, 1862-08-04
FROM GEN. mcCLELLAN,S ARMY



In CAMP, HARR1soE's LANDING. Va,
duly 70, 1862
In reiterating the expression which has been
the heading Of cur letters for the past ten
days or two weeks, al! quiet at our encamp-
ment On the James BiYer," we are but stating
existing facts. =
Never, at least ia the experience Of those
who have been with this portion Of our grand
army since the breaking ont OF this accursed
rebellion, has 1t been as dull, as quiet, and.
might with truth add, as lazy as at the present
time.
With the exception Of the little atfair which
we wrote you OF, as occurring on Saturday
last, when CUR pickets we're driven in aud our
worthy butchers experienced q scare, for q
week past not single report Of g gun has
been heard, excepting the usual nine o'clock
signal gun at night.
Our pickets, who are out night and day. get
but an occasional sight Of secesh, and are
actually *sspiling'' for the want of a little ex-
ercise in the way Of loading and diasharging
their pieces at the latter named individuals.
With the exception Of our noble corps Of
surgeons, who, we regret to say, find 80 much
to do as to be constantly employed, and the
clerks who are attached to the various head
quarters, not asOul in camp seems TO have the
least employment; and were it not that morn
ing drills are now in operation among the
tually suffering for the want Of something
to do.
. NO MOVE AT PRESENT.
But a few days since appearances indicated
that some slight movement W8S On the "6late."
But the necessity for that movement seems
now to have vanished, and consequently mat
ters here taye dwindled down into that qui-
escent state as above indicated, while all are
wondering what will be the next move and
how coon,
Our impression is, and it seems to be gen
orally SO conceded, that beyond the fact that
reconnoiseances may be ordered at any mo-
meut, the hitter part Of August next will find
us here located, unless it may so happen that
"seceah" should get saucy and seek for an-
other thrashing, or that you In the loyal
states hurry up those reinforcements prom
ieed us.
IMPROVED RAr1oss.
Now that the transport and subsistence de-
paltments are working 80 smoothly and har-
moniousIy, the quantity, quality and charac-
instead Of living On tssalt horse '' and "hard
TACK as was the case the first two weeks Of
| our stay here, We are 1u1uriating On fresh
baked bread, fresh beef and fresh vegetables,
| all Of which add much to our comfort as we'll
as happiness.
TIE TRAITORS.
Since Wednesday LAST aud until Saturday
| morning following, not grey uniform was
| seen on or near the bank Of the river oppo-
site us. Upon the last mentioned day, how
| ever, they again made their appearance, and
are occasionally seen peeping ont from behind
some rock or tree. At times they can be seen
| upon the top Of house owned and occupied
had the distinguished honor Of firing the first
gnn at Fort Sumter, which house Is distant
| ptrhaps mile and half back from the river)
/ persons who appear to be signaling parties
still further inland, which fact goes to prove
that they have either forces In considerable
numbers stationed Ihereabouts, or that they
are making feints and endeavo1ing to make
rs believe that such is the actual fact .
We're we differently situated, the truth Or
falsity Of either of these supposihons might
be easily ascertained. .Bnt In order to send
out reconnoiteriDg party to ascertain the
facts, It would necessitate the building Of a
ber Of Transports. should This be done, It
would take much time and preparation
These preparations conldlbe easily discsrned
with the naked eye by the enemy from their
position at City Point, and their ready means
Of transportation, By Ial, would enable them
they had not already large force at the
point towards which our reconnaissance
Ths nature, extent and character Of the
smoke arising from their camp fires, and
which at times t1e splainly seen, assure NJ
that they have forces on the other side OF the
river, back from it's bank from four to five
miles, and that they extend from point near.
II opposite US to point about sixteen miles
west OF the Petersburg railroad, md about
the same distance from the river:
We have it from good authority (and from
whence It comes We are not at liberty to state.
and at the same time the extent OF the smoke
arising from the camp fires. make Us positive
!. that tbeir forces directly opposite here and ur
the railroad are scattered, hid In the woods
and that in runnd numbers they would no
amount Ito more than 5000 men; Will,
just beyond the railroad they appear to be h
great numbers, and from the Convenience o
access It Is safe to ssy, that within four or iy'
hours they could concentrate q force Of thlrt,,
or forty thousand, and yet not materially i'm
II pede or Impair their other operations, or u
any degree weaken their surrounding posi-
): sltiona. = Is, however, known to poaatav
eertainty that, commencing aboHt ten mile
above City Point, and'reaching all the way u
to Fort DARLING, that both aides Of the fiyer
one grand map Of masked batteries: Thea
cur gunboats wilt, at some future time, pa
their respects to, and no doubt they NJ
cause them to be avacuated.-:. = .,.t.