ing been scarcely worked at all; while those in the lowest tier, the only ones used, were covered with two strong bomb-proof arches; and on the other, by the protection afforded to the gunners in the works on shore, and from the long range at which the combatants engaged. Few persons are now admitted to the fortress, but we were allowed to walk over the whole by the courtesy of the commanding officer, and must therefore speak of its present condition with reserve, particularly as at the time we are writing some of the enemy's largest vessels of war are off the harbour, and, for all we know, may be meditating a descent upon Charleston. It was quite evident that the fort had suffered considerably, both inside and out, from the Confederate guns; but by great labour and energy it has since been placed in a complete state of defence, and is now garrisoned by as fine a body of men as South Carolina can produce. At Charleston we had an opportunity of visiting one of those societies which are organised throughout the whole South for supplying the army with clothes. The central depot is situated in the middle of the town. In the basement floor we found large packages marked for different regiments then at the seat of war. Up-stairs several ladies were engaged in arranging in "lots" different kinds of uniform, and measuring out cloth, flannel, linen, cotton, to be made up by the hands of the fairest in the land. We learnt from those who have the superintendence of this vast establishment, that about a thousand ladies are daily employed at their sewing machines making different articles of military attire. The work of the week which had then just elapsed consisted of 200 coats, 300 pairs of trousers, 300 shirts, besides worsted gloves for the winter, stockings, old linen, and many fancy articles which were sold for the benefit of the society's funds. These establishments save the Government enormous sums of money, and appear to be increasing in numbers and efficiency every day. The army, being composed in a great measure of volunteers, possesses the hearty sympathy and affection of the whole population: and as most families have more than one of its members at the war, the comfort of the soldier is not only universally considered a subject of patriotic interest, but also one which excites the anxiety and stimulates the energy of every household. When we met ladies who spoke with evident pride of the number of coats, trousers, shirts, stockings, which they had completed, we could not help hoping that this useful education that the war had given them would not in happier times be thrown away, and that, being independent of tailors, dressmakers, and haberdashers, they would be able to avoid many of those mundane difficulties which usually beset "frugal marriages' and interrupt "the course of true love." We may, perhaps, have also expressed our conviction that no "Mother of Seven" south of the Ohio would ever have reason to "lament," but that the daughters of the South, having emulated the virtues and Spartan fortitude of Penelope, would each be rewarded with as many suitors and as brave a husband. During our tour we had many opportunities of discussing a question which is generally considered to be the rock ahead of the Confederates namely, the means of providing the "sinews" for carrying on the war. The Government loan simply consists in a promise on the part of the lenders to subscribe specie, any circulating medium, military stores, raw produce, or manufactured articles, for which the borrowers give in return treasury bonds bearing interest at eight per cent per annum, payable half-yearly, and for the ultimate redemption of which the honour and wealth of the nation are pledged. Very large quantities of produce have already been offered, and the most complete confidence seems to pervade the minds of all investors as to the sufficiency of the security. The general determination to succeed, and the importance of the issue involved, is of course the main foundation for this feeling. A distinguished senator from Tennessee, in expressing his own opinion of these treasury bonds, conveyed to us pretty correctly what we found to be the general opinion throughout the country. He said, "There is but one contingency that can be thought of, upon the occurrence of which these bonds may not be paid, or may decline in marketable value. That contingency is our defeat in the pending struggle for independence; in which event every man must perceive that we shall all be irrevocably ruined, and be alike stripped of freedom, property, and worldly respectability." What may be the ultimate result of this financial policy it is impossible to predict; but we could perceive in the minds of those most interested no mistrust in its soundness. The banks have, of course, suspended specie payments. In this they are supported by the different State authorities, who naturally are unwilling that anything should come in competition with the Government securities. In some States solvent bodies have also been allowed to issue notes. Paper money is, therefore, almost the only medium of exchange; and the inferior quality of which it consists has led to much inconvenience, for it soon gets destroyed and useless in the pockets of the bearers. Here, again, vigour and energy have met the difficulty, for we found that machinery had been imported into many districts for the purpose of making good strong notes, instead of the villanous scraps hitherto in common use, designated by the inelegant name of "Shin Plasters." The Government have not pro hibited the export of cotton, except to the Northern States; but selfconstituted authorities