Russell's last letter to the London times.
Washington, March 1.
--Well, we are not engaged in civil war in
England, and we can not judge very well what we might do if we were; otherwise there are things being done here which might be criticised. *
On the Censorship.
Here, for instance, is a movement of troops going on from
Washington to
Baltimore and
Harper's Ferry, the news of which would animate the
North and strengthen them very materially; but it is western prohibities to say a word about it, lent the news should reach the enemy.
And does any one believe the enemy don't know of it quite as well as if all the news were published?
Why,
Maryland is full of secessionists;
Baltimore is, perhaps, as full of Confederates as
Nashville was. By whatever means the newspaper intelligence could have been conveyed to their friends can also be carried the results of eyesight and hearing.
So fearful are the authorities of the animosity of their opponents, that they do not venture to leave a furlong of the railway unguarded.
As I came down the line this evening there were heavy trains filled with soldiers moving to
Baltimore, and at the station others were drawn up, crammed with men. sons and artillery were shanted in the sidings.
All the way to
Washington, in addition to the numerous small pickets posted with blazing watch-fires in front of their tents, patrols were moving up and down, and a chain of sentries was established to prevent any evil-minded secessionists from meddling with the rails.
The passage of
Banks's column was effected in very good order, and without any difficulty, and he has now upwards of 4,000 men in position and in support about
Charlestown and
Harper's Ferry, with a numerous artillery and guns, and men fast, coming up to his assistance in case or need, or with the view of enabling him to complete his portion of the plan of the advance which has now been determined upon.
Gen. McClellan has returned with his staff from the scene of operations to
Washington, and, if the weather admits it, he will no doubt make a forward movement on his right next week.
But as I have only just arrived and have not yet visited the camps, I cannot tell what changes have really taken place, though I hear that
Heintzelman, who occupies the left of the
Federal line, in front of
Alexandria, and
Flizjohn Porter, who lay almost on the right of the winter cantonments of the army of the Potomac towards
Vienna, have moved their divisions.
It is hoped that these demonstrations may shake the enemy's line, and induce him to move out from his supposed strongly fortified lines near
Centreville.
He certainly cannot suffer the Manassas railroad to fall into the hands of the
Federals without much inconvenience.
The roads are now frozen hard, but a thaw will turn them into mud, and snow, a fall of which seems imminent, will render them still less adapted for the movement of troops.
There is much dispute respecting the strength of the
Confederates at
Centreville, and it would surprise me to hear that they had really 75,000 effective men along that portion of their very long line of defence.
It argues singular confidence in their present officers to 1st
Beauregard and Sidney Johnston go so far away; but
General Smith is highly spoken of, and, besides,
Mr. Jefferson Davis is Wictin call, and would no doubt sten from
Richmond, as he did before, in case of another attack.
It is not likely, however, that a similar movement in all respects will be made by the
Federals.
"the Union sentiment of the South."
By-the-by, that ‘"strong Union sentiment"’ which flamed out so suddenly in
Tennessee dying out without much splutter.--
Commodore Foote will, no doubt, re ndie it with his fleet of mortar vessels, which are down as soon as the land forces under.
Grant are ready to co-operate.
The
United Stated have now no less than fifty-one inch mortars of the fleavicat kind afloat on board as many mortar vessels, and they are daily adding to those terrible means of getting back States and cities into the
Union.
The possession of Tennessee to be Disputed.
The Confederate Government is by no means prepared to yield
Tennessee.
It is true,
Nashville has gone, and the
Cumberland river is in Federal hands, and the
Tennessee river is almost theirs; but the Confederate Government has called out twenty-two regiments in the
State itself, and
West Tennessee is loyal to the core to the cause of secession.
The defence increases in desperation as the
Federals gain ground.
The surrender of
Fort Donelson is no exception to that remark.
The causes which led to it yet remain in obscurity.
General Buckner's statement, that he found himself unexpectedly in command, does not throw any light on the other circumstances which induced him to follow
Mack's example at The brute could not have been in want of ammunition nor of food, for it is said that stores of both were found inside of the works.
