The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-09
AN ENGLIsH1IAN'S VIEWS OF THE
AMERICAN WAR.
Mr.. RrssELL's LETTER TO THE LONDON
TINES.


MR.. RrssELLs LETTER TO THE LoyDoN
TINES.
Mr.. Rnsseiis last letter, published in the
London Times August 10th, bears date at
Washington, August 5th. The subjoined ex.
tracts embrace the principal portions of it
SECESSION POLICY.
"Let US only hold on till October, and we
are safe" That, or something like it, was said
to me over and over again in the South bv men
why play no ineongiderabie part in the nys.
terry drama Of the Confederates. And when
asked one of these gentlemen, more than two
months ago, what chance there was of the
North giving the South all that time, was
answered almost in these words: I'VE are
bound to go to the assistance OF Virginia. The
whole of the Northern frontier abounds ia
good position which can be fed by the rail
from the South. The Abolitionists will come
and give us battle. We are certain to whip
them If they attack us, and the North viii
then learn it can't at once oyerrun us as it
fancied. The leaders will pause. There will
be a reaction up there. We Will work all the
harder and all the better for our victory,
drilling our men and consolidating our re-
sources. The Northern cities VIII become dis
contented. Foreign nations will ask when the
cotton ports are to be open. The North Will
have no reply.
We shall be better able to fight in Novem-
Der than we shall be to fight in June. Every
weeks delay will add to the complications
and weakness of the North, and the end of
the year Will find them further from their
aim than eyer-divisions in their councils
even disturbances in their populations, while
we, inspired by the approach of success, will
exhibit increasing energy and unanimity.'
A part OF the programme has been already
omplished, but it does not follow that the
remainder Of the prophecy will be fulfilled
with as much nicety-so far the result of
the action OF the 2lst has been the prolonga-
tion of the war in America. The effect it
have had abroad will ~ krn in fo,
days more.
CONFEDERATE WEAKNESS.
1t is plain now that the Confedarates We're
not only really unable to pursue their ad-
vantage, but that they Were not at first
aware of its extent Thew suffer from def.
cent transports, and are better prepared for
defence than for attack. Their army was
almost as much scared to use an English
word in an American way, as the Federal
lists, II the reports are to be believed of con-
fusion, wavefing, and retreat in their ranks,
and OF the passionate eXertons of the officers,
as we'll as their losses. In fact, the Confed-
crates stand before the world stripped of
good deal of the strength of Which they
boasted in actual numbers and it is Il poor
cover to their weakness to put forward the
assertion that only q small po! ton of their
force was engaged, when it is notorious that
they had sent to al quarters for reinforce
ments, and, above all, when it is considered
that, by using all the men at their disposal,
they could have forced the mass of the Fed
have occupied the capital. Their operation
up to this time indicate hesitation and want
of vigor; but 1t is just possible that they may
be preparing to strike some great blow.
QUIET REiGNs.
There is less Of that wild. guerilla sort Of
work between the two armies than was for
merly the case, but the attitude OF the Conled
crates is not that OF a very nifdeut OF aggrps
siye force. One docs not hear either OF The
vigorous adyices to drive the enemy from the
sacred soil Of Virginia, which were so rife nor
even OF the hot nlenaces TO take Washington,
nor even OF the earnest promises to liberat to
Maryland and other afflicted portions of the
slaveholding sisterhood. There may be pol
icy in this, and, notwithstanding the growing
opposition of one or two papers in the South
to the men and measures of The war the inftu-
ence Of Mr. jefferson Davis is quite sufficient
TO induce the press 10 keep its peace or adopt
any tone he may suggest in furtherance OF the
common cause.
REoRGASizATIos on BoTu SIDES
They can organize transport corps in time.
There are plenty of excellent mules in the
South if the planters can III their patriotism
submit 10 Tnin and send them from The fields
Horses III abundance can ao doubt be procured
from Tie southwest and smuggled out of Ken
lucky. Twenty-Five brass field pieces one
riiled gun throwing 30-pound shot and she'll
from Il small bore, and perh3rs several other
guns not enumerated, captured ut Manassas
Will go some way to make up for the want OF
field artillery, under which the CoufeGeratas
Were laboring, and the quantity OF amlinit ton
Of ali sorts which fell into their hands must
strengthen them in their weakest point The
thousands OF musketS left the field will be
no Indifferent acquisition, and they have been
already applied 10 arm men who We're not we'll
provided previously with small arms while
whole regiments are made happy by the blank
etS OTercOats, canteens, knapSaeks and :.ccOu-
trements Of all kinds distributed among them.
to the great relief of the Confederate treasi,ry
Meanwhile, the army OF the United States is
UNDERGOING complete Reorganization in the
face of the enemy. The old army of yoiun-
teers and three months men may be looked
upon rs annihiiated, or, ut all events dissolv-
ed. 1t would be curious 10 ascertain how
many of them Will re-enlist, even under diff
ferent officers. The affair at Manassas not
only destroyed Mcnowell'S army but it gave
a heavy blow and great discoura cement to the
very spirit of the American system, by which
men We're placed in positions they had no fitness
for, and large masses of armed men were as
sem bled whom il were deluson to consider as
an army. Mr. Davis saw the mischief long
ago, and, by special act of Congress of the
Confederate States at Montgomery he seized
the power of appointing officers.
DISCIPLINE
1t is hard TO teach Americans discipline
Their regular army has been fer the most part
composed of Germans and Irish The peonla
are ayeTse TO obedience i'll principle. Yester-
day evening, as was riding through George
town, saw an officer "faIl in his men 10 go
on some patrol or relief. They were drawn up
by the side of the street, "What have vou got
in that bottle? - said the officer to one of his
men; " Whiskey" Let's have dram"
quoth the affabIe subaltern. Don't take it
all, then, responded the proprietor, producing
from his haversack the black bottle, which had
been detected By the, eagle eye of his superior
The officer held ii up to the light, guaged the
contents, smelt the mouth, and then took q
long pull, which was followed by a sounding
of the lips, and a .fust rate'' Of great iuicnsi-
ty The bottle was restored, and then, ''shoul.
u. x..,1,N
and away went bottle, officer, and men. II
would be very unfair 10 assert that such Off
GERS are common, and such practices usual.
MCCLELLAN.
That much can be done by the iudicious ex-
ercise OF authority in enforcing military rules
and regulations among them, among the
rest OF mankind, is conclusiyely shown by the
great improvements effected in the army of
W&shlngto ton, and, above ALL in the CITY itself
by young General Mcclellan, who bids fair to
be the next President. If his success is at all
commensurate with the enormous praise and
fiattery which, much against his will, are
forced down his throat. Before his norniua-
ton the streets OF the Capital presented spec
tacie the like of which was probably never
seen in any civiiiznd eity. 4 routed, demon
allied army, with just sufficient equipment 10
enable them 10 be a terror to civilians and to
inilict death and wounds in their drunken
quarreis, crowded the thoroughfares, forlni-
dable only TO those whom they were intended
10 protect. The hotels and the bars were filed
with onicers whose regiments were i'll Il state
ofeom plete edisorganization. The sn,a II trades
people trelnbled for their little stores sud
deriy out comes an order, which give entire
lest 1t might be said the words have used ex-
aggerate the condition OF affairs ri the period
in question.
Here Mr.. Russell quotes General EdeGlei-
lan's General Orders no. ., prohibiting OIL
GERS and men frequea ung the Washington ho-
tells, ete.]
COZ. PORTER.
Col. Porter. an active officer of the regular
army, and q man CT great determination and
sigor, at once organized his patrols, and,