LONDON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1901, 30 July 1863, Page 3

LONDON.

[fsom our o>tn correspondent.]

29th May, 1863,

The most sanguinary encounter which has hitherto occurred in the annalsof the American civil war has recently taken place on the banks of the Rappahannock. The second battle of Fredericksburg has been fought, and has resuited in great disaster and complete rout to the Federal army. It will be remembered that the first battle of Fredericksburg was fought by General Burnside last autumn, that he acted uuder coercion from higher authority, and that he was signally defeated. So great, indeed, was the discomfiture of the Northern army after that terribleengagement,thatforalon|« time it was in contemplation to break it up altogether, by reason of its uttpr state of disorganizatiou and " demoralization " ; yet, strange to say, it was once more got into working order in the spring of the present year, and General Hooker was placed in command. Heretofore, he was known as " fighting Joe Hooker." His friends believed he could do anything and go anywhere, and he endorsed tins opinions of his friends, [n his own estimation he was the man for the situation. He boasted loudly what he could and would do; he " concluded" that he would attack tb& Confederates once more, and threatened that he would drive them before him on his way to Richmond. He loudly proclaimed that the thing could be done, and said it was only owing to the want of generalship on the part of McCltillan, Pope, and Burnside, that the feat had not been achieved long since. Accordingly, like Casar, he went and saw, but he did not conquer. On the contrary he was repulsed with, great slaughter, and narrowly escaped bein^ driven bodily into the Rappahannock with all his troops. The fight lasted for three or four doys, but we shall never know the details of tibat sanguinary field. The correspondents with the Federal army are wholly unreliable, thcjy lie thiough thick and thin, they falsify, they exaggerate, they suppress facts and they laave recourse to the most disingenuous artifices for the purpose of con cealiug the truth. The Government authorities are still worse ; they have the entire control of the telegraphic wires, and they manipulate all the intelligence so as to prevent a panic in the New York market, and to convert what is really a defeat, into a triumphant victory. And it is only after the lapse of several weeks we have an opportunity ot' comparing the accounts on both sides, that we can estimate the losses which have occurred to the combatants. Towards the end of April, General Hooker resolred to move " forward to Richmond." At this time his forces were on the northern bank of the Riippahannock. He commanded the main body, of perhaps 100,000 or 150,0 )0 men himself. Witli these he crossed the river some twelve miles above Fredericksbmg, intending to get in the rear of General Lee, who was entrenched as formerly, on the hills beyond the town. But for the purpose of creating a diversion, he caused a detachment of some say 15,000, others 30,000 men, under General Sedwick, to cross lower down near Fredericksburg — so as to engage the Confederates, while Hooker was getting to windward of them. This manoeuvre failed, however. The movements and tactics of lhr> Federal General were discovered. Lee withdrew the whole of hi* army from their entrenchments, and flung himself en masse upon the right wing of Hooker's army, consisting of about 30,000 men, chiefly, if not all, Germans. The redoubtable " Stonewall" Jackson, whose name will be banded down in history, as the foremost " hero " if not the most skilful General of the war, had the

command of the Confederate division charged with turning the Federal right, and bravely he ' accomplished the task. He drove the Germans before him like v flock of sheep, they fled by thousands — whole regiments — panic stricken from the field, and no efforts of their officers, who cut down scores of them in their flight, could cause them to rally and again face the " Stonewall" General. Off they went belterskelter, pell-mell — a regular bull-run sort of stampede or skeedaddle, until they got well out of range of the enemy. It is said that General Hooker attributed the halt in his march to Richmond to the poltroonery of three German regiments which have thus covered themselves with infamy. The fighting as before stated lasted three whole days, viz : Saturday, Sunday, and Munday, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th May, respectively. By this time the Federals were driven back day by day for several miles until they were once more close upon the river. Foitunate it was for them that a heavy fall of rain on the fourth day, caused hostilities to be suspended, otherwise General Hooker must have been driven into the swollen and rapid stream on his rear. As it was he had n narrow escape. Under cover of an intensely dark night which followed, he succeeded in reerossing the river, but not until he had lost a great quantity of ammunition, baggage, waggons, and prisoners in his retreat. Another day and be would hare been lost, and this he knew full well, notwithstanding which, he issued a vaunting proclamation on,the 6th, thanking his army for their achievements, and telling them with fulsome and empty adulation, " that the events of the last week may well cause the heart of every officer and soldier of the army to swell with pride." Pride, foorsooth! At their ignominious flight and signal discomfiture ? He