The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-11

soldiers on board, but met with an accident
to her machinery and was turned back.
The Daniel Webster will take her wounded
to New York, and will probably leave this
port Tonight.
The s. R. Spalding arrived here this
morning from Harrison's Landing with five
hundred sick and wounded. They will also
leave for New York to day.
A rebel gunboat was captured yesterday
up the james river and brought down to
Harrison's Landing. 1t was completely
riddled with ball holes.
The 7ribune's correspondent says at noon
on Thursday the enemy appeared in force
four miles from McClellan's front and began
Smelling, but had no effect. The enemy is
reported in great force on the east side oil
the Chickahominy and threaten Met lelan'a
right wing. What the rebels are about on
the south side of James river is not known
but it is feared that they will erect batteries
on one side or the other to command navi-
CATION below our position.
A letter to the Post confirms the report
of the skirmish on Thursday, and capture
of six guns and some prisoners.
| General Nc Clellan had removed his head.
quarters, and the army had advanced some
| five miles towards Richmond.
The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Enquirer states that Richmond papers of
the 4th acknowledge the loss. of 10000 men,
though they claim the victory.
The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press, of the same date, reports that Nc
Olellan is pushing rapidly forward, driving
the enemy at all points. The gunboats
accompanied his advance, Smelling the woods
and scattering the enemy, his main force
following.
New YORK, June 8.-A letter from For.
tress Monroe says the rebel army appears
to have fallen back towards the city, and
General Mcclellan is now in position well
entrenched.
The apprehensions that the rebels would
stretch themselves down the Peninsula and
possibly attempt to blockade with their
batteries, james River, has not as yet been
realized.
Our force at Yorktown is evacuatipg the
place, and most of the guns have been
burst.
The rebel prisoners do not claim vic.
tory, but confess they have suffered heavily
in the attack which commenced on Thurs
day of last week, in which their loss was
confessedly much greater than ours, includ-
ing many officers of high rack.
1t is rumored that Burnside with consid-
cradle force, was preparing to operate with
Mcclellan. Rumors to the effect that be
has advanced from Newburne, were with.
out foundation.
The statement that Mcclellan has recent.
ly been reinforced with forty thousand men,
is an exaggeration.
Four P. M.-The boat which left Har-
rison Landing at 10 O'Clock this morning,
arrived yesterday.
Our pickets advanced four or FIVE miles
from the river, and saw no enemy, who
seem to have mysteriously retired.
There was brisk engagement on Thurs
day in which our troops drove the enemy
and captured battery, without losing q
man.
| General Mcclellan has advanced bis lines
down to the Chickahominy. and no fears
are now entertained of flank movement in
that direction.
By noon today General Mcclellan ex-
pected to have his position so fortified as to
be enabled to bid defiance to the enemy in
any shape they might choose to come.
Gen. Casey has arrived here, en- route to
Washington.
An army letter to the Herald says that
the rebel prisoners state that long before the
evacuation of Corinth, troops from Beau.
regards army began to arrive at Richmond,
and continued to arrive steadily until that
event took place, by which time $4,000 had
arrived and that subsequent to the evacu-
alton $4,000 more arrived from Corinth,
and those $4,000 are the flower Of Beaure-
CARDS army.
The whole number of troops at Richmond
amounts to fully 100000. Gen. Lee has
the chief command, and Generals Beaure-
regard, Johnston and jackson were COM
manders of corps under him.
| In regard to the report of Gen. Jackson g
death, the prisoners speak 10 such manner
as to create the impression that it is mere
ruse. From what their officers say, it is
inferred that the eight forts or earthworks
north and east of Richmond are not of any
great strength.
They rely mainly upon defence of the
city upon Fort Darling, the distractions
and batteries in the james River, and upon
the fighting of their troops.
They declare that it is an utter impossi-
biity for the Union army to take Richmond
either by land or water; by land on account
of the number of troops, and by water on
account of the defences of the james River.
Of the latter Fort Darling is the only
one; besides this fort three river batteries
have also been erected, mounted with heavy
guns, and casemated for the protection of
the gunner.
There are also two submerged iron bat
teries, each one containing five tons of
powder, connected with the iron land bat
teries by wires, and so arranged as to ex-
plode at any desired instant. As regards
the distractions sunk and driven into the
bed OF the river, they are such that it will
require vast amount of time and labor to
remove. That it can never be done under
lire OF their guns, and no vessel can pass
while they remain.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Star says q
1 49, y-I>