The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-13 00:00:00

ralists have lost nore heavily than the totals under'
these heads woul show, perhaps. It would be
rather ridiculousto call it either a hard-fought, a
bloody, or a glorous field ; but it was an important
one ; it was a nost trying one to the Federalists,
who were badly fed and hard-worked, in a waterless
country, on a July day, for 12 hours ; they were ex-
posed to the demoralising effects of a long-continued
artillery fire, In spite of their want of discipline
and the very unaccountable rout, the Federalists at
first showed alacrity, but after a time they became
torpid and difficult to handle. No one questions the
general bravery of Americans, native or adopted, on
either side ; but a defeat is rendered worse than
ridiculous by attempts to turn it into a triumph.
Let the unfortunate brave rest content with the
sympathy they deserve, and shun the ovations
which are the due of the conqueror. Praise and
flattery cannot retake a gun, nor save a standard,
nor win a battle—even if it be from vox populi in
Broadway or Bowery.
The Government in some measure let the world
see what they think of the c'aarges made against the
officers of the army in reference to the late battle.
Here is an order just published :
" War Department, Adjutant-General's-office,
Washington, July 25.

" There will be added to the department of the Shenan-
doah the counties of Washington and Allegheny, in Mary-
land, and such other parts of Virginia as may be covered by
the army in its operations. And there will be added to the
department of Washington the counties of Prince George,
Montgomery, and Frederick. The remainder of Maryland,
and all Pennsylvania and Delaware, will constitute the de-
partment of Pennsylvania; head-quarters, Baltimore. The
department of Washington and the department of North-
Eastern Virginia will constitute a geographical division
under Major-General M'Clellan, U.S. army ; head-quarters
Washington.
" All officers of Volunteer regiments will be subject to
examination by a Military Board, to be appointed by this
Department, with the concurrence of the General-in-Chief,
as to their fitness for the positions assigned them. Those
officers found to be incompetent will be rejected, and the
vacancies thus occasioned will be filled by the appointment
of a„eh peisons as may passed the examination before
the Board. " By order,

" L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General."

Yesterday a bill was passed by the House of
Representatives imposing a tax on carriages of
from 1 dol. to 50 dols. ; gold watches, 1 dol.; silver
watches, 50c. ; excise on spirituous liquors, sc. per
gallon ; and on fermented liquors, 60c. per barrel,
or 2c. a gallon. All incomes over 600 dols. per an-
num, 3 per cent., including money at interest, &c.
Every interest in the country is also taxed,
including a tax on the net income of the banks, but
not on their currency or bank circulation. Landed
estates are likewise taxed, and it it be accepted by
the other branches of the Legislature, the people of
the North will begin to feel that fighting is an ex-
pensive luxury, particularly if it be unsuccessful.
It will be weeks before we have doite hearing and
seeing [accounts of Bull's Run, or, as it may be
better called, of Manassas, unless some other action
intervenes, as is very likely indeed. General Banks,
not finding any advantage in occupying a point in
front of Harper's Ferry, on the Virginia side, has,
it is affirmed, withdrawn all his troops to a position
in Maryland which commands the passages from
the Ferry, and General Butler at Fortress Monroe
feels himself compelled to abandon his advanced
works at Hampton, which I described hurriedly
the other day, and to retire to the cover of the guns
of the place. Fortress Monroe is quite impreg-
nable to the enemy, for they have not the means of
undertaking a regular siege. If they get heavy
guns and mortars, however, they can certainly
make the interior unpleasant, and should they open
trenches the Americans may have a Sebastopol in
petto near old Point Comfort. Meantime the com-
mand of Colonel Phelps, at Newport News, consist-
ing of four regiments, is threatened by the enemy.
His camp is intrenched and furnished with a few
howitzers and field-pieces, and heavy guns on the
river face. I heard him apply to General Butler,
when I was there, for horses and harness for his
guns, as if be wanted to move them. He is a
grim, dour, stern soldier of the old Puritan type,
and if attacked he will defend his camp to the last.
Should he be beaten, the Confederates will have
both sides of James River. The more closely the
consequences of Manassas ara investigated, the
more serious they seem to be. It must be granted
that the Confederates feel their losses more severely
than the North does. Their colonels and officers are
men of mark, and even of privates killed or wounded
one sees notices implying that they belong to good
families, and are well-known people. The O's and
Macs and Vons (few of the latter), the Corcorans,
Camerons, and Bruggers, prisoners, wounded, or
killed, are of less consequence to the social system
of the North than the Hamptons, Prestons, and
Mannings are to the South. If Mr. Davis and a few
of the leaders were to fall in battle there would be
less chance of the South continuing its struggle with
the same heart and confidence ; but if all the Cabi-
net were to go to-morrow from Washington the
spirit of the Northern States would not be diminished
one iota. From the South, as yet, we have only a
few scattered details of the fight and of its results,
but it can be seen that there is no very great exul-
tation over the victory.
The following interesting extracts from the Rich-
mond Inquirer of July 23 will furnish a good idea
of the manner in which the news was received :-
4, FIRST CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF

AMERICA.-ADTOIJRNED SESSION.

" Richmond, Virginia, July 22.

" Congress met at 12 o'clock, the Hon. Howell Cobb in
the chair. Prayer was offered by the Rev. J. L. Burrows,
of Richmond. The journal of Saturday was read and ap-
proved.
" On motion, Robert E. Scott and Walter Preston, of
Virginia; T. M'Dowell, of North Carolina, newly elected
members, came forward and took the oath.
" Mr. Memminger; of South Carolina—Mr. President,—
I beg leave to interrupt the order of business by bringing
to the attention of Congress the intelligence that has been
received at this place from the seat of war. I present the
following despatch, which I ask the Secretary to read :
" Manassas, July 22.

" Mrs. Jefferson Davis,—We have won a glorious,
though dear-bought victory. Night closed on the enemy
in full flight and closely pursued.
" JEFFERSON DAVIS.'
I beg leave to present an official despatch received since
that :

"' Manassas, July 29.
" ' To General S. Cooper, Adjutant-General, Richmond.
" Night has closed upon a hard. fought field. Our forces
have won a glorious victory. The enemy was routed, and
fled precipitately, abandoning a very large amount of arms,
munitions, knapsacks, and baggage. The ground was strewn
for miles with those killed, and the farmhouses and the
grounds around were filled with the wounded. The pursuit
was continued along several routes towards Leesburg and
Centreville, until darkness covered the fugitives. We have
captured several field batteries and regimental standards,
and one United States' flag. Many prisoners have been
taken. Too high praise cannot be bestowed, whether for
the skill of the principal officers or for the gallantry of all
the troops. The battle was mainly fought on our left,
several miles from our field-works, our force engaging them
not exceeding 15,000—that of the enemy estimated at 35,000.
" JEFFERSON DAVIS.'

This announcement, continues Mr. Memminger,
informs Congress that the invader of our soil has
been driven back, that our altars have been purified
and our homes secured from the ruthless hand of an
unprincipled foe. But, Sir, it has been at a cost
that will bring sorrow into many families, wet with
burning tears the cheeks of many widows and
orphans, and into many happy homes bring grief
and desolation ; and I presume, Sir, Congress will
be little disposed on such occasion to go with their
usual business. I have taken the liberty of offering
a series of resolutions which I will submit to Con-
gress, and ask their adoption :-
44 1. Resolved, that we recognize the hand of the Most
High God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in the
glorious victory with which He has crowned our arms at
Manassas, and that the people of these Confederate States
are invited, by appropriate services on the ensuing Sabbath,
to offer up their united thanksgivings and prayers for this
mighty deliverance. _ .

"‘ 2: Resolve l, that we deeply deplore the necessity which
has washed the soil of our country with the blood of so
many of our noble sons, and that we offer to their respective
families and friends our warmest and most cordial sympa-
thies, assuring them that the sacrifice made will be conse-
crated in the hearts of our people, and will there enshrine
the names of the gallant dead, as the champions of free and
constitutional government.
"d. Resolved, that we approve the prompt and patriotic
efforts of the Mayor of the city of Richmond to make provi.
sions for the wounded, and that a committee of one member
from each State be appointed to co-operate in the plan.
" Resolved, that Congress do now adjourn.
"The resolutions wore unanimously adopted, and Con-
gress adjourned to meet to-morrow at 12."

It will be observed when Mr. Davis telegraphed