From the North.
Our summary this morning is made up from Northern papers to the 17th inst.:
The Strength of M'Clellan's army — over 158,000 men sent him before the Fights.
Wednesday last was a lively day in the United States Senate, and in the scramble the truth about McClellan's force came out. From official statements it was shown that 158,000 men were sent to McClellan before any engagement had taken place before Richmond. Mr. Chandler walked into the administration about the conduct of the war. --After a severe overhauling of the Jell's Bluff disaster, he says:‘ After this wholesale slaughter the whole army of the Potomac retired, except in front of Washington. He then read further testimony, showing that the Navy Department applied to the War Department for 4,000 men to hold Matthias's Point and keep open the Potomac, commencing such application as early as June, till in October it was agreed to send men. Vessels were gathered there by the War Department, but the troops were not sent at the appointed time, and the Navy Department could not find out the reason. The evidence further stated that the President assisted the Navy Department as much as he could with this plan, but Gen. McClellan objected, because he feared the arrangements for landing had not been made. Thus the nation was disgraced for months by the blockade of the Potomac, and the Capital was besieged by a force at no time half that of the United States.
In December the nation began to clamor for a movement, and the Committee on the Conduct of the War urged the necessity for such a movement. The President and Cabinet were in favor of some forward movement, and they were assured by Gen. McClellan that a move would be made very soon; that he never intended to go into winter quarters. And he did not. Our brave men spent the winter in canvas tents.
At last, in January, the President gave the order ‘"forward !"’ and those glorious events took place at Forts Donelson and Henry, Newbern, &c. The ‘"do nothing strategy"’ seemed to give way, and the weeks and days of spades and pick-areas to be over.
On the 22d of February the army of the Potomac was ordered to move, but it was not ready.--At last, on the 10th of March, it did move, under the protest of its commender. On the 10th of March, that army numbered 230,000 men by the muster roll. They marched to Manassas and the wooden guns of Centreville, and the enemy, less than 40,000, quietly moved away.
The Generals had voted not to advance on Manassas, but to leave the enemy there and sneak around to Annapolis. Seven out of eight of these Generals were appointed by the advice of Gen. McClellan.
But the President and Secretary of War overruled this, and made the army move on to Manassas. Why did not this magnificent army, of 230,000 men at once march on Richmond? No one known. But at last McClellan divided his army, and sailed for Fortress Monroe.
The Committee on the Conduct of the War summoned General Wadsworth, who swore that he had only 19,022 men left to defend Washington with, and not a single gun mounted on wheels. A part of this force was new and undisciplined, and some nearly disorganized.
He then read from the testimony of John Tucker, Assistant Secretary of War, who testified that prior to the 5th of April 120,000 men were first sent down to McClellan; then Franklin's division of 12,000 was sent, and on the 1st of June McCall's division of 10,000 more; and about that time 11,000 from Baltimore and Fortress Monroe, and on the last of June Shield's division of about 5,000; making a total of 158,000 men sent to General McClellan prior to the engagements before Richmond. Mr. Tucker further testified that he did not know of any other force which could have been sent to McClellan. Thus it is shown that 158,000 of the best troops that ever stood on God's footstool, had been sent to McClellan.
And yet the treasonable press of the country are howling against the Secretary of War, because he did not send reinforcements to McClellan. He read further from the testimony of General Meigs, corroborating the statement of Mr. Tucker, and saying that he believed that everything that McClellan had asked for had been promptly sent to him by the Government.
Mr. Chandler said that McClellan had lost more men in the trenches, five to one, than ever fell from the bullets of the enemy since the army went to Yorktown.
At last, when a small fraction of the army were whipped at Williamsburg, Gen. McClellan, at a long distance from the field of battle, wrote a dispatch to the Secretary of War stating that he would try to held the enemy in check. But they were too fast for him. Then the road was open to Richmond, and all he had to do was to march out of the swamps into Richmond.
But we found most of the swamp we could, settled right down in the middle of it, and went to digging trenches. Ten thousand brave men were lost there by sickness. Then, after waiting some time, the battle of Fair Oaks was fought, and instead of following the enemy into Richmond, we found another swamp, and again commenced digging trenches, and waited till the enemy got all the reinforcements he could raise by impressment and for the army from Corinth to come to his aid.
