, 1861-09-06
UNimPORTANT OPINIONS.
Another Letter f1om NIr. Russell

The London Times Of the 20th ultimo brings
us another letter from the special correspond
CIT Ct that paper. Its leadirg features Of in
terest are the description Of General McC!sI
lan's army reforms, and Russell's emphatic de-
NAL Of the rumored English de nand for free
cctt6n port CT CUR rebel coast. We extract
all that portion Of the litter which can be re-
ga1ded az valuable to the American reader:
TIE REBELS STRIPPED OF THEIR PKETENsIOys
WASHINGTON August Z
"Let lis only hold on till October and we
are safe" That, CT something like it, was
sa!d to ne over AID over again in the South,
mystery drama Of the Coniederates. And
whtn I asked one Of these gentlemen more
than Two months ago, what chance there Was
OF lie North giving the South all that time, I
vas answered almost in these words, st We are
hound 10 60 to yhe assistance Of Virginia.
The whole cf the northern frontier abounds
n good positions, which can be fed by the rail
from The South. The abolitionists will come
and give ub bhttle. We are certain to whip
them if they attack US, and the North viii
then learn that it cau't overrun Us as it fan
& &sied: The leaders win pause; There will
al the harder and all the better for
Cur victory, drilling our men al!
consolidating orr resources. The northern
cities will become discontcnted. Foreign na,
ficus will ask when the cotton pprts arc to h.
open. The North will have no reply. We
sha}l be better able to fight IL November than
We shall be to fight in June Every weeks
delay viii add to the complications aud weak.
ntss OF the North, and the erd Ct the year will
find hem further from their aim than ever
divisions in their councils, even disturbances
in their roEulations, while we, nspired by the
8.DrDGrb If EunaesR will eyhiht :nr-sasinu
eutrgy aud uuarimity." A part of the pro.
gTamme has been already accomplished, but
it does cot follow that the remainder Of the
prophecy will be fulfilled with as much nIcaty
So far 'he result Of the action Of the 2lst
has been the pTolongation of tte war in
will be known in few days more It is pIain
now that the CoDfederates were not only really
undbe to pursue their Advantage, but that they
uese not at first amaTe Of It's e1tent They suffer
iron deficient transport, and are bitter pre-.
pared fer offence than fer attack, Their a373ay
scas almost as much scared" to asse an English
aeoTd IN on american aedy, as the Fe2eralists, if
ibe reports are to be believed of the confa-
sion, waverirg aud retreat in their ranks-and
Of the passionate exertions Of the officers, as
well as Of their Losses. In fact, the ConJsds
rates aoad btTore the acorld stripped Of good
deal Of The strength Of acich they boasied in &C.
tUal numbers and it is a poor cover to their
weakness to put forward the assertion that
only a portion Of their force was engaged.
when it is notorious that they had sent to ali
quarters for reinforcements, and, shove all,
when 1t is considered that, by using all the
men at their disposal, they could have forced
| The mass OF the Federal army to surrender
| prisoners Of War, and haye occupied the cap
| ltal. ihelr operations 1D to this time indi
cate hesitation aud went Of vigor; but it is
| just possible they May be preparing to strike
| sume great blow.