The end of the Union.
[From the Evening Standard, (
London,) July 4.]
Two lines of telegram inform us that on June 16. ‘"a bloody battle was fought near
Charleston, with great loss on both sides."’ As another episode in a desperate struggle, as another red page in the history of a civil war the most disastrous and disgraceful that has ever blotted the book of history, the mere bald fact of such a battle has, of course, its significance.
Every such encounter must serve to deepen the animosity, to widen the impracticable gulf between the
Northern and Southern sections of the late American Union.
But what its bearing may be upon the fate of the second seaport of the
Confederate States we cannot determine until we know its issue.
By our last accounts there had been an encounter on
James Island between the attacking forces and the defenders of
Charleston.
James Island is a tongue of land, thickly covered with forest and brushwood, by gaining possession of which the
Northern troops would be able to approach the city on the southwest side, on which, we believe, its defences are very imperfect.
In this first encounter the
Confederates had brought together some 4,000 or 5,000 men, with three batteries of artillery.
The Federals are said to have numbered about sixteen regiments, and they expected reinforcements.
In attempting to enter the wooded country of the interior of the
Island, they seem to have been driven back with some loss.
Whether the city is unapproachable by the fleet and gunboats on account of the shallowness of the water of the inner bay, the
Federals themselves having done their best to make this approach difficult by sinking the ‘"stone fleet"’ in the main channel some time since, or whether
Forts Sumter and
Moultrie, with the other sea defences, are so formidable as to be able to check the advance of the fleet — whatever be the reason, it is clear that
Charleston cannot be expected to fall an easy prey to such a naval attack as that which at once placed the city of
New Orleans in the power of its enemies.
It is said that
Beauregard has detached a force from his army for the defence of
Charleston.
We have no reliable evidence of this.
Should it be true, so that the attacking arm is outnumbered, the latter may be driven back to its ships, and the capture of
Charleston be postponed for a while.--We, however, think it more than probable that this heavily-offending city — the head and front of secession — has, ere this, fallen into the hands of the
Northern army.
The able military leaders of the
Southern movement appear to have comprised, however reluctantly, in their programme, the gradual surrender of the whole of the seaboard to the naval forces of the enemy.
This enemy no sooner enters into possession than he seconds, in a truculent and heedless manner, the plans of the
Southern chieftains.
If to render reunion impossible and compromise hateful, to perpetuate secession, and erect a durable nationality on a basis of undying hatred of everything that is North, be the aim and purpose of the
Confederates, then
Davis and
Beauregard second this purpose but weakly in comparison with
Gen. Butler and the
Congress at
Washington.
The unmanly insult offered to the women of New Orleans — an outrage which has earned for
Butler the execration of every man and woman in
Europe — has gained him a notoriety which he must not mistake for fame, a tribute of groaning and hissing in an assembly of English youth, and certain flattering comparisons with Haynan and Nana Sahib.
This disgusting proclamation, capped as it has been by such acts of unparalleled barbarity as the hanging of a poor man who pulled down a Federal flag, has settled the fate of New Orleans.
There is an end of the
Union forever in the
Crescent City.
Towards the people of
Charleston the people of New York feel far more vindictive than towards these poor half-creoles of
Louisiana.
We may expect a pendant ere long to the atrocities of
Butler.
The bloodless capture of
Sumter, which inaugurated this vindictive war; the first hoisting of the secession flag of the seven stars — these were the deeds of the hot-headed people of the capital of
South Carolina.
We fear they may be bitterly avenged.
The New Yorkers never speak of
Charleston without a tempest of big words and fearful denunciations.
The inhabitants of this unfortunate city, should it fall into the hands of the
North, will have to pass through a fire of persecution.
Is it supposed that the remnant will survive to be good and true citizens of the American Union, which treats them in so paternal a manner?
Such a victory of the
North would be driving another nail into the coffin of the extinct republic of the ‘ "United"’ States. * * * * *
To-day is the 4th of July. With the anniversary of American independence may be date also the end of the spring campaign which was intended to repair the fortunes of the shattered fabric which
Washington and his friends founded in doubt and hope.
By this time
Charleston has fallen, or the siege has been raised.
By this time, in all probability,
Richmond has been taken, or the host of
McClellan scattered.
Such signal events cannot much longer be delayed; but whatever happen, the end will be the same.
The subjugation of the
South was never farther off than now. It may be considered postponed
sine-die. 
