Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-11
LATEST AND MOST INTERESTING
.....< FROM RICHMOND.

That pare, thus discourses upon the obvious
and certain advantages OF NeClellsn's present
sosilion. E
We believe all that was known In this city
Yesterday, outside Of the severe circles Of bureau
cracy, was that the enemy had taken strong
position, with one OF his tanks resting on the
river aSout Befkely, completely under cover Of
his gunboats, and his extreme rig ut reaching TO
Herring creek, where his position 10 defended by
an almost impossible moraa. IL was supposed
that the enemy would have been attacked yester.
day but there had been no fighting up to the
last accounts we have from tie lines. =
at Is not TO he supposed the enemy has selected
these plantations lMcClellan's present position -
ED. STAR rs the scene OF his last great stand,
tsi:hoh. soht reasons. The first and most apps
rent Of these rs that tie Westover landing Is per-
hsps the very best on James TiTefi ana the stream
for miles up and down being broad End dSep
affords both excellent sea-rC ON and anchofage
for his gunboats and transports. But this 10 by
no means the only advantage Of the position. On
the west of Berkeley are innuIner able impossible
favnes, running from near the Charles City road,
IN the north, 20 James river, making successful
attack fsum that quarter next TO impossible
Within quarter OF mile OF where tbes- raw, ass
begin, Herring Run creek crosses the Chae.s
CITY road and running In a southcasterly direc-
tipn skirts on the north and east the plantations
o. berkeley and gestover, and empties into
James river al tie es.re-oe eastern boundary Of
TIC Iattef. The whole course of thls creek i' one
impzssa BILE morass; while along its DortSern and
eastern banks extend the Heights Of Evelinton-
a long range Of hills that overlook the WestOver
and Berkeley estates, and which offer eligible
positions for heavy guns.
ut will be seen, that protected on the south by
the FLYER and his guRboats, on the west by i'm
passabIe ravines, End on the north and east by
Herring creek and the Heights Of Evelintcn, the
enemy's position presents but enc pregnao!e
point-the piece Of level country rotihwe,t Of
Westover, from q quarter TO a half mile in width,
laying between the head Of the rayines and tue
point where Herring creek crosses the Charles
10 t. 1T o
his immense resources OF msn and machinery,
will, In a very brief period, obstfrct by art this
only natural entrance 70 his strong hold Al.scdy
Il 10 within range Of bis gunboats and Of his seige
guns planted on the Evelinton hills; another day
may see IL strewn with felled timber and br.st-
ling with field batteries. In enumerating the ad.
vantages tect1d to the enemy by his present po-
siton, his superior facilities OF trans portstion
must not be omitted Whilst our ammunition
and stores must be wagoned distance Of nearly
thirty miles, his steamers and transports rum
ming up TO the very doors Of his tent.n
'For the benefit OF the distant reader we may
here properly say something Of the character Of
the country to which suddenly and unexpectedly,
the seat Of war has been shifted. Ten days ago,
when Mcclellan beleagucred Richmond, With
the exception Of about i've miles Of Chicka-
homily. low-ground, he occupied the most
barren, and az the same time the worst watered
and most unhealthy region Of Eastern Virginia.
Agues. hoop poles and whortleberries have been
always the only sure crops Of the country with
a radius OF ten miles about the Seven Pines, TAX
ing that point a. centre; and but two living
streams cross the Nine Mile or Williamsburg
roads between Richmond and Bottoms Bridge.
On these two roads, with the Seven Pines a.
their heado uarterS, the very pick and flower Of
the Northern army was concentrated; and here
for week their vigor and numbers melted away
under the influence OF miasma, bad water, and
southern sun; but, by his hasty trip through
White Oak swamp, Mcclellan has emerged,
with thinned ran Ks, into q more genial land. A
broad fresh river flows before him, while hts
plIes in az fair and rich valley the sun shines
on. The country Of the lower James river 10 the
very garden spot Of Virginia. No where does
the soil better repay the toll and skill Of the hus
sandman.n
GDo not the above extracts prove the wisdom Of
McClellan's policy in changing the base Of his
operations ?-EDIToR STAR
We are most happy in being able to state that
the army of the Potomac haze accomplished all
the (fer the oligaIchy} dire things which the
rebels dread possible results Of the seven days
battles, enumerated In the following "ifsn from
this Richmond ExamtnG Of the It'll instant, In
beratIng the seeesh War Department for the sup
preston Of information concerning the true state
Of military operations:
UThere has already been enough Of this trining
and abuse OF the public mind by the suppression
or reserve Of facts on the part Of the Government
IL the commanding general could write dozen
lines giving the result Of the fight at q aines'
mills, why, on each succeeding day, might We
not have had bulletin Of equal length, simply
stating results. IL would have cost but tribe of
time, and would have conferred an incacuable
benent upon the whole country In composing
public anxiety IL me first ofhcial display Of our
success has not bsen fully sustained by subse-
Quent events, ard II the public expectations
which were then raised to sucha height are TO be
reduced, we believe that our people can 6esr the
disappointment without waiting TO hear the facts
drip cut through the slow and forced confessions
Of those In authority. ---
"If Mcclellan has effected communication
sincerely announced instead Of trifing with the
public mind by reports OF surrounding portions
Of his army, In triangular swamps, and In the
neighborhood Of mill-ponds, and ether false ana
vague Stories intended 20 break the fall Of Uubfie
expectation. The public 10 left under the I'M
preston Of general facts. We know that the
valor Of troops has 30 far prevailed, and that
the enemy hal been pushed from bis lines OF In
vestment of this city; but what may be the
strength Of the coherent remnant Of bis army,
! whether that remnant Ia yst involved by our
lines or has escaped from our grasp, or las besn
reinforced for another grand battle, are questions
which everybody hes been asking for the las'
week, and which the government plainly refuses
to answer by Withholding from the people ali In
formation whatever Of the battle OF Richmond
Upon the strait TO: which the rebels are now
reduced there, the Eramis1 says:
afhesoens Of active operations has been remov.
ed 70 such distance from Richmond that III 10 Oil
fcult to obtain any news OF the incidents OF each
day. but fsom what IL generally understood OF
the situation, Il appears TO admit only OF tht
severe alternative 81 an immediate assault upon
the enemy or the falling back Of our lines "
wehavs pleasure In adding that, despairins
Of the success Of an .'immedisie assaulf," tbs
rebel army has already fallen back within in hf
liaes sseuad theeity Of Richmond.
WIN refesrnce. To- the continued danger o.
Richmond, tie Ezanissr says2
'ti- sinceseiy 10 b hoped thastns ability OF on
senerals and the dauntle courage OF ts soetee r
from he pftsence Of the invader. In them. unde
Heaven. Il oar only hope. 20 long a. the enemy
holds undispused possession Of the lower James