The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-06-24
FroR Befsre Richsuond.

Fron Befsre Richmond.
Fortress Monroe, June %, r,a Balimo-c, June
as.-Ths weather continues very warm aud dry.
To-day the heat 10 oppressive.
The steamer Adelaide broiSh, down today Mrs.
Senator Wilkinson and Mrs. senator Hanlon. who
proceeded 70 White House 70 visit our army hospi.
tails, and minister 10 the sick aud wounded Thirty
Sisters OF Charity arrived In tie steamer Adelaide,
and len This morning for the army Of the Potomsc,
by he steamer from White House Point
learn that yesterday the rebels opened upon
General IIooker's advance with shell, bu, did no
serious damage. General Hooker answered from
one Of our powerful new batteries. just completed,
throwing heavy shells which were seen ~ b,ss,
among the rebel attacking party, by persons In one
oil Professor loves balloons, causing the rebel
tllerymen 70 "skedsddle" In the most approved
style. Our troops are represented as enthusiastic
q. the near prospect Of grca, aud decisive battle.
ADDITIONAL nv NAH.
correspondent Of the Philadelphia PRxss under
date Of the 2cth, says.
EsBnrs GETTING pnsrRnArR
The reports from Gen McClellsn's army today,
seem 70 indicate desirc on the part Of the rebels
~ bring ON n general engagement before Mcclellan
Ia ready " make them skedaddlo again, with his
siege guns and regular approaches" Skirmish-
leit OF our line with the usual results.
whilst Gen Mcclellan Is operating surely " save
us the humiliation of the most in-guhcln retreat
before chmcnd, he las now So invested said city
as 10 leave little else for the r,he.s g. DO hut hghi
aud fglt To- the bitter end. SAoul they attcmIA 10
retreat South, Mcclellan can now head them I'll
with an army smtl of Petersburg, which he can
throw across the James yer ia a few hours, under
cover OF our guntoats. To retreat 10 Lynchbury
aud the mountains, would entail starvation and
utter denomination to their army, an1 the rebels
would simply wage war f1f u time AS lIerillaa.
One of the M st unI pleasant features Of our posi-
tion at Richmond Is tie stencil which arises irom
the battle field At Fair Oaks, around aud In which
some Of our troops are encainped. The enluyis is
oi such strong character as t. sckcn even veto.
rams at tiines. We shall never know the real loss
of human lie At Fair oaks. The other day lot Of
In clump Of woods which had not hcen previously
examined. 80 'lr d.csyed were these bodies that
our soldiers could not approach the spot long
enough to bury them.
Beaufort IL To lie made n dopot for naval stores
hereafter, and our vessels on the southern Atlantic
will thus he saved sail ~ several hundred miles.
The storeship William Badger Capt Henry ID. Carr,
sails for tia, port to-day, and others will follow
from here shortly.
A large number Of officers come down on the boat
from White House Point every day, ostensibly
throughput learn, accidentally, = long one Of
their own making. None bu, men Of bravery, rosl
patriotism, and powerful constitution, can remain
In the army ofthe Potomac, aud such men are
there will never finch on the battlefield, and can
never be WHIPPED.
THE BATTLE vIELD rRoN BALLOON.
Colonel loves balloon, yesterday, was stationed
near Gainer Mills on the right centre Of the Fedc-
raj line, aud within six miles Of Richmond, II was
IN the air The whoie day, and in the fcw hours u
served the position Of tho cnemy's troops from the
elevated point Of view II afforded.
Tho balloon Ia held 10 the ground by strong
cord thousand feet In length, and Of course as.
cends 70 that distance above the earth pulley
aud tackle ansnsvni.n., 49,. "a ~ ,r;-
the power used 20 pull II down, and being strongly
fastened .hs earth. there but very Little danger M
sstant, very seldom ascend, officers and others,
with authority for the Asce,. ''n, beng sent up py
,wos an. ,hrees st time, and, ate. ~" hl""'''
stay. hAuled down.
When the balloon has .scended st ti.., point 70
the end Of the tether, grand view Of both armies
IL unfolded. Within circle OF two miles In ra-
dus the sight Is very perfect before that the an
gle OF vision becomes so nearly horizontal that
woods, houses and hills materially interfere with
the visw. The landscape has three marked jects
upon II, which the first 10 strike the eye. The
Chickahonny, almost beneath ones feet, borderei
by It's dark green swamps, runs like thread from
where II rises on the horizon, away of - the
Northwest, 10 where il blends with woods and hils
in the Southeast.
The James river in front, though distant runs In
deep, crooked valley, aud bears on It's bosom hun.
dreds Of crat that IN the distance, look like white
specks upon the blue waters. Richmond. covering
large portion of tho Western horizon, is how-
q
list u confused meiley of red, white and black.
and heavy brown fort hcations, stretching from the
right ~ the len, with thick walls and pentifaily
sprnkled with cannon, surround II on al sides. -
The Capital Square can scarcely he dscerno, "a
being too thickly surrounded by buildings. The
white capitol, however, II quito couspc Ipus, and,
of course, the stars and bars float over the roof
Three church spires seemingly all in one SPOT are
the brightest part OF the town, and catch the eye
almost before the observer is aware he IL looking
Richmond. But little else, however, can be dis
iflui n.gh n n yia gft tlta
town. nothing could be better than that from the
balloon The space between the Chickahominy and
the sprthcations around Richmond il almost hhcd
with rebel camps.
A thousand cavalry horses were picko,ed In one
field, and others were pientifully sprinked al!
about. Wedge tents, used by tho officers and
little dog tents by tho men, Bhone in eve.y dlrec-
ton AZ the SUMS rays struck them. Intrenchments
aud rifle pits lined the front OF their position,
guns Of heavy calibre are sprinkled along these
earthworks. Rebel camps, however, are the most
proninent OF all the sghA. They show In every
direction, and the Southern aud Western horizon
seems 70 be their only boundary
or our own position, ~ seen from the balloon, I
must 10 silent. One thing, however, In the whole
view is most remarkable. Right through the CEN
tre ~ the picture runs curved belt of dark green
and yellow sbout mile wide. Not man, gun,
tent or wagon appear uponn IL Is the line be-
thrown, and on II surface scouts aud pirkcts hid.
from each other, but no military sign IL to be seen
upon IL.
Everywhere else, stretched as far a. the eye can
reach, are the thousand and one things incident to
war; but this broad, quiet, deserted belt Of land,
field, stream lies there still Nhat II almost
inapknoAt Athe leholdor. Jupiters rings or Sl,urn's
beJ8VyesS'Nore a grander sight than t,s belt 0!
land on which nothing like tent Or gun appears.