further boasts " We have added new laurels to our former renown. We have made long maiches, crossed (aye, and recrossed) rivers, surprised the enemy in his entrenchments, and whenever we have fought we have inflicted heavier blows than those svs received. We have taken from the enemy 5000 prisoners and 15 colours, captured seven pieces of artillery, {and placed hors de combat 18,000 of our foe's chosen troops. We have destroyed his stores filled with vast amount of 6tores, damaged his communications, captured prisoners within the fortifications of his capital, and filied his country with fear and consternation." Not bad this— for a General who had boasted only a week before that he would walk into Richmond, and who only saved his army from total annihilation by a rapid flight under cover of night As to General Hooker's figures, but little reliance can be placed on them, while it will be observed he is prudently silent as to his own losses. In the most recent accounts we have from the Southern journals, the Confederate loss is estimated at 8,000 or 10,000 men, while that of the Federals is put down at 25,000 or 30,000, including 8,000 prisoners and 25 pieces of artillery. »On no former occasion did the Confeder ates fight more desperately than at the battle of Chanccllorsville as it is called, fought on Sunday the 3rd inst. This engagement they consider to have been the fiercest and most sanguinary of the whole war. The Confederates flung themselves in masses on the Federal artillery, and were mowed down in swathes — yet they never flinched for a moment. They knew that the issue was a tremendous one — that their capital was at stake. But although they have (o boast of anothsr victory over their assailants, they have to lament the death of their beloved General — " Stonewall" Jackson — the Bayard of the Confederate army— the ( hevalier sans peur et sans reproche. The South can but ill afford the loss of such a General at sucli a crisis; he was a whole host in himself, his voice, his presence, his enthusiasm, his example, -gave life and inspirutiou to his followers in the hour of battle. ■ Long will his loss be felt and long and tenderly will his memory be cherished. Even his enemies must drop a tear over the grave of this brave man. He was wounded accidenlaly by some stray bullets from his own Jien, and his arm having been amputated, he sank rapidly after the operaliou. I should have mentioned that the division of the Federal araiy under General Sedgwick, which had crossed the Rappahaunock near Fredericksburg, by way of diversion, was allowed at first to lake undis- : puted possession of the town, and even of the heights which had been abandoned by General Lee to attack Hooker in full force ; but subsequently to the battle of Chancellorsville a large <letaohment was sent by Lee to attack Sedgwick, who met the same fate as Hooker, and was forced to save himself by recrossiug the river. He suffered fearfully iv his passage — the pontoon being commanded and swept by the evenings artillery. Such then is a summary so far as we are acquainted with the facts of the case, of the late movement of Hooker. Like his predecessors he has utterly failed ; like them too he will doubtless be superseded in his own command for want of success. It appearing so soon after the failure of the ironclad Federal fleet in its attack upon Charleston, one would imagine that this " heavy blow and gre,at discouragement" would be calculated to dishearten the Northern population, aud to make them doubtful of eventual success. But nothing of the sort. They are still prepared to go on shedding oceans of blood, and squandering millions of treasure with blind infatuation, ready to exhaust the resources of their country in men and money, and to amass a mountain of debt to lie like an incubus upon their probperity, so that they can but drag their enemies with them into the fearful gulf of bankruptcy, and ruin, which lies yawning at their feet. Such is the spectacle nosy preseuted by the Republic of the West. Prostrate and bleeding at every pore, it still hankers for more blood, and neither reason nor religion, nor conscience, nor the deep vioce of humanity have power to control its furious impulses. We are told that at present iv New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, the sensatian orators of the hour are — young women ; and that they snout with frenzied raving and frantic yells for the "extermination" of the South. The latest accounts from New York speak of some advantages gained by Generals Grant and Banks ih the State of Mississippi, and at Port Hudson. These reports, however, are contradictory ; for the Confederates in their side mention several engagements in which they have routed the enemy. The whole portion of American affairs at the, present moment may be summarized in this way. There is great soreness felt at the late defeat. It is said that General Hooker has offered to make another advance with bis j army, but would not be allowed to do so by ] Helleck. A coastant series »f small engagements is taking place in the West, but with no decided results. Port Hudson and Vicksburg ar« | stilt threatened but are by no medus in jeopardy ; and the Federal fleet of ironclads are said to be making preparations for a renewed attack upon Charleston, but of this there is no certainty. For my part I think they will make their next attempt elsewhere, aud with much belter chance of success. Gold varies at present from £50 to £60 per cent premium ; and the : propriety- of an immediate draft from which : there is little chance of escape, and which must ; be enforced if ibe war is to be continued, causes 1 great dissatisfaction and excites violent opposition throughout the Western States. The Federals are said to be currying on au underhanded system of recruiting iv Ireland by inducing young men to go to America to work on ■*' railroads" and otherwise, with the promise of 1 high wages — the real object being to induce them to take service in the Federal army. Turning from the New to the Old World, I must observe that there is still some danger of a European crisis. The condition of Poland is

