The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, EVENING, MAY 27, 1862.

vessel. It became, in fact; a necessity after the sur-
render of Norfolk. She could only go 12 miles up
the James River, as the water was not deep enough
for her, and our gunboats are already far beyond
that point. If it was certain that the rebels were de-
termined to make another stand in front of Richmond
I should think it strange that they should consent
to forego all aid from this formidable vessel, which
might at least prevent other gunboats from going
to the assistance of the attacking army. But the
destruction of the Merrimac confirms the impres-
sion I have received from the recent military move-
ments of the rebels, and which I have more than
once expressed, that Virginia has been substantially
abandoned by the rebel Government."

A letter of the 11th, from Norfolk, says :
"I seized the first opportunity to-day to take a
look at the fortifications by which Norfolk has been
so long defended against our fleet. It is easy to see
that their strength has not been exaggerated. The
works on Sewell's Point are quite extensive, in-
tended for 40 guns, only 23 of which, however, have
ever been mounted, and of these only 7 now remain.
Craney Island—long, low, and level—stands just at
the entrance of the channel, and has upon it a very
formidable series of skilfully-constructed earth-
works, intended for 50 guns, of which 39 had been
mounted—mostly 9-inch and 10-inch Dahlgrens,
though there were also rifled and Parrot guns among
them. There were also nine finished casemates on
the north bastion, and five unfinished. The works
are all admirably constructed. Next beyond Craney
Island, on the right, is a most beautiful semicircular
water battery, with eleven casemates, and finished
in as fine a style as any works of a similar kind I
have ever seen. Still further on, upon the same
side, is still another battery, while on the opposite
shore stands Fort Norfolk. All these works to-
gether constitute a gauntlet which it certainly
would not be prudent in any but the most power-
ful vessel of war to attempt to run. Then,too, just
below these batteries, directly across the channel,
has been driven a line of piles, an opening being
left in the middle for the passage of vessels, in-
tended, however, to be closed in an emergency by
sinking the immense hulk of the old United States,
which lies close by for preparation. Upon these
piles the San Jacinto, as she was going in to-day
stuck fast for a couple of hours, but finally extri-
cated herself without injury.
" The rebels succeeded in almost completely de-
stroying the Navy-yard last night. Hundreds of
them were busy in setting fire to all the buildings
and all the vessels, and this morning little remained
but smoking ruins and a dismal desolation. The
great eastern and western shiphouses, the marine
barracks, officers' quarters, smiths' shops, engine-
houses,'&c., were all consumed. The rebels had
built and launched two iron vessels, mounting four
guns each and built in water-tight compartments,
so as to be raised or sunk at pleasure. These were
not intended to be propelled, but to be used as sta-
tionary batteries for harbour defence, or else to be
towed out to operate against our wooden vessels.
They were burned but not so seriously injured as
to be entirely useless. A number of small vessels
and schooners were also burnt. Great efforts were
made to destroy the dry dock, but they were un-
successful. The magnificent Naval Hospital re-
mains untouched. Even the vandalism which has
marked so many of the acts of the rebels during
this war shrank from the sacrilege of firing this
splendid structure. A good deal has been said in
conversation here of the feeling of the citizens of
Norfolk. All the public indications of sentiment
in the city thus far have, certainly, been on the
side of Secession. Scarcely half-a-dozen men have
ventured to come out boldly as Union men. The
general tone of conversation, where you succeed in
getting any, is dull, discontented, and sour. Ido
not regard this, however, as an infallible indication
of settled political sentiment. The people unques-
tionably feel that they have been abandoned by
their friends and conquered by the North. This is
never a pleasant feeling, and men must be pardoned
for not being able to conquer it on the instant. I
saw nothing during my stay in the city, which it is
true was short, to indicate that spiteful hatred of
the Union and its friends which has been mani-
fested in others. The negroes were out in full force,
and were all in their most smiling holiday
attire. Whether it was the military show,
always so fascinating to the negro mind, or the
equally strong passion for something new, or
a sanguine perception that all this conquest
is for their behoof, I do not pretend to say; but they
certainly seemed to be the parties most deeply in-
terested in the pageant of to-day. Quite a number
of Irishmen were in the streets, and they were
mainly quite free to proclaim their satisfaction at
the changed aspect of affairs. I had quite a politi-
cal talk with a dozen or so of plain, respectable
people collected on the wharf. They deplored, the
-existing state of things; but thought the Abolition-
ists mainly to blame for it, and said they were glad
no more blood had been shed, because it would only
exasperate the feelings of the people, and it seemed,
after all, that we should be obliged to live together
again as friends by and bye. The business of the
place is evidently ruined. Grass is literally grow-
ing in what were once some of the busiest and most
bustling commercial streets. The presence of the
army has given a stimulus to certain limited kinds
of business, but nothing upon which the prosperity,
of a great community can be based. Everybody
seemed to have his:pookets full of Confederate scrip,
and many declared their belief that every dollar of
it would be redeemed."

From Gen. M'Clellan's army we have the follow-
ing intelligence :
" New Kent Court-House, Virginia,
"Saturday, May 10, 3 p.m.

" The pursuit of the retreating rebels by cur
troops, under command of Gen. Stoneman, has in
every respect been successful. His head• quarters
are now 27 miles from Richmond, while the ad-
vance, consisting of the Bth Illinois Cavalry, is five
miles ahead, The enemy is in sight, and gradually
falling back. The inhabitants have, in nearly
every instance, left, but, from the best informa-
tion that has been obtained, the enemy will
make a stand at Bottom's-bridge, 16 miles from
Richmond, at the head-waters of the Chicka-
hominy River. Gen. M'Clellan, with the main
body of the army, is rapidly following up within
a few miles. Cumberland, a small town on the
Pamunkey River, and two and a half miles from
here, was deserted this morning by the enemy and
is now occupied by our forces. The engagement
yesterday between our advance and the enemy's
rear at Slater's Mills,three miles from here, resulted
in 14 of the enemy's cavalry being killed end seve-
ral taken prisoners. They secured their wounded.
The 6th Cavalry, which made a most brilliant
charge, had three men killed, and three missing.
'The enemy's retreat has been most admirably accom-
plished, carrying almost everything with them in
the shape of forage and provisions, the waggon
trains in the day time and their troops at night."
" Two and a half miles from Kent Court-house,
Cumberland, Virginia, Sunday morning, May 11.
"A company of the 6th Cavalry passed on last
night to White House, five miles from here, on the
Pamunkey River, better known as the Curtis estate,
owned by a son of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The com-
pany secured 7,000 bushels of wheat and 4,000
bushels of corn. The rebels had burnt the railroad
bridge and town, and torn up the road for some
distance toward Richmond. The distance from
White-house to Richmond is 23 miles. The gun-
boats arrived here this morning, and are now on
their way to White-house. The rebels had blockaded
the river two miles below here by sinking vessels,
but they were blown up without much trouble."
"Fortress Monroe, Monday, May 12, 6 25 p.m.
"There is nothing new from General M'Clellan's
army to-day. The telegraph to his headquarters
works well, and is kept. constantly employed with
Government business. Some of the crew of the
Merrimac have deserted from Pig's Point, and just
come in at Newport's News."
" ileadquartere, Army of the Potomac, Camp
at Roper's Creek, May 12.
"Commander Rogers writes me to-day that he
went with the . gunboats yesterday past Little
Br,e,nEuvoenr.ything
Was
quiet,
and no signs of troops
crossing the river.
" He found two batteries of 10 to 12 guns each on
1 the south side of James
one opposite the