Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-28
w. d. WALLAOH.
Dr. RUssEL's LETTERS TO THE LON.
DON Times.
PEACE IMPOSSIBLE AT PREsENr-InPRovED
CONDITION OF THE FEDERAL Troops


CONDITION OF TIE FEDERAL TRooPs.
WAsHISsros, Aug 29.-In tbs frat place,
let me express the belief that the unanimity of
the North In this war is likely to be disturbed
oy the introduction Of an element, the strength
OF which, however, can scarcely be understood
By those who depend on the journals for in
formation, because the organs which were its
opponents have either been destroyed by mobs
are in dread Of suspension, or are defended by
police aad men armed with reolvyers There
are. however, millions Of earnest, sincere, and
honest men, willing to peril their fortunes
and their lives in the defence Of the Republic,
and In the assertion Of the Union Capital
sighs for peace-trade and commerce languish
for it. But capital knows that what she has
expended will never be regained by submis-
sion, and trade and commerce feel that peace
on the present status of affairs would proba-
bly, deprive them Of their home markets. The
madness Of politicians, the self seeking Of par
ties, have led to an awful calamity, the end Of
which no one can foreses or predict. Peace IS
no L0Hgsr a pIndcea for the evils tchlch af-
ftet tie UHttsd States, and 1ezr has produced
some Of the usual results IN the necessity
,hieA has arisen for the beaten party TO re-
gain theIr prestige. Of all the parties IN the
United Stars, that rchtch desires peace quoad
peace, IS at present the most hopeless; because
peace could only now be obtained by the SUBJ
mission and cession Of everything for which
the North is fighting, and by the loss to the
North Of all, or nearly all, its advantages. But
etill IL works on, and the end would justify the
means indeed, if an absolute peace could be
the fruit Of its labors. There is no chance of
such q settlement, 80 far as can see. There
are in the North itself the materials of trouble
In the anger Of the great parties, which accuse
each other Of the offences that brought on the
greater war; and on the whole there is In nv
Judgment, greGtsr probability Of a peaceful
adjustment offered By the actual Suee.ss
of the North. so that she could reconstruct tho
Union. or aIfolo the South to go out sS dc
psRdsnt republic, than By any other form.
Ihteh TIE contest can assume. IL iS tDpoS-
SIbie for the North to retire from the contest
az a moral Bull RIM. The South may re-
sist long, and will certainly do so with energy;
but there are new and formidable combine
lions. Her troubles will come by water. The
frst OF the operations which she will have to SUBJ
NIT TO i. already In course OF execution. The
expedition which sailed from Fortress Monroe
under the command Of the senior oficer of the
United States squadron on the West India sta
tion, as to the object Of which nothing is
known to the public, Is destined for the de-
struction and closing of the extraordinary Sc
Iie' Of passages and inland waters in North
Carolina, extending from Old Currituck Inlet
down to Cape Lookout. Although the position
Of the forces is such that an encounter may
take place on the other side Of the Potomac at
any moment, Gen. Mcclellan has no desire to
precipitats an engagement, nor will he make
NJ OuourlNo uONomcuI I'LL ne mas got MS SOL
diers 10 hand, and formed the fine materials at
his disposal into an army. The movements
made by the Confederates may be intended
either to amuse their men or to reconnoiter the
whole OF the works from Alexandria to the
Chain Bridge, above Washington. They are
not more than two miles and half from Alex
andria, and are at the same distance from
Eashington; but IL is not possible to ascertain
their force without the risk Of bringing on an
engagement, which, if they proved very strong
might be unadvisable; If they were found to
be weak, the reconnaissance would certainly
prove that they were busy in some other quar-
ter. The country Is very difficult, cut up with
water-courses and covered with undulating
woods, which are fast yielding, however, to the
vigorous efforts Of the Federal axemen, who
In reliefs Of 1--WE hundred strong, are clearing
the ground IN front Of their works, and leaving
before them vast sbstis of great trees and
branches interlaced together, and almost i'm
passable for infantry Now and then a long
range shot or shell is sent from either side at
Che pickets or sentries, (the American wri-
sers, by the way, perversely use the word
picket as meaning a single soldier or SEN
tfy,) and there has been q little more
Of the sentry-staking and shooting which is so
useless and ssnguinary, and 1t yet indicative
Of the aSiuHS Of the sOutherners toward "the
Yankees
Gen. Mcclellan Is rapidly becoming master
OF the Situation. In Washington the silence in
the streets at night is profound. The soldiers
are kept in camp, and have plenty of work to
do. One hears very little of the President,
but IN reality he Is very active, and naturally
takes deep interest In the work Of all the de-
partments. He moves about dressed in plain
gray shooting jacket and suit without any at
tendsnt, frsm one minister to another, now
visiting Capt Dahlgreen at the navy yard,
then dropping in on Gen. Scott. or calling at
Gen AcCiellan's, taking q constant bat not
obtrusive share In all the various business on
hand from day to day.
There will be very rigid discipline enforced
smong the men Of the new army, and, indeed,
1t Is required. Look at the strange affair in
the KanAUha valley at SummerVille. whole
regiment hanlts tO cook breakfast in what may
be termed an enemys country. No pickets
are thrown out, no seatinels posted, not the
slightest precauuon taken TO prevent what
happened, and what was likely or at least Dos
sible-a surprise by the enemy, in which the
regiment suffered most severely at the hands
OF q superior force. If proper dispositions had
been made, such an operation could not have
been effected; and 1t appears that the road to
Gauley Bridge must have been open, so that q
judicious retreat ooald have saved the reri.
ment, Just as the baggage was rescued This
Knswha valley 10 the source Of much march
ing and fighting; il is, in fact, the heart of
Western Virginia, and its importance Is 80
great that the Union men, as you are aware,
proposed 10 call the state they were going to
By the name Of the river Kanawha till the
opinion Of Mr.. Bates, the Attorns-G sneral, in
duced them to forego the projsct. The dis
oiplins which will be enforced must prove
distasteful to many Of the volunteers, but in
the end they Will experience the advantages
of it. Although the regiments are generally
eonp0ssd of ths fHssf nen thot any army
ga t1s world could shOv, there are scattered
through the ranks proportion of men who are
unit for military servics, who were enlisted
and passed mustsr in the early stages of or
gaining the army. These men will Be all dis
missed, and q medical examination has been
ordered to take place Of all soldiers in the ser.
vice. One Of the most unfsvorable symptoms
for the United States Government, in its en-
dsavors to augment the regular army, Is the
extreme unriIlingness Of the population to en-
list. There is no lack Of volunteers, bat the
nucleus Of the military organization does not
increase In proportion. Il 10 natural enough
that when the hosting population are eagerly
oanvssssd by the toutsrs for the volunteer
regiments they should not be willing to enter
the regular army, where the discipline Is sup
posed to be strieter and the duties more srdu.