likely to lead to serious complications. The insurrection in that country is rapidly spreading and drawing with it all classes of the inhabitants, who are encouraged in their movements by the sympathy which has been expressed in their favour in every civilized country in Europe, as well as in Parliaments and " Chambers," as on popular platforms, and through the medium of " addresses." Indeed, their cause has been warmly espoused, not only by " peoples," but by Governments, and the diplomatic notes which have recently been exchanged between the Court of Russia, and the ministers of every state of any importance in Europe, proves most conclusively to the insurgents that they have right on their side, and gives them encouragement to persevere in their present attitude. Russia has returned a civil reply to the several communications which have been made to her relative to Poland, or rather she measured out her civility, as it would seem, according to the rank and importance of the several states. Her answer to France was the most measured, uibane and politeofl all — showing that she dreads French interrention most of all. I have read at length, the seveial " notes " in question with the replies to them ; and I can safely siy, that our own note, considered in a diplomatic point of view, is the clumsiest of the lot. It is worded in a blunt outspoken sort of way, and in a manner calculated to often fl the susceptibilities of a first class power like Russia. It is, moreover, fearfully long-winded, retrospective and historical, and is entirely wanting in the pointed neatness and e'egance of language in which French, Austrian and Russian diplomatists so much excel. For this reason the tone which Prince Gortschakoff adopts towards England is less conciliatory andurbane than could be wished. He attributes the insurrection in Poland to the spirit of revolution which has been fomented and kept alive in the several states of Europe for the last fifteen years, and significantly hints, more especially to Austria, that it is her interest and that of neighbouring countries to quell the insurrection and to check the spirit of popular disaffection which gives rise to revolutionary movements of this kind. This limit has the force of a threat for Austria, for it is well known that with Hungary, which is conterminous with the Hungarian frontier on the one hand, and Venetia on the other, the position of Austria is anything but secure, and that it is consequently her interest and her duty to take part with Russia in putting down the Polish insurrection ; besides which, us a matter of course, if the present rising in Poland were successful, the inhabitants of Galicia would demand re-union with the ancient kingdom of which they formerly formed an integral part. At all events, notwithstanding the fair promises and the plausible sophistries of Russia, that gigantic empire is now gathering up all her strength with a view to crush Poland — I do not believe fora moment, that France will allow her to accomplish her purpose. The interests of France no less than the popular sympathies and traditions point her out as the natural avenger of Poland's wrongs ; and that she will undertake the task before the end of the present summer is by no means improbable. Only there must be a decided protest for a rupture with Russia, and this cannot he until diplomatic intervention has been tried according to the conventional etiquette iv such cases. There is some talk of a European congress to sit upon Poland once more; but whatever good congresses may achieve in settiing questions after a war, they seldom succeed in preventing one where a good excuse exists for waging it. This too seems likely to be the case in the present iustance. Just now the general elec tions are goin^ forward in France, and when completed the Emperor will take a much bolder attitude than he has yet assumed, for he will then be strengthened by the voice of the country. It is perhaps to be regretted that the actions of England in a case of this kind do not correspond with the language of her public men and statesmen, both in Parliament and out of it. It is almost undignified on the part of a great country like this to use the language of menace, unless prepared to follow it out to its legitimate consequences of warlike deeds ; and for this reason we are twitted by the French press with our mere bluster. Of course showld we be driven to extremities and above all should our interests require it we shall know how to defend our honor ; but as a burnt child dreads the fire, we are rather chary of being drawn into a general European war just now— the end or the definite object of which uo man can clearly see, and from which France would ioeritably withdraw when her objects were attained, whatever such objects might be, as she did with us in the Crimean war, and subsequently with Victor Emmanuel