Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-19
Ne,gs and Gossip flo1n nc Potoma.e.

FAIRFAX, Oct. IO.-I have heard Of nothing to
change the opinion expressed in my last letter that
the Confederates wsuld fall back at an early day
behind Bull Run. On the contrary. msny things
have come to my knowledge to confrm that opinion
Of course much depends upon the movements DE- the
enemy; for we are ready 10 receive him here, or st
Bull Run.
A line of pickets is stretched from Fortress Mon
roe TO Kansas; yet we manage now and then I'd pro-
cure Northern newspapers by way Of the under
ground railroad. The last batch received brings
news that Mcclellan has been ordered to St Iouis,
in place of Fremont lately called TO Washington for
trial; and that Gsn. Wool who has been superseded
at Fortress Monroe by Gen Aansf ED, will succeed
Mcclellan in the command at Washington Such is
the rumor in Washington Baltimore and New York
Private a17icrs are Of a similar tenor That such
runors are sfoat, and that they hsvs created no
httle excitement beyond the Potomac. there can be
n doubt; but am unable to say how much foun
dsrinn there is for them especially in regard 70 Nc
Clellan.
We hear further that much dissatisfaction exists
among the bankers In Wall street and throughout
the North on account of the hesitstiny policy of
Mcclellan II is reported that they frankly admit
that neither they uor the country can stand long
war; and they claim that when they agreed to fur
Dish the means for the prosecution of the law, it
vas only condition that short work should Be
made OF It these accounts are confirmed, in sub
stance by MAJ Gen Smith and Brig Gen. Lowell
who lately arrived here from New York, where
they enjoyed the best possible facilities for getting
reliable information They represent the distress
prev ,iling at the North, growing out of the de
rangemt NJ OF commerce, the Ftaguston Of business
the SHORTAGES OF the grain crop and the uneasuess
of capitalists, TO be almost incredible.
FIVE days hence (the 18th Of OctOber,) is the time
BY which the second inst4lment Of $50 900 600 OF
the Federal Oan is TO be paid 1t mag be that Wall
street is availing itself Of the exigeneies Of the
Government TO eKtOrt from it terms for greater
igor i the future prosecution Of the war And
1t may be that Johnston and Beauregard have lain
idle along the Potomac, in part at least for the
reason that an active campaign here might have
stimulated the forts Of Northern capitalists %
assist thtir Government IL is evident that Mr.
Lincoln can do but little without their Cooperation
The Money Kings are not the least powerful pOtsn-
tates IN the land Indeed. hear they went 50 far
on = recent occasion 10 demand al early. move
nent forward and thst Gea Mcclellan replied be
would resign rather than undertake It Sensible to
the asti
We are sorry to give up Fremont in the Wsst for
his brutal policy and incOmpetency were of meal
culable bengt to the Confederate cause IN uniting
the people Of Missouri and Kentucky. We feel
somewhat reconcied 20 the change by the announce
uent that Gen Wool has been transferred 70 Wash
ington. He and Gen. Scott bet xeen whom there is
quarrel Of long standing, will not be able to get
OR in harmony.
McClelln is the best officer, after Gen Scott. tie
enemy has lie has conducted the Campaign since
his advent in to Washington with great skill he
has managed to set runners afoat 10 Richmond and
the Army Of the o.on1c that ne had irrny Of l50
600 men, that he would soon cross he river and at
tack US with force Of 100000 trOOps-aEd that
large fleets about to sail from Northern ports
to ravage our coast and burn cities. The object
Of all this buster TO distract cOubcils 10
divert from the Potomac, Kentucky and Missouri
the reinfOrcements intended for those points, and 10
alarm the people all along the Southern coast TIE
affair at Hatteras was admirably planned tb effect
his purpnse. That naval expeditions will be sent
southwark, there need be no doubt; but t5b season
has not yet arrived for them to sail The men who
will go upon these expeditions cannot be spared
til the campaign in this quarter has been closed by
the ice and snow Of winter.
How far Mcclellan has succeeded in his plans, it
is not for me to declare. can only say, We have
good reason to conclude that he has no sudh force
about Washington as he would have US believe.
Since the battle of Aassas 81 900 troops have passed
through Baltimore on their way to Washington and
points in Maryland. Nearly ali Of the three months
volunteers have returned home, and the regulars
are scattered along the line, from Fortress Monroe
10 st. Louis. The forces, then, at and about Wash
ngtOn, cannot much. if any, exceed Tj,O)O men,
many Of whom are disabled by sickness. [ cannot
now give you my reasons for speaking positively
rs TO numbers. a-.a.-. -i.
have said. and still believe that an active and
offensive policy after the battle Of Manassas would
have been the best; yet am frank to confess that
the opposite policy pursued by Johnston and Beau
regard has not been without It's good results. IF
what hear through the Northern press sind other
channels be true, then whipping thP enemy
By standing still Their expenses are enormous,
bging IS 100000 per week No nation chn stand
such drain this long. Hence the eimOrs Of
bankers and capitalists against Mcclellan. The
prospect Of the most frghtful suffering atnoug the
poorer classes this winter, only cOmplcaeB the df
icultes of the Government. Ships are rafting at
their wharves factories are idle mechanics are out
Of employment, the poor clamOIing fbr bread, !
and bankers are FESTIVE and uneasy. The whole
country groans and stAgyers under the migAty load
which W presses upon its Bonded back. Mean
while cur march is ownward in kentucky and Mis-
souri,
We had a visit yesterday from St. james Fergu-
sou a member of the British Parliament, He was
IN officer in the Crimean war. is about thirty>fve
years Of age and possesses great intelligence he /
IS friend Of Mr.. Gregory. and brings I,tters 10 /
Gen. ToOmbs. Gen Besuregard and others sus
Dect that bis visit has been made for the Purpose Of
examining for himself iato the actual cO1dIticn Of
lf4Irs IN this country. with vIew to the quesIon
u the recognition Of our indspentei &c and tn
.asing Of the blockade By ths British GVyerumeBE
Ie expects TO return 10 time for the ASSEMBLING Of
Parliament this winter. He seems TO understand
he difference between the Yankee and the Western
nan and bet seen the SOatherner and both Of them.
Is expressed himself without reserve and IN the
most friendly terms the Confederate States
md SAYS he has osen most fsvoraoly Impressed ~
be bearing the spirit and the intelligence OF cur
TOiunteers he represents that large majority
f the English people and the inhabitants " Middle
nd Lower Csnada are animated by the meat friend