Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-12
FROM THE PENINSULA,

Retirement from MalVern Riii-In1portant
Evsnts at Hand-The Rebel Rams-Af.
fasrs IN Richmond.
TCorrespondence OF the Philadelphia Inquirer
In CAMr, HARRIsoN's LANDING, VA, August
9th-S O'Clock q m.-We have today but little
in special interest to communicate as nothing
but that Of strictly cosfrabdnd nature 10 trans
piring. Should these forbtdden-to-prsriossly-
sotiesd movements meet with opposition, and
have some trouble In securing a successful ac-
complement, we may have something startling
to send you. IL successful, the report win doubt.
less be pleasing
The eunboats still maintain their old position,
and the rams are still reported as being up the
river. As neither party has seen proper to move,
OF course no engagement has taken place. Could
something definite be done in this matter all par
ties here would be better pleased.
On Thursday morning early we sent you infor.
nation OF the particulars Of the reconnaissance,
under the direction Of Gen. Hooker, to Malvern
Hill, up to Tuesday night. On Wednesday
ton that a force Of some IS 900 Rebels were
coming to oppose him, Assem- bled the troops he
had with him and quietly returned to the grand
encampment With the exception Of slight
attack upon our cavalry, who acted as our rear
guard, nothing Of any consequence occurred on
the trip.
This affair, without doubt, Is one Of the mos.
important a. well an successful OF its kind that
has ever been made In addition to having ac-
complished the precise object for which Il was
started (that object we are not at liberty to state
IL has shown Us much Of! the position and strength
Of our enemies. IL has discovered to US where
they are most strongly entrenched, and, as well,
has learned US & e roads and y-paths between Us
and Malvern, and given us more thorough
knowledge Of the surrounding country than
could have been learned on a retreat. As an
evidence that this latter 10 the case, II must be
borne In mind that, on cur tour to Malvern, we
Travelled over some fifteen miles Of the enemy's
country. On our return home we had but six
miles to come TO reach home.
A desefter from the Confederate cause came
into our encampment at Malvern, on Tuesday
afternoon. He states that the enemy are In con-
slant fear and trembling In reference TO the move.
ment Of Generals Pope and Burnside. That
"Stonewall' Jackson who Is In front Of Pope,
sent to Richmond on Sunday. and took from
there Is, 600 troops, while another General took,
on Monday IS 900 and started In another direc
ton from those hrstnamed
Beyond the fact that our troops on their return
burned the bridge at Turkey Greek, no other
damage was done to the property OF the Rebels
Had the movement been OF no other benefit, II
10 well that 10 was sent out Il has siid plainly
to those Of other corps and divisions among US, as
well as to the void, that we are by no means
disheartened or discouraged, butth we are still
active and determined, al no distant day, to take
Richmond, without waiting for the reinforce
ments that the tardiness as well as the badly
arranged manner of enlisting Of the loyal States
people, are preventing US from speedily acquir-
Ing.
It would DO all and every one Of your citizens
good could you but stroll into the camps Of
Hooker's Or Sedgwick's Divisions, o. Pleasonton's
Brigade, and see the happy smiling countenances,
a. displayed by officers and privates, pleased
that so much good has been done by them, and
with such slight casualties, and confident that
they can DO 10 again, upon any road ind in any
direction II eE6er the leaders OF the same or
other Of tss brave Generals among u.
Large heelin 81 troops, mostly from Gen. Fitz
John PevseS's 9sfpe, were passed over the river
during rkzrsS<y night and Friday morning.
After reaching the other side they generally pass
Immediately Into the dense woods which edge
the river, and from that time until their return
some messenger Is sent over, but little Of their
movements are known. As no report Of FIRE arms
has been heard coming from that direction, Ii is
safe to say that no opposition has been offered to
the successful accomplishment Of the object for
which they were sent.
That object to US and others here 10 mystery.
Those who know are in no way disposed to tell,
while civilians, among which we are numbered,
are not allowed .. passage across the now-famous
James