The New York herald., 1862-06-03

are on sick and sevrii otnersi ana we nearo
dead. but don't know whether It = or not
90 Hope II is not So We have ans tin, time &c cooking
on the eoals-that Is whsn We get meal and meat g
cook. You spoke orthe posato pudding you nad ~ ~
gOa pas sns osd SO Sss.d want snyai
potato budding for 1t is good TO talk about Miss Nary
win close for the present as have not time 70 w6lss
and oen Don't wait for me TO write Tor one nan o GUT
letters don't git TO you ALL Ny best regards 70 M and
Mrs. Stephens, and the balance OF the fanny ,r T9ur
friend, FL. SMITH.
of. J. Smiths" estimate Of thsir numbers may DO
taken with grains Of allowance the army that
fed before seems 70 have divided and crossed the
Chckahominy ct different points. Is does appear pro-
bsble, however, that the question whether or no 70
light at this point In debate with tho snsmys gene
rails. According 70 resident Of this nsghborhood,
large body Of rebels drawn up In line Of battle
present camp on Saturday, May TO- which was
the first day Of their appearance here They remained
in position from ten A. till night and then campsd In
the woods near General Johnston was with this body
Smith was also there, a. well q Stuart, and Ma
grudsr . visitor. or perhaps 70
consultation-Chis body servant, who deserted
hm and IL this neghborhood says that his mas
ter told the other generals that hey might well sur
render as anywhere and that hey must surrender
soon. On Tuesday, May 10. these gsnsraisOr rather
Gen. Johnston at Crump's house, visited By Prssi
uont LAVE, accompanied Uy uon. 0oDoEt - Leos M.
Davis arrived At Crump's house night and left be-
fore light the next day On Thursday this whole force
went on across the Chickahominy.
ACROSS rm cmcKAHomY, May 70. 1852.
AnoGhsr Srm-TAs Rasaoa Of War-Poor VHgisio-
TIE March Of Generals Couch and Cassy's Divisions
Their Casspimg Grownd, do.
Monday afternoon heavy northeast storm set In, and
the rain fell steadily til late hour yesterday morning,
rendering the roads through this miserable soil almost
impossible Il must retard the progress Of the army
considerable extent Stil the wsrd Ii onward. and
all difficulties win be surmountsd although time Il neces
sary TO overcome them In . to render
certain. The sun IL bright and this morning, and
viii dry tho roads again and render them ut for
travel The next advance made by the army will be
into Richmond. and you may expect At any moment TO
hear Of being In possession o city heavy firing
heard the right yesterday tho precise
locality II not known to Some one Of the numerous
Correspondents Of the HERALD will doubt b thsrs TO
give you account Of the affair.
This portion Of the army il passing through section
Of Virginia which before been travsrsed BY the
troops Of either army andths contrast ID most striking
For almost the first time since entering the State this
army has cultivated fields Here the corn Is plant
cd and ready for the hoe. The wheat green and uxu
RANT just heading OUT with promises Of excellent
CROP the clover fields, dressed in their gayest bloom.
and everything wearing the appearance Of quiet and
peace How in contrast with the OF the lower
portion Of the the fences gone
laid waste cultivation suspended the houses dilapdaed,
ths gardens and dssolaon written every hand
Truly has Virginia suffered Tor her perndy to the
Union Long years Of toll will be necessary
the agricultural condition Of the state regardless Of the
financial, moral and political aspect her affairs.
The blind zeal with which hsr citizens sustain
cause against which, whom submitted to them, they
protested at the ballot box seems Incredible but there
II denying the fact the greater portion OF the
people doggedly devoted 70 the cause; and when
pressed for reason. can only hnd some miserable
tale Of what the Yankees intended do to them had
they remained in the Union Many Of these stories are
absurd that decenty intelligent contraband would
blush to be charged with being the author.
Upon the passage OF the Chcknhominy river on Friday
May %, General Couch splendid divisions in ad-
vance. Nearly mile beyond the river the Richmond
road turns very suddenly 10 the north and the Charles
City road runs away from in ansarly opposite drsc
ton. As this latter road In the rear OF our ad-
vance on the other necessary TO guard It, and Gen.
Couch was sent down and encamped on II at about mile
from tho junction. and General Caseys division following
behind rested at the junction and almost tho Rich
mond road. General Couch thus lost 70 the intense
chagrn Of his whole Division tho advance which he had
sorscsnty gained and which he well deserved 10 have
for. when the corps again moved it not counter
marched but moved the Richmond road In the order
In which had lain, with General Casoys division FIRST.
This latter march begun Sunday, at ton A. H.,
and attended to halt at tho Seven Pines point
within seven miles OF Richmond but, owing the ma
Of the country this intention was renqushed and
tho advance sncampei . mile more short Of the
Pines, and made itself comfortable for tho night
The position in which the corps rested very
pleasant one To tho left Of the road extensive
and dry pine forest In this Cascys troops encamp
ed On his front was open pIain mile in extent in
the direction Of the road and about half mile wide In
the other direction. the side opposite from the road
this plain bounded by another thick WOOD and be-
hind this wood the left Of General Casoy lay General
Couch's division.
Arrangements wero begun the corps rested
to carry out further orders, which that the mon
should have three days raons In their haversacks at
al times, and that al wSs6ns and superaaous baggage
should DO sent beyond the Chickahominy Il was evi
don't that TO march from this camp to battle
that is II there be battle-and with this conylc.
tion all lay down to sleep.
On Monday, at an earl hour word In from tho
pcets In front that the enemy advancing in force
On the Richmond road Afiwas in readiness and expec-
ti,ion. Ono brigade Of Caseys division was sent for.
ward 10 meet them and the remainder OF division
and all of Couch's hold In readiness to move at
moments notice. Bat II was false alarm Tho brigade
that went forward in such gay good humor found no
one and returned Later, Con- Caseys whole division
moved forward two miles further on the road 10
wards Richmond Gen. Coushs division was then set 70
work with intrenchng tools in largo Details and that
night and the next day (ruesday) competsd limo Of
rife pits oil slong the front Of Gen. Caseys late camps
and also constructed several redoubts cannon These
works made the position strong ons they were con-
structsd morsfo their moral than material effect with
full confidence In thsr generals yet wisely con-
sdsrsd tho chances Of the present advance a. at best no
moro than they gave the foo full credit for his cou
rage and made their arrangements accordingly II dos
pis that they should succeed very ws but in case Of
reverse they had something 70 fall back on and give
them breath 70 50 forward once again. In the same
view intrsnchmsnts were thrown up near General ca
seyS position On Tuesday also three rsconnoissancss
were mads-ons by General Naglss, with three squad
rons Of cavalry tho cross road that runs nom ths
stage road 20 the New Bridge road another by Colonel