The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-08
NEAR HARRisoN'a LANDING,
On THE JAMES RIVER. July 4. 1862.

ON THE JAMES RIVER, July A. 1862.
Interesting Stat men of Retel Prsoneg-1he Rebel OOPS
at Richmond Amount 10 Too Husdred Thousand Men
The Report u Jackson's Death Said to be Rwe-
ErmiG6,. OFFENCES Of Richmond, the James River-
The Fa~s in Regard the Crossing of the CAie ahomisy
and Of he White Oak Ssoduep by the Rebels in Pa1-
satng Our Aymy-Eminent Services of Genera, Wfoh
bary's Eno'ney Bigade-Criticol C,ndihoa # tie
Jnicn Army-N csssity of Inmesiate Reinf rcement-
Tst nia 20 MJjor Dimmock d., dc.
Our wounded, who were left, well taken care Of
BY surgeons Who remained with them. and the
rebels treated both surgeons and wounded with great re-
spect and kindness We captured and retained several
hundred prisoners who brought or the army
treated aad who have bcen sent down tho James
to place Of safety. Among them are number of oG
GERS. Before they left found opportunity of con
versing with two oiccrs-a colonel and captain-from
whom derived information They gentlemen OF
education and refinement who in former years used
frequently TO visit the Northern cities, where espe
ciay in Baltimore and Philadelphia they are well
known Their statements were made with every appear
ancc of candor and honesty and to worthy
OF credence.
They state that long before the evacuation Of Cornh
troops from Bcauregards army began to arrive Rich
mond and that they continued to arrive steadily until
that event TOOK place, by which time so 900 arrived
and that subsequent to the evacuation 49, 900 more
arrived from Corinth that these 70 600 troops are
the flower OF Beauregards army the best troops OF the
old army OF Manassas and that they have not as gene
raj thing been engaged in the late battles In the
pursuit Of army its retreat, but held in re-
serve That the whole number Of troops al Richmond
amounts TO fully 100000 That General Lee has the
chief command and General Beauregard General John.
ston be.ore his wound) and General jackson were the
commanders Ct the corps darmee under him In regard
to the report Of General Jacksons death they speak OF
10 In. c,nt,s a.
ruse, and that old @ StonewaiP' will again turn up
at unexpected point as good as new.
infer from what these officers say that the eight forts
or sarhworks on the north and OF Richmond and
distant tbersfrom some two three miles arc not Of
any great strength and not mounted with any very
heavy guns They rely mainly for the defence Of the
city upon Fort Darling the distractions and sub aqueous
batteries in tho James river and upon the ghting of
their troops They puacd up beyond all measure by
the late repuses which tho Union troops have met
with, both at Charleston and Richmond. which they
attribute to the fighting qualities than the mum
Of their troops They say however they have
troops enough to be able always keep plenty OF re-
at hand as 10 place frcsh battle at any
moment when those who have FIRST engaged have be-
come weary. They declare that II Is nnpossi
bility for tho Union army TO take Richmond either by
land water BY land, on Of the number of
their troops and by water account Of the doences
Of the James river or the latter Fort Darling Is only
Besides this fort, three iron batteries have also
beer erected, mounted with heavy guns and casemaed
the protection or the gnners ghero are also two
submerged iron batteries each containing nve tons
OF gunpowder connected with tho iron land batteries by
wires and arranged as to explode any desired in
slant As regards tho distractions sunk driven into
the bod OF the river, they such that although II is
possible 10 remove them, yet will require vast
amount OF labor and much time that can mover b,
done under the tire OF their guns and no vessels can
pass whilo they remain.
During the whole OF the days contest our troops
fought bravely, and drove back the enemy at many
points (as, for instance, when General Hsntzelmsn
charged with large portion OF his corps) vet Ia spito
o all this, the general result is al present Ia
Tho enemy Tho chckahominy has proved barrier 10
Heir pursuit OF our weary and dec ed columns en-
Woodbury's Engineer Brigade remained behind tn the
last moment, destroying ana blowing up the bridges
But the rebels have engineers az well They have
besides, what we havs not an ntmats knowledge Of the
topography OF the country, and they know OF many fors
and passes across the stream which unknown 10 ua
The consequence has been that their engineers very
quickly rebuilt tho bridges and while part uf their army
crossed these other parts by the fords THUS
they KEEP close on our rear Tho Union ngineer
obstructed al the roads through the great White Oak
Swamp aaJ 80 eiectual were their abors Ia doinr SO
that Gen. Heintzeman publicly declared that they hsd
saved the army. What he meant that the ohstruc.
tions which our brave engineers placed In the roads
through that swamp so delayed tho pursuit OF the
enemy that army effected It's movement ia safety
Bat the hordes OF The rebels tosd day aud night at the
removal N some n the obsructtne and sought new
paths by which others might he avoided that by Tues.
day night they ready 10 cross tho swamp with
Whatever force they pleased. Before that time how.
ever army had reached the James river aad were
comparatively safe. As stated ia my last letter our
army Is msgsed on the left bank the james river
along space OF Ave miles, where Coinpara ravey
safe The rebels are now msfsed between the chckr.
miny and ths James rive, the froIt being towa dis
and pressing upon rear their light resting upon Rich
mcnd where the maia 30 = y thes army si remains,