The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-24
THE LINES, &C.

ne lines have not been disturbed for the rast
few dsvs by any event worthy Of more than pass.
ma mentions skirmishing has heen constant daily
a divers points bat in no instance have these en.
counters In timber resulted in ANYTHING more
than the capture of few prisoners and the cxtnc.
tion OF the enemy's hopes to advance. Great bold
mrs, have characterized the doings Of our men In
these dai Y advensures--somo few have been rash
t"aah 20 penetrate the oatcr camps of the foe,
ond having driven everything before them,
returned w',A trophies Of every imagina.
he description. Brave and characteristic "a
thesc episodes were. they have all been
diseounteusneed by officers, ana properly 80
for pioke. duty is dangerous enough in it.
self. and does not call for or need (save hy or
ders} any of those dashing feats commendablc and
common on the battle field. But not only in the in.
fan,ry arm Of the service havc our men proved
themselves superior to the foe--the artillery have
amused themselves greatly, and practiced with
Elueh accuracy and effect upon the numerous
breast neld. and horn works thrown up on the
FEDERAL front. Since Capt. pabney's efforts
Frfiay last. With heavy pieces, which caused lu
dercGs stampede from Feder,a artillery and in
fsnirv camps Ii surnised that their cbno xicus
pseseoco would no longer disgrace the lovely face
of fhe landscape on the north bank of the Chicka
ho'niuy yet numerous and imrudcnt as ever
they again appeared In working parties on
Saturday and Monday, presenting fair scope
and practice for some srtil!erists who moving
deliberately to the front. Garnetts FARM shellcd
lte enemy from their excavations and expedited
the'r departure from the knobs aud woods with
lunch effect Shell from our pieces could be plainly
seen bursting among the enemy. and although they
brsvely wfths.ooi sannsnaie for shor,
t,nic, expecting ;he arrival of U. s artillery, no
relief came and they laudably Initiated the of
thar friends Friday last. The artillery of the
enemy. though Admirably worked and served when
not face 20 face with ours is handled will uncom
mon ~ildness and impression when any Of our
batteries appear to dispute the ground. Hence
ii'tle damage is usually done, and the cost re-
suits is merely a useless expenditure of powder
Brisk artillery FIRE maintained by the foe upon
ou,pos,s the Nechanicsviile road yesterday
bat, although the range of some half dozen shell.
wa- determined with great mathematical nicely,
few fell harmlessly, unexplodsd. while the frag
n'nt Of another slightly wounded a negro enl-
pcved upon some one OF our works. Two shells
damaged one Of our brsastworks sightly, but more
than this no damage done in this quarter.
nense columns Of smoke We're ascending over the
eneniy's position yesterday-various reasons were
assigned for this unusual spectacle. but the true
Is best known 10 those of chiefs in com
maad. 1t would not be wise in perhaps. even to
hasard conjecture. |
We are Informed that Of cur officers, de- |
tailed on pickle: service. have shown themselves |
negligent and hlsme"or,hy, insomuch that either |
from oareessness OF ignorance of the grounds picket
PARTIES from different regiments have fired at each
other. and in one instance with loss. ANY faur |
p1s Of this nature. within the immediate neighbor
hood Of the enemy, Is worthy of comment and pun
ishment. II the topography of the place is not |
known 10 officers encamp-d within gmnshot, for |
weeks together. and useless mortality enSue from |
2ant dt this requisite information, how can it be |
expected that these officers will successfully
Handle msnnuvre forces = If only companies-o |
thes. same grounds should exgences require it at |
any moment Of night or days 1t is time such neg |
lig.nce should cease Our loss WAS more than ne |
cessary ut Yorktown Lines from this same cauA.- |
Lives tco precious TO be us+-lessy sacrificed in
this manner and any maladministration Of officers
should be severely punished
Indications Of activity and veliness prevail in |
eli our camps-buste, good humor, and bouyancy |
il in every action. and marked on every fea |
ture--or,lerlies dash to and frO solemn and dusty
Coones aud others, are all found at their posts, and
while all is industry beyond the city, what re-
proach is this to the tin seled butterflies, gaudy in
color snd braid. loungng about at pillar and post |
frothy in warlike speech but 10th to manly action
few days,-nay. few hours, perhaps,-are |
srsught with the fates OF centuries Let all be
and manly In the days to cone-of our noble army |
nought need now be said-but ii is Of those worth
iesa harpies we wish 10 add a word-of those rep.
robates who inveigle the unsophsticaed soldier into
gambling hells, and fleece from them the last few |
pence of bard-earned money. Shall the noble |
youths of our gallant Southern army shed their
blood freely on the battle field and these disrepu.
table. be allowed infe.i hotels, disgrace the side
walk, and keep open gambling holes under the very
If all civil and military law 2 They have cast
'ber lines In pleasant places, but all such |
marched TO the Lines. of which daily speak it |
would be far more profitable TO morality and The |
public veal.