Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-12
MR. RUsSELL,S LETTERS TO THE
LONDON TINES.
From Mr.. Russell's last letter Sept. 10y we
make the following extracts.

LONDON TINES.
From Mr.. Russell's last letter Sept 10Y We
make the following extracts:
THE SOUTHERN ARMY.
There is reason to think that the Confeder-
ates have upwards Of us, 900 men between
Richmond and the Potomac. There are some
who assert they exceed 200 900 men. The feed
ing of such force concentrated in one place
must be one Of the most difficult matters Los
sible, particularly in a State which has been
trodden down by the feet of armies for five
months past. They have been sickly at times,
and their component parts are of sature diff
fcult to be kept together without the pressure
Of excitement.
Of the ultimate power of the Northern and
Western States to subjugate the seeded States
In the South If they put forth all their strength
and means by sea and land, 1 have no doubt
whatever. The South must die of atrophy after
time, II every channel Of life Is shut to it.
BY the end OF this month the United States
will have large feet on the coasts and on the
rivers, and have reason to think that an ex-
peditlon will be organized also to attack the
Texan secessionists from the West-far as that
is away, The condition to which the block ade
has reduced many classes in the South is bad
enough; 1t will become still worse. And what
is the end to be? There is a notion in some
mems minds that there will be COMPROMISE
that strong democratic reaction and great
peace party will arise which will oust the pres
ent administration, and carry some measures
on which North and South will find base to
rest propositions for mutual agreement. To
my limited vision the idea seems quite illu-
sorry. The South is not beaten, will be con-
tent with no terms short of independence" or
domination" The North is now irritated;
pride and passion are aroused, and the peace
party is losing instead Of gaining ground, ow-
ing to the action Of the government and to the
violence Of the populations, which have result
ed in something like terrorism
QUIET IN WASHINGTON.
Although martial j. " has not been formally
proclaimed in the city and district around it,
to all intents and purposes it exists in full
force, and l, for one, as q mere stranger and
sojourner In the land, contrasting the perfect
silence and quietude which prevail at night,
and the order in the streets by day, am not
disposed to quarrel with the means by which
| the change has been produced. At midnight
you can hear pin drop in the streets-it is
quite an excitement for a football to come
| sounding along the pavement, and it sounds
| like dissfection for one to cough. Save such
noises from infrequeAt passers-by, and the
| barkings Of cur dogs, which contend in mum.
bers and nastiness with those of Stamboul or
| Moscow, nothing would disturb the stiffness il
| the sentries could be prevailed upon not to let
| their muskets 60 of occasionally. Milan, at
the small hours, in the days of Austrian pa
triots, was not more profoundly lifeless.
NEEDED REFORMS.
With all the love Of military display and pa
rade which exists in America-the desire after
fags, banners, uniforms, arms, and rank, there
| is as yet want of the military or rather sol.
dieriy spirit which begets attention to personal
snaartness, takes prides in obedience, and bends
freely to the yoke Of discipline Sloyenliness
of dress and gait when of duty, long locks, IN.
buttoHed coats, unpublished boots and the prac-
tice Of saluting officers, even Of high rank, is
rather exceptional. But things are vastly i'm.
number Of brave and intelligent men in his
hands; they are not an army, but they are the
making, ss We say, Of q splendid one They
have been formed into brigsdes and divisions
but that is for the convenience of commands
| rs the brigsdes are not in Q condition to act In
that initial capacity. The drills to which the
men are subjected are still Of the most elemen-
| tary character, but their marching is very
good indeed, and some attempts recently made
to direct brigades from point to point, and to
shift them from one camp to another, with
order As to the observance Of time, have been
satisfactory.
The cavalry force is now augmented, and one
smart corps, dressed in blue tunics, with yel.
| low braid, Ike oar 7th Hussars, passed through
the other day il very good order There are
Polish and Hungarian cOlonels raising a regi.
ment " --ancers and another of fHussars-which
viii make the squadrons in the field reach a
respectable figure. / should not be disposed
to estimate the cavalry about Washington at
more than 500 sabers. The field guns, per-
hsps, may number Is batteries. The battalions
| OF infantry must exceed 80 by some small num-
bers; but 1t Is very difficult, owing to the con-
slant changes and the confused nomenclature
Of the different regiments, TO arrive at any
sound conclusion on that point.
Some Of the regiments are sent into the field
from their States in excellent style, and I was
very much struck by the completeness Of the
way In which the 18th Massachusetts, Regiment
wss turned out with baggags-wagons, tents,
uniforms, horses, oommissariat transport, 90
that Il was ready for acampaign in all respects,
except that the men-hne, stout, hardy look
drill The Vermont Regiment was provided
with splendid sstelags, and on Saturday We