The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-08

their Willingness 70 ,aka ths oeth of ssls.Anses 10
the Confederate Government. They state that
thousands would cross the river could hey I'm.
.assns et transportation, but the boats aro no, 10
te had. They Know that MeClrlan's losses have
been heavy in Killed aud wounded. They say,
too that disease dealt terribly with the army. and
reduced their raoks .earfav before the casualties
of battle helped 10 swell the number of hefiec
tises. The member of Ten. Sirkies's Brigade
states that hut n few months since this com
msnt numbered five Thousand hien, the very
rivA and choice of New York. bui he is now s.tis
ned tha, upon call ot the roll no, cue theasand
wouA answer TO their names. These men say that
Mct lean hes heeu reinforced st Berkeley and that
the transports SEEN there hrongh. troops 4rui,,
Shielss diss,cu who have been heretofore active.
ly engaged in ;be Virginia Valley.
Later in tlie day. Saturday two other prisoners
rarhed here ifom Prince george county, who gave
their Names ~ follows: q. l.. Curtis, Mh Vermont;
B {. Eashau}i. tath New York. These u'en tell
the same story abou, great tssa.istac.ioa in the
Yankee army, aud great disposition 10 desert, 1t
The ccuid get of. They knew that Mcclellan
he's been reinforced snd tina, he has no isa Of kur-
rendering He declares IL is his intention ITO fight
| On, Fight ever
HEAyr FIRING SATURDAY.
gentleman o: the hi ighest rcspexability and
widely known in Petersburg. left Shirley Saturday
morning at eclock, and reached here during the
forenoon. He says he was aroused at early dawn
Saturday by heavy canhoDading, the sound appear
ing TO be about siX miles distant in northeaster.
Is direction He eou III hear occasional yolleys of
out tntS were very uiS
| charges of cannon were incessant. and could be
| heard distinctly by our Informant. They coz
lnenced at day dawn, continued without; internf..
sion up to the hour our informant left, and were
heard by him some time after he reached Bermuda
Hundred on this side OF The river and was far adj
vanccd ON his route to Petersburg Upon ths re-
eepfiOn of this information here, the impression
| prevailed ths; heavy battle raging, but tip 10
the hoilr of the present visiting we have been un'
able 10 hear an thing from it by way OF Richmond.
It's results would be likely reach Richmond first
| as the constant passage OF gunboats up and down
James river renders crossing exceedingly danger
Gus.
The gentleman above referred to states that the
Confederate pickets entered Shirley Saturday morn
| ing- and the place is now within our lines. We cap
| tured over 100 of the enemy who had been left at
| Shirley very badly wounded Could small force
| OF Confcderates have visited Shirley on Wedncs
day we would have secured five or six thousand OF
the vandals, " no would probably have surrendered
| without resistance as they were much discounted
1 and disorganized.
Hill Carter Esq, the proprietor of the beautiful
Shirley estate has suffered greatly from this visit
Of the invaders The fist night they got there they
killed hundred OF his hogs. seized all his sheep
and stole every COW, calf, and steer the place
| The fences were ali burned, and the half furnished
creatures devoured their stolen cattle in almost
entirely raw state. Other persons in the vicinity
| suffered in similar manner. Several defunct Van
KEGS buried on Mr.. Carriers place, and from
The condition of several OF the wounded nosv there
ii Is thought that many more will find their last
resting place al Shirley.
Persons VINO went down to poin, opposite
Berkeley, Saturday and returned on the evening ot
that day, report that Inuny OF the vessels which
had been lying there for two or three days, were
departing. Many of the wagons there were also
thought to be leaving, and other movements Of the
enemy indicated change OF ata,rs AT this rende2
yous.
LATFsT.-We made repeated inquiries yesterday
and last evening. from everybody likely 10 know,
but could get information explanation, of the
tirirS tb.AI klY
uriay morning. Several persons residing in the
vicinity Of the river, report heavy frin, heard
again yesterday, but whether from contendiins
forces or the enemy's gttlboats, we-hare been un:
able TO learn
-Four more prisoners were brought in yesterday,
and consigned to the Petersburg Jail. Alexander
Jackson and VIM Suther We're brought in dnriug
the forenoon. They from McCleilsns com
mand but we could not learn the name of the
company or regiment TO which they were at.
,ached. Richard Beckett and James Saycr "f
Company X, tiret OHIO Artillery, were brought in
yestcr,lay alterneon, TLes- stGte that The y
left Mcclellan army Saturday night: They say
his headquarters are al West0yer and that he still
has effective force at Berkeley, is in Il strong
position. and anxious IN fight. His force is repf.
sented Ia be now S0.rH0 or more neu, be having
been reinforced by Shields Division. The greater
portion of Hurnsde's forces said TO have been
in the fight of the early part OF the pact week.
Our scents il late last evening from the section IF
country opposite Berkeley, report hundreds Of yeS'
GELS IN the river III that vicinity, including every
description Of craft. As ole expressed III '-therei is
Ii perfect bridge OF vessels for Two mes." EaliocnS
sen. ny Saturday and yesterday which were
paulv his side Of tie river aud Tie roNli-
try Tor miles arouudis dotted with tents. Hundreds
aunt hundreds Of wagons still To be seen, Al
though many are known 10 have retired from the
locality which they occupied during last week
II Is now known tha. the retreating arny have
made a halt at Berkeley, where. Hanked by Herring
Greek, Berkeley Mill Fond, aud with the river and
his gunbcats I'D the ruar Mcclellan viii make ii
stsud