The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-18 00:00:00

CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, SATURDAY MORNING.
The Cunard mail steamer Asia, from Boston on
the 6th and Halifax the Bth, has arrived.
The Secretary of War has issued the following
order calling out 300,000 Militia from the several
States:—.

" War Department, Washington, D. C., Aug. 4.
" Ordered, First—That a draught of 300,000
Militia be immediately called into the service of the
United States, to serve for nine months unless sooner
discharged. The Secretary of War will assign the
quotas to the States and establish regulations for
the draught.
Second,—That if any State shall not, by the
15th of August, furnish its quota of the additional
300,000 volunteers authorised by law, the deficiency
of volunteers in that State will also be made up by
a special draught from the Militia. The Secretary
of War will establish regulations for this purpose.
" Third,—Regulations will be prepared by the
War Department and presented to the President,
with the object of securing the promotion of officers
of the army and volunteers for meritorious and dis-

tinguished services, and of preventing the nomina-
tion and appointment in the military service of
incompetent or unworthy officers. The regulations
will also provide for ridding the service of such
incompetent persons as now hold commissions.
" By order of the President.
" EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War."
The New York Evening Fost remarks ;
" The order of the War Department, issued yes-
terday, calling for militiamen in sufficient numbers
to raise the Union armies to an aggregate of a mil-
lion of men, absorbs the attention of the community.
Comparatively little else is thought of. The ex-
citement which the first announcement of a draught
produced is, however, to some extent, passing
away. The necessity of the movement is freely ac-
knowledged by all classes, The effect of the new
order upon military operations in this city is not
yet fully apparent. There is much excitement
among the recruiting stations, and discussions are
frequent but not boisterous. Recruiting is less ac-
tive. All the Government offices are open, as here-
tofore ; the mustering of volunteers goes slowly
forward ; the State pays the bounties as hitherto ;
but the majority of the recruits are wanting. No
special preparations have been made in this city or
anywhere, so far as we hear, for the immediate
draught which had been ordered, but the State
authorities will be ready to draught on the 15th of
August, should it be necessary. The enrolment is
completed, and the perfect returns show that the
lists, which it was understood bore but 300,000
names, will contain more than 400,000. The law
fixes the limit for filling exemption claims on the
15th of this month, and until that period it cannot
be determined who really constitute the arms-
bearing population of the State. The exemption
business is a rapid operation in this city. The ex-
emption papers which are filed in the office of the
county clerk are received by Major S. R. Pinckney,
and are entered in a book which contains the names
of the exempts, or those who claim to be such.
About 2,500 claims for exemption had been re-
ceived up to yesterday, of which 700 were offered
on the last day. To-day the indications are that
the number may reach 1,000 more. We learn, how-
ever, that the exemptions offered increase rather
than diminish the recorded enrolment of 38,000 men
in this city, It is a somewhat singular fact, and
is explained in this wise. When the enrolment
was made there was no expectation that a draught
for war purposes would be needed, and the officers
did not record the names of those who claimed to
be exempt where there seemed to be evidence to
sustain the claim, Many of these and others are
not really exempt and will not be considered in the
draught now ordered, though for State Militia pur-

poses they were so considered."
The following special despatch from Washington
to the same journal states that the President has
decided against enrolling regiments of negroes :--
"Washington, Aug. 4.
" A deputation of prominent citizens waited
upon the President this morning to ascertain if he
would accept the services of negro regiments. The
case was fairly put before Mr. Lincoln. It was re-
presented to him that regiments of blacks could be
formed and equipped, to be commanded by white
officers, and that their services would be of great
benefit to the country. It was also urged that the
rebels armed their slaves and used them against us.
Mr. Lincoln replied that he could not accept regi-
ments of negroes, but that he would accept as many
as would offer their services as labourers. This, it
is understood, is to be the settled policy of the Go-
vernment."
The War Department exempts from military ser-
vice persons engaged on the construction of mili-
tary telegraph lines.
The following order respecting absent officers and
privates has been issued :
" War Department, Washington, D. C., July 31.
" The absence of officers and privates from their
duty under various pretexts, while receiving pay at
great expense and burden to the Government,
makes it necessary that efficient measures be taken
to enforce their return to duty, or that their places
be supplied by those who will not take pay while
rendering no service. This evil, moreover, tends
greatly to discourage the patriotic impulse of those
who would contribute to support the families of
faithful soldiers.
" It is therefore ordered by the President :
" 1. That on Monday the 11th day of August,
all leaves of absence amd furloughs by whomsoever
given, unless by the War Department, are revoked
and absolutely annulled ; and all officers capable
of service are required forthwith to join their
regiments, under a penalty of dismissal from
the service, or such penalty as a court-martial may
award, unless the absence be occasioned by some
lawful cause.
" 2. The only excuse allowed for the absence of
officers or privates from duty after the 11th day of
August are—First, the order or leave of the War
Department; second, disabilities from wounds re-
ceived in service; third, disability from disease that
renders the party unfit for military duty ;
but any
officer or private whose health permits him to visit
watering-places or places of amusement, or to make
social visits, or walk about the town, city, or neigh-
bourhood in which he may be, will be considered fit
dismissed
athefro
for military duty, and as evading his duty by his
absence from his command or the ranks.
" 3. On Monday, the 18th day of August, at 10
o'clock a.m., each regiment and corps shall be mus-
tered. The absentees will be marked, three lists of
the same made out, and, within 48 hours of the mus-
ter,enera
.of the army and one to the commander of t'
one copy shalt be sent to the Adjutant-G •
the corps
officers and
privates fit for duty absent at that time will bo re-
garded as absent without cause. Their
thestoptpbeidr
ainsatothb9ye rweitlalinbeed,dainsmd
pay will be
the ser-
vice or treated as deserters,
unless restored ;and no
,officer shall be restored to his rank unless, by the
judgment of a court of inquiry, by
quiry, to be approved
the President, he shall Was
establish his absence
-with sufficient cause.
4." Commanders brigades, re-
. of corps, divisions, •
rments, and detached
posts are strict
enforce the ;d. Any oilo
muster and return aforess-
cer failing in his herein will
be deemed guilty
duty