The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-27
GREAT BATTLE IN PROSPECT.


FFrom the Richmond Dispatch, Dec 1871
II IS the warm sun that brings out the adder. Tho
splendid season of dry weather that had for three
weeks has hardened the EARTH restored the roads pre-
pared tho way for grand advance Of tho enemy wher
ever nc Is in force II Is almost incredible that he will
Eciuse 70 ava himself OF the auspices which thus
his path The unoward affair Friday last at Drares
vile will probably inspire his soldiers with conf
dence in themselves and conspire with the excellent
roads to invite an advance.
said that Mcoisilan has repeatedly given orders for
troops could used upon tho fields before Manassas
have been for time this side Of the Potomac and
that nothing has prevented grand battle long before
but the absolute mpossibty Of inducing the reluctant
'snd timij Yankees TO move forward The dsgraceful
and disastrous defeat they received Leesbnrg filed
then with dsnay and has rendered forward cment
with thus stricken with fear and djstrs impossible
The affair at GAINESVILLE has probably taught them
and drive back Southern .tt oo hev
this effect, and should thus induce forward movement
by Me- ellan this Drancsvillc contmps will really prove
one OF the most fortunate Of the war Our
army only ask for fair fight IN open field If the enemy
will but come forward far enough TO afford the chance Il
decisive battle that is all generals their mon do
sire or ask This granted hcy will take care Of the rest
and much e be hoped that TIE rampant politicians in
WASHINGTON win be able, BY Tho leverage which this
Into the illd.
Trusting to large superiority OF numbers tho enemy
seom stcaiiy to be pushing forward their troops in
sucky, FOR an attack in force upon our army
under General Sydney Johnston. From all The
indications rs IN that auarer, grand engagement
AL combine to bring about two great engagements on
either site Of the Aieghante, which, bit for the rc!a-
lions OF Great Britain to the North would DO decisive OF
1he war II the South should be beaten on both elds she
'coud hardly expect for time get together two
afmes Of any magnitude; and would have depend al.
together upon the virtues Of Fabian policy and &c.
neral system Of skirmishng against the enemy If the
south on the other hand, saoud gain both battles the
North would be compelled to desst from aggressive
measures for such length Of time would require
20 orsanize and discipline other armies Consider
For this purpose would be so long that virtual sisncn
Sion OF invasion would be the result and the South would
pc enabled to carry invasion to their DOORS Such
mn Invasion, though only partially successful would vr
fay end the war; especially If it resulted in stampedng
the Lincoln government from Washington
The appearance Of England the field Of strife would
have decided influence the contest. The first OBJECT
of the imbrogo IL it should result in war be-
tween that country and the Morrill, must be precpate
the latter in whatever action may have been preparing
against the SOUTH during the last few months Of busy
activity An attack upon our armies In Kentucky and
on the Potomac might otherwise have been postponed
until the spring. but tho complication with England
must at once determine tho administration to strike its
blow without delay successful battle upon tn Poo.
mac ard n Kentucky might avert with Great Bri
TAIN for defeat by the South these fields would
be taken by the world as conclusive proof OF her inability
to MAKE good her independence.
Thus al tho circumstances OF the hour force on
two great battles in the next few days To fight
under tito Influences pressing UPON It would argue an
imbeciity in tho North its generals and its armies
which cosd not fail to be interpreted unfayorably
against that section. Such failure orght TO produce
total los Of ccn1dsnc? IN The Lincoln ADMINISTRATION
among lis people and that would most probably be
tho real effect Both the North Itself and more partcu
battle 1t this by necessities which seem TO us as
imperative as irresistible They must night and are
ready fer the fray The defiant cry Of the whole South
REBEL BATTERIES ON THE POTOMAC.
correspondent Of the New Orleans Delta gives the
following description OF the rebel batteries the Po-
tomac--
Or an elevation about milc distant from Evansrort,
we gllt our first view of the Potomac and of the
promise land beyznd. At intervals along the road we
met OF rasscd gro FPS Of soldiers trudgng along through
the sticky mud, aha several times passed the encamp
ments Of reglnens, whose white covered the hill
tops or cleaned out from among the dark green foliage
Of the pucs and ccdars Those afterwards discov
cred TO belong 10 the brigade Of Gen French who s
in command at this point Gen French exceedingly
intelligent and agreeable gentleman and is considered
be a very competent officer He was formerly in the
United Army but resigned few years ago and be-
cotton planter in Mississippi His appoint
ment OF Brighter General the Provisional Army OF the
Confederate States entirely unexpected by himself
but he I'D not feel at liberty TO decline it.
II you to inter from its name that Transport
would be very much deceived After looking around in
the vain expectation Of discovering the edces copst
building which you are told belongs Mr. Evans, and
from him the place takes it's Its fame history
will b. derived from the which Che Confederate
forces constructed the river bank in its vicinity
From batteries sweep OF the river for hecn mics
lis visible.
The Maryland shore stretches out before you in most
inviting propinquity. The hills which obstrnct the
view shelter the camps of an army OF 10 GOO federass
unier GENERA Hooker and Sickies; and the bank
mortar battery which the enemy has been erecting
Tor the purpose Of driving gnncrs from their works
on tho Virginia side Tho mortar battery cannot be seen
by as bu. position is known by the shots which are
occasionally fired from II.
Our batteries mount fourteen guns some OF them hcavy
coiumbas and others rifle cannon An Armstrong gun
carrying bali of l35 pounds welga IS Row pens mount
cd and placed battery twas received from England 10y
tho Bermuda. The Potomac at this point Is fne ana
half wc. and is completely commanded by our guns Tue
satcnentso The enemy that their vcsses run ne oockai
with immunity are simply false. Before the batteries
were est .hlished the bosom oil the broad river wa
whitehead with the sails Of transport fleets aud its warc
wore ldpshod by rapid war steamers continually passin
between Washington and the sea. Now the scene i
chango Nothing Is to be hut the dark and sweiIn
river and occasionally small schooner stealing urve
along the Maryland shore On these insignificant Graf
our guancis do not care waste their anmnton Some
times in tbs darkness &c night, a steamer manages
slip ras, but FOR all practical purposes close
against the enemy.
RICHMOND LOCAL ITEMS.
We take the following locai items fom tho Eichmon
papers pf Tic ISL inst:--