after the battle of Solferino. This is what makes us cautious of entering into an offensive alliance with. such a wily and shifting ruler as Napoleon 111. When we had embroiled ourselves with half Europe and made enemies of all our friends, (including our " natural ally Prussia— who is the object of universal scorn and contempt just now) then he would leave us to get out of the scrapes as best we could, without having gained it may be ! either glory or advantage, while he would take good care to secure for himself some material indemnity — it may be the Rhine provinces, or it may be the throve of Poland for his cousin and for his dynasty. All these are considerations which must make us pause, while they must be a source of uneasiness and embarrassment to statesmen. The items of home news for the present month call for no special comment. The loss of the Auglo Saxon has produced a profound sensation. Of 444 passengers and crew on board, nearly 300 perished — they were chiefly emigrants, a large number being from the North West Coast of Ireland. This disaster occurred within a few miles of Cape R.ice on the 27th of April, aud was occasioned by the vessel striking oa a rock, on to which she had got in a dense fog. The Anglo Saxon is said to have been one of the finest vessels belonging to the Liverpool and Montreal Steam Navigation Company, and to have braved many a hard storm and gale in perfect safety. Of course the mails and cargo were lost, as the vessel immediately broke up and went down, otherwise the great majority, if not all the passengers and crew might bare been saved. Following so suddenly upon the news of the wreck of the Orpheus this disaster has produced considerable gloom. The state of trade generally has been very dull during the month. There is, however, a slight improvement in the cotton trade, consequent upon the exhaustion of old supplies,! and a few more mills have been set to work. Emigration as also done a little towards alleviating the distress, but not to any appreciable extent, as it is supposed there have not beeu more than 10,000 emigrants altogether from the cotton districts since the s< famine" set in. This is not much out of half a million of operatives. The expenses of emigration are too great, and the prospects of immediate employment fT labourers of the " operative" class, too problematical to induce many persons to try their fortunes in the colonies. Since the 6th of December of last year there has beeu a total decrease of pauperism to the extent of 84,348 persons. There is still a population of nearly 400,000 more or leai relying upon extraneous support — either from the Unions or from the Relief Committees. . It is thought that in a^y case many years must elapse before the cotton trade cau readjust itself so as to give employ inent to the same number of hands as formerly, and that there is uo immediate prospect of employment for mere than one half of the number now out of work. It is now tolerably certain however, that Government has a scheme ia

preparation for giving employment to a large number of operatives in out-door, drainage, and constructive works, but even after this there willbe a large residuum of unemployed bands in the shape of women, boys, and girls, who will still be a burden upon the public. Still in the whole there is some sligbtirrproveraentgoingon, and there are at the present moment no less thao 15,000 more hands in woik than there were three weeks ago. This is reassuring. The wool and woollon trade has been dull during the past month. Flatness and inactivity have characterised the markets, but still there is no "depression" — a mere temporary lull — for prices hare been well maintained, and holders of wool have been stiff and firm in their demands. The crops are reported t® be in a satisfactory condition, notwithstanding the fact that the spring has not been favouiable. In March and April, we had fine warm summer weather, but no rain — in faci, there was scarcely a shower throughout the tvhole of last month. But with May, a total change set in ; we have bad a good deal of wet, cold and stormy weather, with a temperature suitable for February, and with little sunshine. Still the accounts from the agricultural districts both in England and Ireland are of a cheering character. People in London complain a good deal of the flu hi ess of trade, and yet, as regards the gaieties of the season in fashionable circles, we have not been so lively for two or three years past. It would be reasonable to suppose that this would give a stimulus to business generally, and so it does, but then this class of " business " is limited in its extent, and is confined to West End shopkeepers. The Prince and Princess of Wales are making themselves exceedingly popular by going to all places of public amusement, such as theatres, concerts, fl.