And then the rebels attacked us, throwing their whole force on our right wing. But instead of reinforcing that position, a retreat was ordered. And this is called ‘"strategy." ’ We lost ten thousand men by digging trenches, and then left those trenches without firing a gun. The army was ordered to advance on our gunboats instead of on to Richmond.
Mr. Chandler, in conclusion, said he knew he would be denounced for making these disclosures, but he thought the country ought to know the facts. Only traitors and fools would denounce him.
Mr. Sumner offered a resolution that the Committee on the Conduct of the War have leave to sit during the recess of Congress. Laid over.
The Senate then went into Executive session, and subsequently adjourned.
’
Important capture.
The capture of Mr. Richard Frazier, of the New Kent Cavalry, is put in the Philadelphia Inquirer as follows:On Sunday last the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry made an important arrest in this vicinity. A man named Frazier, the principal guide of General Stuart, on Saturday night came to Tallysville, and was quite insolent in his remarks to the unarmed and invalid inmates. He was clothed in a new and expensive uniform, mounted on a superior steed, and well armed. He subsequently went over to the house of Mr. Eppinger, a wealthy resident near by, and remained until morning. While at breakfast with Mr. E., a squad of our cavalry rode up, and although Frazier made hasty strides across the country, he could not evade the pursuit of our men, and was captured, uniform and all. His gally caparisoned horse was subsequently found in the stable.
[We don't know about the ‘"new and expensive"’ uniform, but the steed and his gay caparisons were both captured by Mr. Frazier on Stuart's expedition.]
The Uprising of the people — the Government must Re sustained.
m the Philadelphia Inquirer, July 17.
Everywhere in the loyal States the people should awake to the greatness of the work which the Government has to do in conquering the rebellion.--They should realize, also, that those who have been appointed to administer and preserve the Government can do nothing effectually unless they are aided and supported by the people.
If, when the President calls for more troops to fill up the decimated ranks of the army already in the field, and to strengthen his arm in enforcing the authority of the national Constitution and laws, the people do not so exert themselves as to secure a quick and ready response to that call, with them, and not with Mr. Lincoln, must rest all the responsibility for the consequences.
The civil liberties, the prosperity, the private and public welfare of the American people, is staked upon the issue of this conflict with treason.
The President, and each one of his official advisers, are but individual citizens, having, personally, no more interest in maintaining the Government against those who have conspired to overthrow it than any other loyal citizen has; and he and his Cabinet and his soldiers in the field, should have the hearty and energetic co-operation of all truly patriotic men in this most trying hour of the nation.
And we are glad to see, from popular demonstrations now taking place, that the President will be duly sustained by the public. The mammoth meeting in New York on Tuesday will long be remembered by the participants. Its magnitude and object were unusual and the enthusiasm unbounded. From five different stands able orators addressed the ocean of humanity, and as words of patriotism fell from eloquent lips enthusiastic shouts rent the air. But one spirit, one purpose, inspired that immense throng. To prosecute the war at all hazards, at whatever cost, was the unmistakable determination of every citizen present. Recent disasters were acknowledged, but referred to only as additional incentives for a speedy response to the call of the President.
The effects of such a gathering will be manifest, not only in increased enlistments in New York, but will be apparent throughout the loyal North.
In Boston, Springfield, Mass., Portland, and various other places, meetings have also been held, at which the most earnest purpose to prosecute the war for the Union was expressed, and the most efficient measures were adopted to stimulate the enlistment of the reinforcements which the President has called for. Other loyal cities, towns, and villages, will doubtless follow with like expressions of their zeal for the great and good cause. Shall Philadelphia, then, be silent and passive? Shall the community in which our nationality had its birth, and where the Federal Constitution was framed and adopted, utter no rallying cry at a time when the armed ranks of treason are threatening to destroy the nation and its liberties? Certainly not. The ‘"City of Independence"’ must proclaim her fidelity and devotion to the Government in a voice that may be heard all over the land, and her citizens must do all that they individually and collectively can do to raise and again at once Penn-
sylvania's quota of the three hundred thousand troops called for by the President. Will not those of our citizens who usually initiate such movements take forth worth the preliminary steps for a town meeting to declare the resolution of Philadelphia to support the war until the authority of the Constitution and the laws shall be everywhere vindicated and enforced?