have, in more than one instance that we know of, made it impossible for ships to load which had run the blockade, and whose owners were desirous of doing so again. The popular feeling which has dictated these violent acts is caused, first, by the desire that the North should be made to suffer for enforcing the blockade, and the apprehension that, if any cotton were to be allowed to leave the country, Massachusetts would manage to obtain it; and, secondly, by the impression that in laying on a general embargo they would incline European governments to recognise the Confederacy. Amongst the enlightened this latter motive was always repudiated; but there can be no doubt that the prevalent conviction throughout the South is that England cannot do without the "king;" that all cotton, except American, is either too short or too long; and that the medium is the only staple which Manchester cares to have. In vain we would tell them that Our manufacturers would soon change their machinery, and adapt it to the necessities of the times; that our Government was making great exertions to procure cotton from India and Africa; that it was our interest to foster our Own colonies, and to produce it there if possible; and that the longer we were deprived of America as a market, the more strenuous would our efforts be to render ourselves independent of it. But it was no use; they were ineradicably impressed with the conviction that they can command the market at any time; and that the distance from England at which its rivals are placed must always give the Confederacy a great advantage. The possibility of the North succeeding in obtaining any important success by "opening a port" was universally ridiculed. If they were to succeed in making a descent on A Month with "The Rebels." 1861.] Florida or South Carolina, an event which appeared to be earnestly hoped for, we were told that no material result would ensue; the produce of the country would be removed to the interior, where it would lie safely in the bosom of trackless forests; and sooner than allow it to fall into the enemy's hands, the people would burn or destroy every pound. No such extreme measure as this, however, appeared to be anticipated, for the crop of this year being still on the plantations, no great quantity is accumulated in any one locality. Being now desirous of pushing on to the army, we spent but a short time in Georgia and North Carolina, and were happy to find, on our arrival at Richmond, that President Davis was none the worse for the numerous deaths, violent, sudden, and natural, which had lately overtaken him, according to the various Tribunes, Times, and Heralds of the North. His popularity throughout the country is undoubted; and although there are some ardent spirits to be found who freely criticise the caution hitherto displayed in the strategy of the South, and are for marching at once on Washington and finishing the war "right away," the heart of the people is nevertheless entirely his, and all acknowledge the master-mind that directs the great plan of the campaign, and every important affair of state, foreign and domestic. Having been kindly provided with a pass to the headquarters of one of the generals near Manassas, about a hundred and twenty miles from Richmond, we were allowed to go up in a soldiers' train. All along the line we found flags waving from the houses, and crowds assembled at the stations to bid God-speed to those who were leaving home, family, and profession for the rough realities of active warfare. General Johnston, the "chief" of the army in Virginia, is a man who appears to be about the age of fortyfive or fifty. In stature he is mid 763 dle size, and possesses a powerful We must, of course, speak with reserve just now of our visit to the great force which is defending the north-east of the Confederacy, and take care that we do not abuse the confidence with which, as guests of a distinguished officer, we were favoured. The country for many miles around Manassas is hill and dale, covered naturally with dense hardwood of various kinds, which is cleared away from time to time, leaving patches of open ground, varying in size from two to a hundred acres; but few of these spaces are greater in extent than the Green Park in London, whilst some of other regiments, may be known by their strong frames, gay manners, and devil-may-care air. The South Carolinians, sallow in complexion, tall in stature, seldom need the Palmetto to tell the stranger the State from which they come; but in all regiments it is easy to perceive differences in manner and bearing, indicative of the various classes of which the army is composed. Numbers of wealthy planters serve as privates side by side with the professional man, the shopkeeper, the clerk, the labourer; and all go through the ordinary fatigue duties incident to camp actually shedding tears because his master, on being told off to dig a trench round a battery, would not allow him "to lend a hand." them are much less. Altogether the character of the district would not be unlike that of the neighbourhood of Bromley in Kent, if the latter were more extensively wooded, and less generally cultivated. Through the valleys run numerous streams, the largest being Bull's Run, a winding but somewhat sluggish river, about forty feet wide, varying in depth from two to eight feet, with rocky banks on each side, which in some places are quite perpendicular. The different camps are scattered about through this great wooded tract in strong positions, but so little seen are they, that frequently, when galloping down a narrow path-life. We saw a poor negro servant way, we would find