The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-20 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
BALTIMORE, SEPT. 5.
Adam est de Bepublzca. The Republic, one and
indivisible, is at its last gasp. These words, which
elicited such indignant and angry vituperation when
ventured on by impartial foreigners many months
ago, will, seemingly, be more calmly read when
they return to this distracted country, sick with
civil broils, a few weeks hence. The truth is still
very far from being known in New York and Phil-
adelphia, and possibly may never be known in all its
features. The wail of a nation in its agony will
probably not ascend to Heaven till many weeks
have passed, and hope has long fled. But few im-

partial persons can doubt that the last few days
have seen the crisis of the American Republic.

It must be premised that the full and trustworthy
history of the scenes which took place during the

whole of last week, and up to Tuesday of this week,

can never be told upon earth. But when Stonewall

Jackson and Lee have time to take the pen, which, un-

like Northern generals, they have never throughout
this struggle considered mightier than the sword,
but have, as far as possible, abjured the use of, we
shall learn succinctly and intelligibly the plan of the
recent campaign and its method of execution. As
it is, we are tossed about, without rudder or com-
pass, on a sea of rumours, and much that is now be-
lieved in the North may require subsequent modi-
fication. The following is something like an outline
of the incidents which are supposed to have oc-

curred.
Gen. M'Clellan's army broke up in a pitiable con-
dition from Harrison Landing. Little is said in
the North about their sufferings there, but modern
warfare has witnessed nothing worse. The South
seems to have been satisfied that, after McClellan,
through the alleged incompetency of Magruder,
had escaped by the skin of his teeth, it was not ne-
cessary to watch and harass his broken and shattered
army further. All eyes were turned northwards,
and " On to Washington !" was universally the cry.

It was intended that the decisive battle before

Washington should be fought long before it was

possible for M'Clellan to join Pope. But during the
first 15 days of August a most unusual spell of heat
fell upon Virginia ; the glass for many days was
above 100 deg. of Fahrenheit in the shade, and
Jackson's bold operations were delayed. The scene
of his recent movements is through one of the
thirstiest and least. watered regions of Virginia, and
it is impossible that his men should not have suf-
fered grievously from lack of water, judging from
the account of the few prisoners taken and brought
to Washington. It is fiot necessary to say more in
this rapid sketch than that Pope, driven to the
northern bank of the Rappahannock by Lee, was
there kept by the latter, and amused by many
manceuvres, which afforded him matter for several of
his characteristic despatches, in which he announced
that his enemy was falling back to Gordonsville.
Nothing was further at that moment from Pope's
intentions than to fall back one step further towards
Washington. Was he not committed to abandoning
lines of communication, and recognising no retreat

except that of his broken and discomfited foe ? Lee
continued to fool him to the top of his bent, in
order to gain time for Jackson to cross the
Rappahannock, and turn Pope's right. At this
perilous moment Jackson was disconcerted by a
tremendous thunderstorm and heavy fall of rain—
the breaking up of the torrid heat before mentioned
—and found the Rappahannock impassable. He
boldly made towards its head waters, got across
there, struck into the mountains, and passing out
through Thoroughfare-gap, followed the line of the
Manassas-gap Railroad, and gained Pope's rear
without being observed. The first notice of an
enemy behind him vouchsafed to Pope was the
raid of Stuart's cavalry upon Catlett's-station, on
which occasion Pope's private baggage, official
papers, and those of his staff fell into Stuart's hands.
It is related that among the spoils General Pope's
commission was secured, but Stuart hastened to re-
turn it, apprehending that it might be revoked and
another general substituted in Pope's place. The
first raid on Catlett's-station was thought a most

pudent and daring proceeding, but did not alarm
General Pope. It was only when the subsequent
descent upon Manassas-gap Junction was made,
and property estimated at the value of 5,000,000
dols. captured and destroyed, that Pope became
seriously alarmed, and discovered upon investiga-
tion that Jackson with a large force was in the rear,
that his own communication with Washington was
cut, several bridges burnt, and his army in immi-
nent danger. Seeing that instant retreat was his