The cotton market in England.
The London correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, in a letter in which he labors hard to conceal the fact of the suffering in England, says:‘ Subsequent reports of the cotton market show that during the four weeks ending the 30th of June, no less then 103,865 bales were exported from this country, nearly one half of the entire stock on hand. With the remainder the Liverpool and Manchester speculators are playing a beautiful game, and the excitement is becoming intense. According to the Manchester Guardian, ‘"all sorts of people, quite unconnected with the trade--some of them ladies are rushing headlong into this speculation."’ In the meantime, there is no avoiding the fact that the distress among the operatives is steadily and rapidly increasing, with no prospect of abatement, except through the pecuniary aid of the rest of the country. Already the streets of London are alive with groups of beggars of that class, recounting their sufferings in uncouth ditties, the ceaseless burden of which is, ‘"We've got no work to do-o o."’ Contributions, however, are flowing in from every direction, and you may rest assured that the actual amount of individual suffering is, and will be, greatly overstated by the politicians.
’
Shelling the Steamers on James river.
The ‘"traveling batteries,"’ as the Yankees call them, on James river, are inspiring a wholesome dread on the minds of our enemies. The bark Mustang was fired on from Fort Powhatan and the captain mortally wounded. A letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, from on board the steamer Daniel Webster, which also received a salute, gives a description of the navigation of the James under difficulties:‘ Passed several batteries, including that on Jamestown Island, all being deserted. I thought that perhaps it was only a rumor about the firing on our boats, but we soon learned that there was some truth in it. When about seven miles below this landing, seeing one of our gunboats at anchor, Captain Woods run by her slowly, and hailed her. ‘ "Gunboat ahoy !"’ ‘"What'll you have?"’ came back from one of the officers. ‘"How is it up above?"’ the Captain asked, not willing, I suppose, to take the responsibility of running his boat into a known danger. ‘"It is all right, keep well over to the port side,"’ came from the gunboat. Our boat passed on, resuming full speed, but as we were approaching an old fortification, I called the attention of some gentlemen to it. It was a small earthwork, presenting a front of not more than twenty yards to the river. Part of it was obscured from our view by piles of wood. We could see one opening, or embrasure, but did not see any cannon. As we were looking up, when just abreast of it, some one said: ‘"There's a man up there."’ I looked up; ‘"yes,"’ says I, ‘"there's a dozen of them,"’ and as I spoke, saw about twenty men running up to the front. They were riflemen, and the next minute they opened their rifles on us. We were under their fire for six or eight minutes. As we got past them they opened upon us with their heavy guns, probably reserving them so as to rake us fore and aft. Three round-shot passed through the state rooms and saloon on the upper deck, one through the smoke-stack, and one shell, small size, from a rifled cannon, hit the end of the boiler, making a small fissure, from which the steam hissed out. It was then I felt the most alarm, but, fortunately, it was but a very slight opening. This fort is an old one, having been thrown up in the revolutionary time, and is just below Windmill Point. I suppose the rebels take their position during the night, and I would suggest to the officers of the gunboat that they shell the place every morning before allowing our transports to pass. After getting out of harm's way we made an examination, to find out the extent of damages.--Only two persons were hurt, and both very slightly. Government Pilot F. H. Cooley, hand scratched by piece of shell; Private James Clarke, company I, Tenth Michigan, (nurse.) hit by a spent rifle ball in the foot, slightly bruised. There were about fifty persons on board, among them several ladies. Mrs. J. T. Fales and Miss Maria Hall, volunteer nurses from Washington, were among the number. This latter lady stood fire like an old veteran, and had a narrow escape, two rifle balls passing within two or three feet of her. I was standing near her, and confess that I found myself in a stooping position, behind a stove, soon after the first shower of bullets. A round-shot passed through Mrs. Fales's room making sad work. One of the surgeons on board had his carpet-bag hit by a cannon shot and one of his handkerchiefs was scraped into lint at short notice, I assure you. After getting out of danger, we all felt that we had made a narrow escape with our lives.