>wer-shows and exhibitions generally, and on the Bth of June, they will honor the city of London, with their presence at a grand ball, to be given by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation at the Guildhall, at which all the elite — the creme de la creme of fashionable society will be present. Preparations of the most sumptuous and costly character are already in preparation to wive eclat to this civic entertainment The Prince aud Princess now J)old levees and drawing-rooms in the n ime aad on behalf of. her Majesty, who has never appeared in public, since the death of the Prince. The drawingroom which the Princess Alexandra held about a fortnight since, was the most numerously attended of any that has taken place for years—* the stream of carriages filled with fair occupants, extending from St James' Palace, to Albert Gate, Knigbtsbridge, in one unbroken line. The Derby Day was on Wednesday last, and was one of the gloomiest, the wettest and the dullest of any that has taken place since 1857. The course was but thinly attended in comparison with former years. The name of the winning horse was Maccaroni, who was second favourite — the first favourite Lord Clifden came in second ; what was most singular about the last Derby race was the unusual number of false starts that were made — between thirty and forty — before the horses were got fairly off. The owner of Maccaroni issaid to have netted £70,000 by this race, as the odds were at one time 20 or 25 to I—though1 — though among the true knowing ones the betting was 7 to 1 for at least three days before the race. The betting against Lord Clifden was 3 to I—so1 — so that the fancy men of the turf were not far out in their estimate of the favorites. With regard to the Derby Day there is scarcely the same amount of fun and excitement that there used to be formerly in consequence of the great number of persons who go down to the course by rail. I have said nothing about home politics because there is but little that would interest your readers. Mr Gladstone passed his budget with cert'iin modifications including the property tax and reform clubs and charitable institutions, 'lhese clauses he found himself compelled to abandon at the last moment after a severe struggle. There has been a good many useful and interesting discussions in Parliament, during the session, but the most interesting debates were undoubtedly those connected with Italy and Poland. The former took place about three weeks since, and the object of the principal speakers who were unfavourable to Victor Emmanuel's government was to show that Italy — and especially Naples are now as badly governed as in the days of King Bornba; that the prisons are as lull as ever of political prisouers, who are not brought to trial, and that the brigands of the South have been shot down in culd blood without any trial or form of lair. But to these allegations a very triumphant reply was given — the best speech of the evening being that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer who showed how great was the improvement (hat bad taken place in the course of a few years in the Italian peninsular; and no man was more competent to oger an opinion upon that subject than Mr Gladstone. The " Colenso Controversy" still continues to rage with unabated vigor. It has created quite a panic among our great clerical dignitaries. They are greatly scandalized to think that one of their own number should liff his crook and smite the Church of which he is a Bishop. An heretical bishop was something almost unknown in the Church of England; though I believe during the last century one of the Bishops of the Irish Church made himself notorious for his liititudinarian opinions. Judging from circumstances Dr Colenso is at present only in the beginning of his labours and of his troubleslabours, as to his biblical criticisms, and troubles, as to the amount of fierce denunciation and " persecution" — it may be too, prosecution ; which he will eventually have to undergo. All his clerical brethren without exception dignified and undignified are up in arms against him. No one has a good word to say in his favour ; and I believe that at this present moment so rife is the odium theologicum that if we had an inquisition established in this country, there would be little difficulty in finding a clerical tribunal to condemn this reading heretic to a dungeon for the remainder of his days. He is at present engaged upon Deuteronomy, and I presume he means in the course of time) to go through the whole of the old, and it may be of th New Testament; and so we h> ay have the benefit of his opinions, whatever they may be worth, for the use of future gene* rations. His writings are read of course only by the more learned and highly educated portions of the community, wfio are alone competent to grapple with bis arguments. Indeed a competent knowledge of Hebrew is the least portion of the learning required for enabling a man to appreciate his criticisms or to detect bis fallacies. This much at least is certain that Bishop Colenso is at the present moment raising such a storm in the Church of. England, as it has never passed through since the Reformation, and when I say the Church of England, I mean of course the Christian church at large including evangelical dissenters and Romanists, for whatever touches the foundations of Repealed Religion, affects tbeaa all alike. And these books of Dr Colenso's too, are making their appearance at a time when scientific studies are more pursued in England, than they were at any former period, and when men of high education find it more difficult. than their forefathers did, to believe anything that will not bear the closest scrutiny, and the most rigid investigation and analysis. The spirit of the age is undoubtedly of a positive, "objective," materialistic, and unbelieving character. The geologists, with Darwin and Huxley, are, I -fear, making sad inroads upon what will hereafter be called the " Ages ot Faith" ; and 'tub' there may bo gain: in some respects — tLis gain will undoubtedly be counterbalanced by a dead sea" of scepticism with it's bitter fruHs.-^Consols, 93f , : \ : -V-