Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-08
w. d. WALLACH.
E1TRACTs FROM Mr. RUSSELL,S LAST
LETTER 40 THE LONDON IIMES.

the war 70 q closer or definite issue The Con-
federates have ostensibIy retired along the
whole Of their line, and Gen. Mcclellan is out
to-day in the driEsling rain with a strong
column In the neig ghborhood of Townsville,
which, is on the road from the Chain-bridge
to Fairfax Court House, to pierce, if he can,
the great mystery Of their position.
There has been no doubt of the fact that
Beauregard has concentrated his army-I use
his name for that Of the Confederate Generals,
whoever they may beat Manassas once more,
and that he has been merely advancing and
retiring to smuse his troops and induce the
enemy TO attack him, but il is also the fact that
he meditsted an irruption in Maryland, and
an attack, either to screen the attempt or to
be c0nvertedinto real demonstration in event
OF any unexpected success, on the lines be-
tween Alexandria and the heights in front of
GeorgetOwn, and that, finding the strength of
the Federalist position in ground, men, and
works, be abandoned the plan, at least for the
time. The Indian summer will soon arrive,
but IN January the rainy season, alternating
with frost and snow, begins, and there is but
little time left for active operations between
this month and the American winter, which
renders 1t, at I'll events, not easy to move
troops snd guns in the open country If Gen.
Mcclellan can see his way to battle to clear
his front, with a reasonable chance of success
he no doubt will fight it. He must defend the
capital against all chances, and prevent O
Confederate army getting into Maryland; but
with these conditions always in view it will
surprise US If he does not strike the blow from
the river side, on the enemy's right flank
There was every reason to make Fortress Mon
roe base Of operations, but for the difficulty
OF procuring provisions, and the delay and
notorlety Of collecting an army there by the
rivers. The loss Of Hampton, and the concentra-
ton OF Contederates in the vicinity, will rem
der that point less eligible in all respects, and
the long threatening Of Newport News by Ma
gruder may come at last. Notwithstanding
the strong bodies and servicesble qualities of
the men, there was IN unsteadiness about the
artillery and cavalry at the review, the other
day, which did net speak for their thorough
oHutrol as yet by their officers or of themselves
Ihere were about 3, 200 or 3 400 sabres of all
sorts together, and Is batteries of artillery on
the ground. Many Of the latter were COM
posed OF different calibres-Parrott guns or
dinary 6s and 12's, long and short, rifed and
smooth; howitEers Of IL and a of various pat
terms; licornes, or reamed out Napoleon guns.
The Parrott gun. made by the eminent foun-
der At west Point, is o simple, workmanlike-
looking piece of artillery, with thick iron
band shrunk on over the breech, and its range
Is nearly as great as that of the Armstrong
and its cost very much less. The force of field
artillery under Mcclellan is now very consid-
cradle, and 1t will surprise me very much if
the Confederates have anything like equal
metal. The General has exerted himself
greatly to advance this arm of bis service to-
wards efficiency, and has been much assisted
BY his chief of field ordnance, Brig Cen Bar
~, Of the regular United States artillery. Un-
questionably, If these guns are well handled.
there will be some 80 batteries in support of
an advance on narrow point, which, consid-
cradle as the mum Der may te, will leave field
batteries still available for the hanks and for
cooperation with detached columns. 1t is as
serted most positively that, though there is no
outcry in the public press against the delay
ind oc
and position are again urging on the President
and his Government the necessity of an ad-
vance for political reasons, and that pressure
has been placed upon the authorities to
try the fate Of another battle. The mer-
camille interests are in great anxiety, and
wish Tor some certain solution Of their en-
barrassments as to the future The great
demand for war supplies has given an arti-
hcisl activity TO trade in certain cities and
districts, which is supplied out Of the psb.
lie purse generally. Short haryests in
Europe may pour food of gold into the
western States, but it is out Of the ques-
ton that foreign commerce can resume its
usual course while the States are distracted
By civil war. The customs returns under the
tarlf are beginning TO tell their ewn tale, bat
nothing else could be expected, for imports
surely cannot be supposed to maintain their
usual average when one half of the country
cannot receive them and the other half Is car.
rylng on war with its rebellious remainder.
IL Is true that the South must be badly off also.
but there passion does its work; the pride of
the herce aristocracy, their superiority in the
Held IN strategy, In political skill, the terrors
OF their slave volcano, sustain them. They are
short Of clothing and certain articles of food.
Conee at Richmond is q. Sd. per lb. and the
Southerners must have it; blankets are most
costly, shoes are scarce; but energy, determi-
nation, and martial srdor abound
In fsrmer letter I expressed an opinion.
duced me to alter or to modify, that the North
could, If IL put forth all its strength, overrun
the South. It has never occurred to me for
one moment that the North could hold the
South as . military province if the people in
the Confederate States were as unanimous in
their resistance after their armies were over
thrown as tney are At present. II must not be
forgotten that in q contest greater even than
this, the night for national life, the popular
enthusiasm and support languished and dimin-
ished, % that Hamilton complained bitterly in
the Federslist that the collection of taxes had
been abandoned by the State Government in
despair.
Tne trading interests must suffer far more
than the agricultural in prolonged war; the
South can afford to play the waiting game in
the natural order Of events longer than the
North Whichsyer lasts the longer wins the
race, and the North, knowing It has strength,
but not % Confident perhaps, of its lasting, ia
impatient for speedy success The champion
has not finished bis training, and it would be
dangerous To send him into the ring, however
full Of courage and mettle be may be- am
informed that the chief Of the South are 30 con-
fdsnt, they say they would desire nothing bet
ter than 10 let q commission from Washington
visit and report on the condition of their army
But they could visit Washington and see the
magnitude Of the preparations against them,
they would, perhaps, be struck by the compar
ison. The intensity Of feeling in the South is
described to be greater than ever. Their reso-
luton is adamant; and if they have, like the
the Fedsralists, Blair and Fremont controyer-
sizes, they are kept In the dark. The discip-
line OF both armies may be on a par, but am
Inclined to think that In actual drill the north
srn troops do not improve more rapidly and
are not better in hand than the southerners.
append some matter from my diary since
ths date Of my last letter
octoAer 3 "A review or inspection Of caval-
~ aud artillery going on. cannot go-it is
mail dsy-but / see the troops passing my
windows, some few squadrons Of cavalry and
several batteries Of artillery. Besides, fhaye