’
From New Orleans.
The New York Herald's correspondence from New Orleans is lengthy. This is one of the ways in which Butler raises the wind to pay his soldiers:‘ He has taken the $50,000 which he seized from Sam Smith & Co. and applied it to the payment of the soldiers. Besides this he has borrowed $50,000 in specie on his own personal credit, pledging the Government for the debt, and has also borrowed $25,000 of the Adams Express Company, through their popular and efficient agent, A. S. Blake, Esq., and a large amount from another source. With this sum Major Hewitt, who remains here, will be able to pay off the regiments, which, without this arrangement, would have been left unpaid. This action of Gen. Butler's is characteristic of his loyal devotion to his country; for he knew that if the men were obliged to go without their money much longer they would grumble and be discontented, and their families at home suffer, and that if the rebels learned of it they would make a strong card of it in slandering the credit of our great nation.--In all of his acts Gen. Butler's paramount object seems to be to sustain the honor and dignity of the powerful Government which he represents.
’ The same letter gives some further particulars about Mrs. Phillips's sentence. When Butler heard of her conduct he was furious:
While Gen. Butler was writing the order for her imprisonment Mrs. Phillips's conduct was remarkable, to use a mild term. She was so cool that I found it quite refreshing to sit in her shade. Occasionally she would look at the General as he was writing, and would break into a broad smile of amused contempt, and affect to hide it behind the fan which she swayed to and fro as slowly and gracefully as she had ever done in the old days when she presided in her salon at Washington. Frequently she would raise her glass to one eye and scan the objects around the office. A notice on the door especially attracted her attention, and afforded her particular amusement. It reads thus, ‘"There is no difference between a he and she adder, in their venom."’ After she had been removed from the office she sent back a request that she might be exiled instead of being sent to Ship Island. Mrs. Phillips is a rather fine looking woman, and was dressed very neatly in white throughout.
The funeral, which took place on Saturday evening, resulted in a scene so shocking that it is difficult to believe that it occurred in the nineteenth century, among a people who profess to be not only civilized, but Christianized. As the cortege moved through the streets, women, in the garb of ladies, flaunted secession badges, and mocked and jeered at the poor dead body of a brave boy, who, in life, would have scorned to treat even his enemy with dishonor. At Christ church, where the services were held, the front pews, the aisles and the gallery were filled with a rabble of negroes, rowdies and ragged boys, the women showing secession badges freely. On General Butler's return to this city from Baton Rouge, learning of the disgraceful proceedings the day before, he was greatly enraged, and declared that if he had been here he would have bombarded the church with his artillery.
This morning General Butler, with a few members of his staff, established himself in the fine residence of General Twiggs. General Shepley, Military Commandant, and the Assistant Military Commandant, Lieutenant Weitzel, took possession of the next house, the former property of Colonel Adams, who is now in Virginia with the rebel army.
Seizure of Gen. Twiggs's swords.
The swords of the late Gen. David E. Twiggs, presented to him respectively by the United States Congress, the State of Georgia, and the citizens of Augusta, Ga., have been seized by Picayune Butler at New Orleans. A letter from there to the Herald says:‘ The night of the 23d of April, just before the fleet passed the forts, General Twiggs carried his swords and his silver plate to the house of one of the wealthiest and most aristocratic families in this city, and, as the members of the family say, presented them to one of their number. Mrs. Col. Myers also sent her plate and jewelry to the same house. The next day she and General Twiggs fled from New Orleans. General Butler, learning the whereabouts of the above property, instructed Col. French, Provost Marshal, to have the house searched. The Colonel detailed Lieut. Thos. Burt, one of his most polite and efficient assistants, for this delicate duty. Lieut. Burt performed this service very carefully, last Wednesday evening, and the next morning the swords and all the silver were brought into Gen. Butler's headquarters. The swords are very beautiful, and of superb workmanship. They will be sent to Washington by the United States army dispatch steamer McClellan. It seems to me that Congress could not show its appreciation of Gen. Butler's distinguished services since the very commencement of this war better than by presenting him with one of these swords.
’
