the result of sending them
against experienced and victorious troops ? On
what pretest can Europe be asked to endure the
suffering of the coming winter while another army
is drilling at Washington, or amateurs are trying
whether their knowledge of other pursuits enables
them to command armies?

It is possible that Richmond might have been
taken bad General M'Clellan followed up with
vigour the forces retreating from Yorktown, giving
them no time to recover from the depression of that
event, and crushing before a triumphant advance
the feeble obstacles which then existed. In place
of this, after announcing his intention " to pin the
enemy to the wall," the moment he comes within
sight of that enemy he casts about to shelter him-
self with intrenchments, to dig rifle pits, and to
swelter away the lifeblood of his army in swamps
that might have been chosen for this purpose. Even
if unprepared for prompt attack, it was in his power
to place himself on the line of railway to the north,
to open it to the Rappahannock, and thus be within
three hours of the Potomac. Taking up a healthy
position on the line, north of Richmond, he would
have been in communication with the forces cn the
Shenandoah, he would have commanded all the re-
sources of Central Virginia, and in case of defeat
would fall back on washington. As he now stands
no battle is needed to destroy his army. Al,
the
Southern Generals have to do is to occupy in force
the southern bank of the James river. It is true they
abandoned the lower batteries before, but they were
then retreating. It is a very different thing to hold
batteries when in a career of success, and after Fort
Darling has dispelled the theory that iron-plated
vessels are irresistible. A single battery that stops
the transports must compel his army either to starve
or fall back on Fort Monroe, and if driven to the
latter alternative but a small proportion would be
likely to reach that shelter.
The appointment of General Pope in place of
such Generals as Banks and Fremont appears a wise
measure. He is the only commander on the North-
ern side who has given the faintest evidence of
capacity. As to his talent for assertions—referring
to which one of your correspondents applies to him
and to Halleck the appropriate term "full mouthed"
—this is only the fashion of the day. The best ser-
vice any General could render was to keep up the
Stock-Exchange, and why not fight the enemy with
figures as well as other weapons ? It is stated that
General Pope is to operate against Richmond, but
this would leave the way to Washington open to
Beauregard, and, to combine with Pope, General
M'Clellan should have moved north-west, the direc-
tion he has taken being south-east. Jackson had
the command of a clear line of railway from Staun-
ton to Richmond, but this would not be left open to
General Pope, who would have to make such a
march in the month of July that the Southern
Generals would probably be glad to receive what
remained of his force at the end of it.
In a recent article you alluded to the remarkable