ourselves in the midst of tents and soldiers almost before we could pull up our horses. The first thing that struck us in riding through the country was the respect which is everywhere shown for the rights of property. Gentlemen's villas lie along roads over which many thousand soldiers daily pass, and we never saw even a piece of paling hurt or a garden intruded upon; and in the villages the poultry and pigs are running about as in times of profound peace. The appearance which a regiment presents on parade is remarkable to the eye of a European. Many are composed of companies who have uniforms of different colours; but in these cases there is always some distinctive badge by which their particular corps can be easily told. This defect, consequent upon the companies being raised in different neighbourhoods, is being quickly remedied, and we saw numerous regiments which had lately arrived, whose dress was all that the Horse Guards could desire. The personnel of the army is very varied. For instance, in the Louisiana regiments are seen the bronzed and fiery-eyed French creoles mingled with many Irish and native Americans from New Orleans. The Alabamans, proud of their gallant 4th, their flying artillery, and ""Twill nebber do, massa," he said; "I go 'tarnal mad wid dem darn'd Yankees." One day we heard a lad boasting to one of a different regiment of the number of gentlemen in his company who had thousands of dollars at their command. The latter replied, "Oh, of course they fight; but we have some in ours who have not got a cent!" The Washington artillery, comprising many batteries, is composed of the best blood in New Orleans. The gunners, dressed in light-blue uniforms, are all men of independent means. General Beauregard's son, for instance, left his father's staff, and entered as a private. drivers are regularly enlisted into the army, and paid by the regiment; so here is a force which does not cost the country a single farthing. Their efficiency is undoubted, and the execution which they did at Bull's Run has led to their material augmentation, and the formation of others on similar principles. From the same city comes a very different regiment, called the New Orleans "Zouaves," dressed in red caps, blue braided jackets, and trousers striped with The Apparently at least; for as they marched past the General with a long swinging step, singing a wild martial air, we thought they were as formidable a body of men as we should care to see. The drill of the army is the same as the French, the step even quicker than the Zouaves, and a good deal longer than that of the English infantry. Movements are executed with considerable precision, and as rapidly as in English light-infantry battalions. From the reports we had heard in the North, we expected to find ragged and half-clad regiments; instead of which we failed, during many rides through the various camps, to see one man who was not clad in serviceable attire. It was expected that winter clothing would be served out before the 1st of November, and that dress would then become more uniform. But the point to which the chief attention of officers and men is directed is the arms. Besides the Enfield rifle, most of the privates in the army carry at least one revolver and a bowie-knife: these are invariably kept bright and in good condition; and the early training which all Southerners undergo in shooting squirrels as soon as they are able to handle a gun, gives them a facility of using their weapons and a correctness of aim that renders their fire unusually formidable. consumption; and we frequently saw scores of cattle and sheep driven along the roads, from the condition of which it was evident that their journey had not been long. Indeed, a country gentleman informed us that there were animals enough in two counties of Virginia adjacent to the seat of war to last the army for two years. We were naturally anxious to inspect the ground upon which was fought the great battle, called in England "Bull's Run," but in "Secessia" that of "Manassas Plains;" the former name being in America applied to the engagement which took place on the 18th of July, three days previous to the great "stampede.' The open space which formed the battle-field is scarcely a mile in length, and considerably less in breadth. Undulating ground declines to the centre of this clearing, through which runs the Warrenton high-road. Upon these slopes the great struggle took place. The object of the Federal general was to cross the valley and fall upon the flank and rear of the Confederates, who were drawn up in line of battle along Bull's Run, at right angles to the road. General Johnston had therefore to change his front when he found that a powerful attack was being made upon his left, and that the whole force of the enemy had already overlapped it, and was descending the hill to the Warrenton road. General M'Dowell skilfully avoided the defences of the Confederates, and with great ability succeeded in conducting his troops to a point The commissariat seemed to be from which success seemed inevitmost efficiently administered. A large depot of bread-stuffs is placed in convenient position, whence the different corps are supplied in waggons drawn by four horses, one of which a negro generally rides. The resources of the country produce the fresh meat necessary for the enormous daily able. He reached the road without much opposition, and began ascending the broken ground in front. There the battle really began. Again and again the Southern brigades, as they came up in succession, were thrown into confusion by overpowering numbers, and forced to retreat into the woods at |