Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-07-04
Charleston Mercury Correspondence.
RICHMOND, June 25.

ClIluS ueno 1lOLu elo SSae vi Wal. AHeAe io
a general impression that we are on the eve
of more serious engagements than we have
habitat, indeed, We may expect to hear
any hour of great battle. Under this
state of things, Richmond is flooded with
rumor from morning to night. 1t is ANU
sing to see gentlemen of the press and news
mongers hurrying from place to place to
trace some rumor or other to its source,
and to accomplish the extraordinary task of
verifying it. Before one rumor is well ven-
tilated, and proved to have nothing in it or
no foundation for it, another is started with
grander proportions; groups of men are seen
at the hotels and other popular centres,
jammed together in listening attitude, with
their ears pricked up and eyes dilated, show
ing the most intense anxiety not to lose a
word of the "latest news" which some itin-
Grant newsmonger is detailing; while the
newspaper man is in full chase, the perspi-
ration dropping from him as he hastes along
after the author, or the man who said be
was told such news was undoubtedly true.
Books have been written on the search af-
ter many things,-''in search of wife, "
Gin search of truth" and so forth but who
is equal to the task of giving description
of the difficulties of the newspaper.man in
search of facts in these times of excitement
Yet YOUR especial correspondents" and
your "associated press" have to feed the
Unsuitable appetite of the people. As facts
are scarce, that is, startling facts, such facts
as may be digni6ed with the title of "news,
in the column of the respectable journal,
we must contribute what we can of the de-
tails ofmovementsw which foreshadow events,
and OF those which follow. A few proba-
bilities, if backed with good reasoning, are
not unacceptable to the dear public In
this telegraphic age, when rapid movements
and concise expression 60 together, facts
are soon told Whenever they can be
reached, your correspondent will seize them
with much gusto, and put them on their
paSSdSe W OuaAieoVon'
When the public mind is strongly and
generally impressed with the belief that
something will occur, it may be considered
somewhat prophetic. If this be so at the
present time with regard to the war move
ments, we are on the eve of great battle,
or series of important engagements
There are several points where such events
may happen. First, along the line of the
Potomac, in the area embraced within the
boundary from Manassas Junction to Lees
burg and the course of the Potomac from
above the Great Falls to point just below
Alexandria. Here Gen. Beauregard is in
command, and the lines of the contending
forces have been brought within few miles
of each other; chiefly, however, by the for
ward movement of our forces since the bat
tie of Great Bethel, and the sortie of the
South Caroinans, under Col. Gregg, on the
enemy at Vienna. The enemy has evinced
no disposition to advance, or risk an en-
counter. The prestige of their imagined
inviucibility has been destroyed. But a
short time since, they were going to carry
Oh the most terrible aggressive war; they
boasted of their purpose and ability to pene.
trate into the heart of Virginia, and even
to capture Richmond.
Scott is likely to advance slowly and with
thorough preparation, in addition to over
whelming numbers The impression pre-
walls that the enemy is not disposed to meet
our forces away from their entertainments.
The tone of the Northern press of late ia
vors this view President Davis said to q
friend yesterday who wished to 60 Manassas
Junction to witness or participate in the
anticipated battle, that he need not be SO
anxious about it, as he did not think there
was any probability of an engagement there
at present This shows the view our mill,
tary chiefs have of the prospect of con.
fict in that locality. Notwithstanding he
has tribble our force, Scott cannot be goad.
ed on by the Tribune, and other rabid
Republican journals, to risk an engagement
with our forces there in the open plain, a.
way from his well established batteries -
He knows too we'll the character of the
forces he would have to meet Your South
Carolinans, and other regiments from the
Cotton States, are terror to the Northern
mercenaries Hence the slow approaches
and the call for more troops, while they
have in and around Washington fifty thou
sand or more men already. There will
hardly be battle, at least for the present.
along the line of the Potomac approaching
Washington, unless Beauregard should fee
himself strong enough to take the initiative
and assail the enemy in their we'll prepared
entertainments along the heights which
form the banks of the Potomac At pres
ent he is thought to be entirely too weak.
Norfolk, the entrance to the James, Iorl
and Rappanuock Rivers, is another grea
field of operations which attracts the espe
cial attention of the enemy. They are in
creasing daily their already powerful fore
at Fortress Monroe by great numbers, as tn
point dappui: from whence they operate
They will not venture, it is believed, t.
risk a general engagement on the main LAM
at present, if at all. Our force is iuferio
to theirs in numbers, but we have the ad
vantage in the morale of our army and i
position. They will, probably, make attack
upon our weak points, without attemptiu
to force their way far into the interior
Butler has been cured of his military amb
tion of reaching Richmond as readily 4
he boasted of doing.