The New York herald., 1862-08-02
Activity OF the Enemy on
James River.
Two Rebel Batteries Open Fire on
the Union Camps.
Arrival Of Perter'S Mortar Fleet in
Hampton Roads.
Preparations for Decisive Operations
Ashore and Afoat,
Two Rebel Batfcrfes ON the James River
Open Fire, dc. Sc. :.

Open Fire, DC. SC.
HEADQUARTERs, Army THE PoroMAo,
August |, 1862.
Asout twelve O'Clock last night the rebels opened nrs
from the opposite side OF the rvor with two batteries Of
light artillery Thor fire principally directed to the
mail boat landing at the headquarters Of Colonel ingalls,
and the shipping encampments OK Westover.
The rebel pieces handled well and fred with great
rapidty. -Four mon were killed and some Eve or six
wounded. Several horses also we're killed.
The rebels had IL all their way for some tme, as
sur troops did anticipate attack but the thirty
two Founders stationed at Colonel gas' headquarters
susnced their guns after they opened.
A few Of vessels were struck bat no serious da.
mage sustained by any Of them.
With this exception nothing has occurred worth men
sionng.
Arrival or Commodore .Porter's Mortar
Fleet in Hampton Roads.
PHILADELPHIA, August l, 1862
4 letter from Fortress Monroe, dated July 80, says
Comm Porter's fleet, part consisting OF tho fol
lowing vessels arrived and anchor In The Roads
early this morning.
Matthew vassar, George Manchan, r. A. Ward, Adolph
Huzel, Daniel Smith, William Bacon, and the Racer.
Twelve Of the feet in all left the Southwest Pass the
18th Of July or these reached Fortress Mon
sse, and the Ave others are hourly expected.
The officers md Of all the vessels think they
70 redues Fort Darling and intimate perfect willingness
70 undertake the job.
Our Special Army Correspond ence.
HARxIsoNs LANDING, July 30, 1869.
TAl Advance Of Orr Pickets-Decisiw Movements at
Hand--Escellaa Condition Of the Army-TAe Soldiers
Laugh al the Staya Home Patriots Who Talk Of Dying
n tAs TrencAes-No Valuable Niagers ,oin ReacA of
0s Asmy-General FrankIin III, &C., dc.
Tia fact that outer pokets retired to-day mile
md half has given rise 70 camp rumors respect
Ing large force Of the enemy approaching. The truth
p, however, that pickets advanced mile and
half in the direction Of Malvern Hill three days ago
ehs while the exchange Of prisoners going The
rebels objected 70 the advances refused TO parole any
more prisoners unless the pickss withdrawn This
done yesterday, whom picksts were retired 10
tAeir original position. Except OF two raids upon
cattle herds, the sscssh have been quiet In the i'm
nediate nsighborhood Of the army.
There 10 feeling throughout the camps that some de-
ssvs operations are near at hand an indefnabs some
thing seems TO impress soldiers with tho idea thai
they are about TO be called 10 Tight Perhaps the
wish IL, In q measure, father 70 the thought. They
have recovered from their fatgues inacton begins
70 grow rksoms. All the trenching necessary for
the defence Of the position completed tho
esdcr tho regiments have been thoroughly inspected
drilled that everything In capital condition for the
contest This army could to-day make the most glorious
eight the world has II the generals will direct
we'll Is the will Nothing but long, protracted
contest and overwhelming numbers would enable the re-
bells 70 gain the victory.
The trenches 70 which alluded, although extensive,
have the army but little labor, comparatively Only
few brigades have been employed upon the works. and
che fatigue duty OF those engaged upon them has
ragged than days work Of eight hours per
FOR each soldier Those orators at meetings at the
North who raise the bugbear Of soldiers dying
trenches are laughed at here Their eoquence upon that
should be dscontinued The everlasting can't about
mak negroes dig trenches for the army poured forth
~ these meetings for political effect rather than for the
real benefit Of the army. "Firs catch your haren &c.
We and valuable nlggers in progress Virginia
The slave have lett but worthless cuees be-
hind tb except few smart young darkeys who
aged away These last TO be caught labor
ing any heavy work. They hire themselves TO officers
spades to them they arc of They made useful
they In these occupations and betde the army
when Is made to depend upon nggers for the perform.
General Franklin, who has suffered considerably from
illness since arrived here absent and his corps Is
the temporary command Of General w. Slocum.
SIocur division is commanded usantirne by General
John Newton. - 49,. ~-a-- -
HARRIsoxs LANDING, Va, July 80, 1904
Heavy Firing on James Rivr-ne Army Ready for An.
oder Hghtfhe Rebel Army Densorali,ed-The Contra.
band Qgartsys- Soldiers Enjcynya BaiA-7,oo Deaths
ne Hospital, &C. zFS ,-- = :.-~'. ,==-ssa.
Heavy nrpg has been hoard al intervals an day up
The river despatch said to have bcdn received from
Commodore wilkes, announcing that six rebel smoke.
stacks were coming down the river gives rise to the
supposton among the troops in this corps that tho rebel
Merrimac number two has ventured forth, and that
lively naval engagement has been tho result. Our
Monitor and Galena believed TO be match for all the
gupboats the enemy send against u.s. that fear
70 entertained Of any disaster side far our
gunboats are concerned,
All sorts OF prevail 10 all sorts OF
In contemplation know that this corps is ready and
willing for another ayht They are well rostcd now, and
N the next engagement, be u a day or month from
now will nghi with the unhiuchng heroism they
showed in the late fights Each day increases the deter
imitation 10 fight this thing through. Statements brought
m by returning prisoners have added fuel to their pa
triotic fires. II Is believed that we might go into
Richmond without rcnforcements such IL the complete
decentralization and disgust Of the rebel army.
took look through the contrnband quarters 10 day
not quarters conraband tho pedal sxtremes visual
organ Of army chroncsrs, but select spot OF
ground dotted with wedge tcnt aud occupied by CONTRA
bands Such does this spot cover and multtu
dnous tho tents that took the pains TO calculate tho
compass Of the former ana count the latter The ground
should say. embraces two and there two hun
dred and sixty tents and N re being pitched The tents
are ranged In regular rows and judging from the noise
smanatng from the interior should Judge that the
cupants arc mainly engaged in regular leave II
" the reader of fertile i~gnat 10 draw his pic
Of the Tho combination or Ethiopian colors
diversity Of sizes and ages, confused catorwaungs OF
Infants, surprising sconts ning the circumanbieni air
strange ntermnsng Of sacred and rofane SONGS yare
tics Of Industrial occupations In progress pastures of
tndosnt repoee, painter might make the subject of
excellent study IL Is really Interesting eight on. of
that character whose encaniment enhanced nverscy
the ratio OF the distance. Their wooly caputs i'm,
perviablo TO solar influences, and they joyous &C.
cordnglyaioy to be cnvisd in this climate Of torid
sunshine and bllstering sands.
Bathng In the river " tho soldiers OF ebefest
10y Just Early in the morning and the river
Is alive with these seekers OF Joy aud health combined
A. the poet Thompson Ia thought TO have mis- scd the
mark in his attempt TO ocscrbe single bathing scene,
win not attempt TO describe this
There have been two deaths today RI the General
HospaJamcs II. Harsi sison, Company ~, sixth Penn
evlyania cavalry, and Thomas Chern ~ Compary r.,
First Connscticut artillery. James n. BcrAcy died on
boar the steamer IoiisaDq frgu wounds received at