I have spoken to an English gentleman who conversed with many of the prisoners at
Chicago.
They told him that fighting all day and inflicting a tremendous loss on the enemy, they lay on their arms to renew the fight.
At dawn they were ordered to pile their arms by their officers.
They did so without a suspicion on their minds till the
Federal columns appeared marching into the works.--My friend falled to discover any Union sentiment of which the
Chicago papers speak among the prisoners, whom he describe as rough, ill powerful fellows, animated by the most bitter feelings against the
Yankees.
What the Union sentiment at the South means.
of cotton planters have been held with a view, it is said, to an organized incaudfarism of any cotton which may be in danger of falling into the enemy's hands.
However, a Federal officer who proceeded some days ago up the
Tennessee river as far as
Eastport, in the
State of Mississippi, below
Florence, he found ‘ "Union sentiment"’ strongly prevalent along the banks, and ‘"Union sentiment"’ may mean twenty-five cents a pound for cotton.
It is significant that he could get so far in a single gunboat, and that he could carry away unmolested a quantity of stores intended for the
Confederates from
Clifton, Tennessee.
The attention of the Treasury and of Congress has been turned to the best mode of cultivating and rearing cotton in the parts of seceded States in Federal hands, and of re-opening trade with Southern ports.
The sooner the better.
of Jeff. Davis and the Tenacity of the Confederate leaders.
By this time
Mr. Jefferson Davis's Message has been received in
England.
The Federals see in his frank confession of ‘"serious disasters"’ an expression of despondency as to the ultimate result of the struggle, but there is to the neutral eye no such meaning in the calm admissions, which are rather made the basis of a more strenuous policy and vigorous resistance.
And in his determination he is well supported by the ‘"so-called"’
Confederate States, which on last Thursday passed resolution that the
Government would entertain no proposition for peace founded on the exclusion from the
Confederacy of any of their States, and pledging themselves to continue the war till the invading enemy should be entirely expelled from their territories.--This is the best answer which can be given to the rumors that proposals to treat had come in from
Mr. Davis, and this measure will effectually out the ground from under the feet of the Democrats of the
North, who have been dreaming of a Peace Convention, and of a reconstruction of the
Union on the old basis.
The constancy and unshaken faith of the
Confederate leaders are worthy of the highest — let us not say a better — cause.
Their soldiers are ill clad and badly armed.
They are not well fed; and as to the state of supplies, read this:
Gold commanded a premium of 40 to 50 per cent., and silver 35 to 40 per cent., in
Richmond, on the 25th of February. Whitkey worth $3 a gallon for common and $4 for choice brands.
Butter was worth 42c. per pound; and sole leather 75 a pound; calfskins $45 a dozen.
Apples, in the
Richmond market, commanded $15 a barrel.
However, the dollars are in paper.
We don't know what we may come to in paper currency yet, although French is alive after a preparing in which a man had to pay 1,000f. (
assignate) for a decent dinner and half the
United States exists after an infancy sustained on paper currency which is not liquidated to this day. The Confederates are about to appoint a General Commanding in Chief they are creating a navy — where, how, or from what, is beyond our men; and the
President that he has four hundred battalions in the field, with proportionate forces of cavalry and artillery.
Mr. Davis inveighs strongly against short-term enlistments, which have impaired their ability for successful defence; and as the
Southern papers contain many advertisements for substitutes, at sums varying from $50 to $1,000, it is probable the new levies called for by the different States, which are said to be in course of organization, are pressing hardly on the population.
There is, amid all the distress and discomfiture of the
South, no sign of repentance, submission or fear, any more than there is on the part of the
North any token of weariness, relaxation or infirmity of purpose.
If a correspondent could himself at this moment he would be ex as the
American papers are to publish any lating to the war, except that of such accomplished facts as the
Government may please to communicate.
But as
Washington is the centre of the most authentic information, and as it will be close to, in all probability, the great battle that is to be fought, it is better for me to remain here than go on uncertain missions with expeditions in the
West, and in the interior, where the telegraph will far anticipate written dispatches, if, indeed, the latter ever reached you at all.
