Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-31
FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

In CAMP, HARRIsos's LANDING, Va, July 90
But few days since appearances indicated that
some slight movement was on the " slate" But
the necessity for that movement seems nov 10
have vanished
Our impression IL, and IL seems TO he genersliy
% concsded that bevond the fact that reconcile
sances may be ordered at any moment, the latter
part OF august next viii find as here locateo:
unless ~ NAV 20 Ia ,pen that +" Seseeh" shonld
get saucy and seek for another thrashing, or that
ysu In the loyal States hurry up those reinforce
mputs promised US
Since Wednesday last and until Saturday
morning following, not gray unifsrm wa. seen
on or near the bank Of the river opposite US
Upon the aforementioned day, however, they
again made their appearance, and are occnion-
ally seen peeping out from behind some rock or
ana es Sy Se
Ruin, lwhose father bad the distinguished
honor Of firing the first gun at Fort Sumter,
which house Is distant perhaps mile and nan
back from the river persons who appear 70 Dc
signalling parties still further inland which fact
goes TO prove that they have either forces in con-
siderable numbers stationed thereabouts, or that
they are making feints and endeavoring to make
US believe that such Is the actual fact.
Were we differently situated, the truth or fal
sity Of either Of these suppositons might be cas-
lily ascertained. But, In order to send out
necessitate the building Of pontoon bridge or
employing large humber Of transports. Should
this be done, II would take much time and pre-
| paration: These preparations could be easily
II
| their position at City Point, and their ready
means Of transportation, by rail, would enable
them 10 bring up large force TO oppose N, even
II they had not already large force at the point
towards which our reconnaissance would be sent
The nature, extent and character OF the smoke
arising from their camp fires, and which, at
times, are plainly seen, assures Us that they have
forces on the other side ef the river, back from
| iu bank from four to FIVE miles, snd that they
extend from point nearly opposite Us to point
about sixteen miles west Of the Petersburg Rail-
road, and about the same distance from the river
We have It from good authority (and from
whence II comes we are not at liberty to state);
and at the same time the extent Of the smoke
arising from the camp fires, make Us positive
that their forces directly opposite here and up
to the railroad are scattered, hid in the woods
and that In round numbers they would not
amount to more than three thousand men; while
just beyond the railroad they appear TO be in
great numbers, and from the convenience Of ac-
cess 10 10 safe to " that within four or FIVE hours
they could concentrate force there Of thirty or
forty thousand, and yet net materially impede or
impair their other operations, or in any degree
weaken their surrounding positions. IL 10, how
ever, known to positive certainty that com
mencing about ten miles above City Point, and
reaching all the way up TO Fort Darling, that
both sides OF the river Is one grand map Of
NAKED batteries These our gunboats WI, at
some future time, pay their respects to, and no
doubt will cause them TO be evacuated.