The New York herald., 1863-09-25

North. viii scarcely be necessary 10 say that my pro-
posal was joyfuIy received and promptly accepted
Without entering into details may add that arrange
afterwards made FOR the mastering, transport
alton, &C., Of the ~fs
Without much effort my part soon formed tho ac-
quantanco Of nany Of the heads Of the various depart
menis and their employees and most Of the military
officers stationed in and about The city. Some Of these
let into certain acana fmper while through others
enabled inspect the for,ilcatons aud witness
the warAe preparations generally progressing about the
capital.
nlE roRrTcArross or Rrcamosn.
And here lie. declare tha. people and army off,
have been led greatly the character and
magnitude OF the derences OF this defiant city. Fortnea
tons they have, lie true but that they are quarter a.
numerous, az strong mount as mary or as heavy
guns or occupy commanding positions as Is generally
believed is great mistake. The Whole pumher or bat
teries s they caed around the city, IL twelve the
mos formidable OF which arranged TO resist attack
by way of the peninsula None of supplied at
present with than two three guns On the day
Of the battle Of Chancellorsvile Battery No s.
between the Richmond and Fredericksburg and Central
Railroads. and IL was without single piece. The day
following Stonaman's cavalry were within mile of this
pont Tho approaches to these batteries commanded
by redoubls and rifle pits for sharpshoot-
ers while 10 front Of each redoubt and each battery
arranged extensive abas. Most of tho trees, how
ever forming tho latter obstruction have been indinc
rcnt'y trimmed, and the email branches and twgs e
with the larger ones, that few loco foco matches
would soon remove the whole. The rebel authorities
feel eenly the Of other fortihcatons, and ntead
coon the negroes Of that section can be spared
from agricultural ard other labors, to employ them
20 supply the deficiency. The terrible defeat
OF General lee at Gettysburg has Convinced them
that fighting TO destroy their country cannct cspo
with equal number fighting preserve i. unless they
plenty Of hills sal fortincaons TO skuk behind and
FIRE from.
IRON ci8Ds At Rf,HyoNp-TIE REBEL NAVY.
Three cads, in the precise style OF the Merri
mac in process Of construction; but, owing to tho
scarcity Of mechanics, and suitable for pur
poses they progress very slowly In July the track Of
the city railroad in Main street taker ap and s being
used for plating. They have np,etcd iron clad
similar t. the sierrimec and the Torpedo, upon which
Alexander H. stephens essayed to visit Washington This
constitutes the entire armament in the James river-the
two three old propelors, in their present condition.
being Of account But that the rebels making
great efforts elsewhere strengthen their navy there
be no doubt. clerk in The Nary Dpa'tns at, re'ot,u,
ofSerary Mallory assured me- that atey h1pe nine iron
ciods tei9 Constructed Europe ir of ,chich aoouid be
icady for sea early in October. -
WORTHLESS PRoIRtIHEs.
In OF the proectile anuacories large quantity
Of shell were recently discovered to bo worthless
having been rendered so by the treachery OF stmc
Of the woikmcn. majority Of tho EN-.
poyed in there factories foreigners, who have been
imported from England on blockade runners
Among them man named William S. Ford, and II
becomng known that lie formerly resided in New York,
he accused of tampering with the shell. after
wards tried and condemned by martial be shot
He declares hasef innocent of the ccnce ard says that
the members OF The oil drunk throughout his
trial, ard that he was Convicted only because he had
been Northern few days before this discovery
NJ ade largo quantities Of she'll had been sent from
this establishment TO the armies, and II ID feared that
many OF them worthless. }.t
RRpRl sEenH1Roorg. Fg
The report that JcG Davis about coll several hun
dred thousand negroes into the field, is probably not
without foundation. The proprety tho expca-
cncy Of such has subject discussion In
tho rebel cabinet for months past Many prominent
rebels, including Governor Bonham, Of South Carolina
have declared themselves ip favor OF 1t. Governor
ham recommended. far back April last, in letter
10 tho rebel Secretary Of War, only the arming
portion Of the slaves but that there free
in the rebel States. exclusive OF Ken and
Missouri, and that all those t FOR military duty should
be conscripted ON the other hand there were
urged three objections to this measure; FIRST
that these negroes were all required 10 till
the oi and provide subsistence for the army peo e
secondly, that 1t would be nprudcnt-sone said sui.
cda-to put arms in their hands, and, thirdly, that the
government had not arms TO give them. IT was bow,
ever, determined, have good to know to pro.
cure all the muskes and rifles possible, and derner
resort TO coDscrt the free negr and portion
Of the slaves. s, therefore, not Improbable that the
rebel chief seeing the rebellion arcuo norris has in
alarm and desIair resolved 10 adopt the doubtful IL not
drell, measure.
There are several subjects which would like 10 present
in this letter, but Which, for peculiar (as you
will learn from private noe) must reserve for ano
ther communication.
49, VIEWS or THE RfEsL LEADERS.
1wi therefore conclude this epis,e with short refer
encc to tho viows of The leading whom me in
caniact the subject Of peace foreign Intervention
All Of the officers Of the government with whom con
vorsed from Ie Davis down Captain Alexander Of Cas-
tie Thunder "a great descent to be src) were emphatic
in declaring that peace could only be established with
the independence Of the conederacy; that any PROPOSE
tions having in view the construction restoration
OF the union would be simply preposerous and insulting
They express confidence that At no distant day
Their nationality will be recognized BY both |
the French and British governments. In one |
OF my conversations with Mr.. eeddon, the eecre.
tary Of War; he sad among other things, that the inter-
venton Of France, when necessary could be relied upon
certainty and that he believed the only reason the
Emperor has delayed Il 70 long his desire that the
South should exhaust her and become ON.
barrassed as far a possible, before lending her helping
hand, in order that he might lay her under greater cbi
Cations and be- In position dictate terms OF treaty
and alliance the more 10 his interest and advantage
B@ he continued IN Ae coareysatom, 1T the con
edracy rsoosnissd, and pace ,c he United States
es'athi, and NdIo'en wiu not ,e long finding osf
that Ae Southern pecpie not b be made ne tools
Of any Ew0pson monarchy. and hat ne oeogrcfM |
cll and oorfchituyci relations Of h,ir country and
1srioo, as rsu as their ccmmsyciaI intesss, demand
TIA, hey should te Of ne sdus nationality In the
same connection Le said, with regard to the British gov
crnmen, that lie policy towards the confcdsracy had
been Of tho most cowsrdly and mcrccuary character
while towards the North had exhibited unmistakabIe
symptoms Of treacbcry and averson and that he hored
the North would soon become satisfied that thcy wag
Ing fruitless and hopeless and, after making peace
with the South. would make good s loss Of territory