Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-02
APPROACHING RICHMOND.
Sanitary Condition of the hrmy-ArrtUaI
Of DeSerters-An attack by tho Rebels-A
Mysterious Boats Creac.

SANITARY C0ndttton of ths drmy-Ar1tU1I
of Deserters-An Attack by tho Rebeis-A
Mysterious Boats CrsaU.
Correspondence Philadelphia Inquirer
WEsTovER LANDING, July 30 The quiet of
this place was little broken o-dav with the ru-
NOR that six smoke stacks were seen In the James
river, and II was soon bruited forth that the enc
my's gunboats were coming down for the pur-
pose OF engaging our gunboats. Our troops along
the shore have been on the qKi virs all day, anx-
ious to see a naval fight. Our men-of-waf are
ready, and the jolly jack tars will give good
account Of themselves. There is no discount on
our sailors; they know how to fight, and will
fight; this fact has been well established during
the war; the rebels know full well what Is In
store for them.
The sanitary condition Of Harrison's Landing
vicinity and the various camps Is frst-class.
The rush Of officers and men home has de-
creased wonderfully. Those going are either on
OF climate being really necessary for their health
This is a good sign.
Two more Rebel cavalry deserters came into
our lines yesterday and gave themselves y to the
phia, and the other 10 from New York. They
state that they had been pressed into the Confed-
crate service.
The disease among the horses still continues
although somewhat abated. I was convers-
ing with Rebel officer at City Point the other
day, who stated that the Virginia farmers about
this latitude never work Northern horse the rst
summer; they invariably die II they do.
Agreat many exaggerated camp rumors floating
around are published by correspondents from
Baltimore and Fortress Monroe, gotten by them
from parties roate for home, az truth. The
capture Of lot of our cattle, and the burning OF
| schooner by the Rebels opposite this point, Is
all bosh. There have been no cattle captured,
and the fire on board the schooner no doubt was
the work of an incendiary.
This evening, after dark a number Of Rebels
on the shore, opposite Harrison's Landing, fred
three or more volleys OF musketry into the trans
ports anchored In the stream. For a time there
was some considerable CONSERVATION among the
river craft; lights could be observed dancing
from one vessel to another, men hallooing, &c.;
but gunboat soon got In among them, and In a
short time all was restored to quietness. could
| not learn this evening whether any one was
| struck or not. have been expecting an attack
| Of this kind for long time. The enemy have a
at respectable distance: ltwas too dark for the
| enemy to have fred with any accuracy.
July 3l.-The firing that occurred last night,
| between ii and IL o'clock, was from on board
| the harbor are armed with small arms.
The watch on the deck Of the steamer saw a
small boat approaching, and becoming alarmed,
| opened on the boat. The men In the boat set up
/ cry Of "donf fire on Us; we're the Provost
Guard, }" and all the time kept pulling away.
One Of the Provost officers got on track OF two
boats, one black one and the other white, and
followed them down the river. The two boats
had been hailed by various vessels 40 they rowed
down, and answered that they were Provost
Guard boats, Nos. and Q. They escaped In the
It safe 10 go on shore, as his force was not Of sun
Client strength.
Many officers here say that there was no enemy
at all There seemed TO be a period Of ffteen
minutes between the firing. There seemed to be
| about dozen dischaIging at each round OF mus
kets, intermingled with few pistol shots.
There IL no doubt some Of the crews OF the
boats In the harbor 90 10 bed at night really ex-
| pecting an attsck before morning. They get
| dreaming Of attacks and fights, aud many times
| the nightmare has most to do with attacks than
| anything else a1 +g's
Very few people believe there was any enemy
| whatever. nthere was they made very narrow
| e cape, Our Provost IL indefatigabie and this
| affair last night will have q tendency 20 make
him untiring In bis exertions to keep the peace
Of the post, the Rebels 10 the contrary notwith-
| standing. seg Voc
We are prepared to meetany emergency ut this
ptint, no matter what the force. w are anxious
i 10 meet the reported Rebel feet +, a,
i A number OF -convalescent ofRcers returned 70
| their regiments last evening. 4sAU -
Gen. Berry, who has been III foE long time,
and who has been battling against IT. has been
compelled to leave for home in the state Of
Maine. His brigade will miss him greatly.