Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-24

presidential party from -he headquarters of the
army of the Potomac give cheering views of the
condition of affairs in that vicinity 1t is re-
presented that the entire loss on our part in
the recent battles does pot exceed in killed,
wounded and missing eleven thousand.
Stragglers are constantly returning. The enc
my's loss no doubt is exceedingly large.
Gen McClellan's Position
WHAT THE REBELS SAY OF IT.
The Richmond Examiner of the 9Th has been
received at Washington. Dscoursing on Gen
McClellan's present position, it says awe be-
lieve all that was known in this city Yesterday
outside of the several circles of bureaucracy
was, that the enemy had taken a strong posi-
ton, with one of his lanks resting on the river
about Berkely, completely under cover of his
gnnboats, and his extreme right reaching to
Herring Creek. where his position is defended
by AN almost impossible morass. 1t was sup
posed that the enemy would have been attack
cd yesterday, but there had been no fighting
up to the last accounts we have had from the
lines. 1t is not to be supposed the enemy has
selected these plantations as the scene Of his
last great stand, without good reasons. The
first and most apparent of these is that the
western landing is perhaps the very best on
James river, and the stream for miles up and
down being broad and Deep affords both ex-
ceIIent sea room and anchorage for his gun
boats and transports but this is bv no means
the only advantage of the position On the
west OF Berkey are innumerable impossible
rarlnes, running from near the Charles CITY
road on the north, to james river, making n
successful attack from that quarter next to i'm
possible. Within a quarter OF mile from
where these ravines begin, Herring Run creek
crosses the Charles City road, and running in a
southeastery direction skirts on the north and
east the plantations of Berkely and Weslover,
and emplies into James river at the extreme
eastern boundary Of the latter. The whole
course of this creek is one impossible morass,
while along its northern and eastern banks ex.
tend the heights of Evelington, long range of
hills that overlook the Westover and Berk ely
estates, and which offer an eligible position for
heavy guns.
1t will be seen that, protected on the south
10y the river AMI his gunboats, on the west by
impossible ravines on the north and east by
Herring creek and the heights at Eyengton,
the enemy's position presents but one pregna-
Bile point, the piece Of level country northwest
OF Westover, from quarter to halfa mile in
width. lying between the head of the ravnes
and the point where Herring Creek crosses the
Charles City road. But it is certain that the
enemy with his immense resources of men and
machinery, will, in d very brief period oh itruct
by art this only natural entrance to his strong
hold. Already it is within range Of his gun
boats and OF his siege guns, planted on the
Evelington hills. Another day may see it
strewn vito felled timber, and bristling with
field batteries. In enumerating the advantages
secured to the enemy by his present position.
his superior facilities for transportation must
not be omitted. Whilst our ammunition and
stores must be wagoned distance of nearly
thirty miles, his steamers and transports are
running up to the very doors of his tents.
For the benefit of the distant reader, we may
here properly say something # the character of
the country to which suddenly and unexpected
ly the seat OF war has been shifted Ten days
ago, when Mcclellan beleaguered Richmond,
with the exception of about five miles of the
ChickanOmny low grounds, he occupied the
most barren and at the same time the worst
watered and most unhealthy region of Eastern
Virginia. Aguss, hop poles and whorteberries
have been always the only sure crops of the
country With radius Of ten miles, about the
Seven Pines, taking that point as a center, and
but two living streams cross the Nine Mile or
Williamsburg road, between Richmond and
Bottom bridge. On these two roads, with the
Seven Pines as their headquarters, the very
pick and flower of the northern army was con-
centrated, and here for weeks their vigor and
numbers melted away under the influence of
OF the masma, bad water and southern sun
but by his hasty trip through White Oak
swamp, Mcclellan has emerged with thinned
ranks into more genial land A broad, fresh
river flows before him, while his tired and
hungry hordeS will find boundess supplies in
as fair and rich valley as the sun shines on.
The country on the lower James river is the
very garden spot of Virginia. Nowhere does
the soil better repay the toll and skill of the
husbandmal."
OTHER NEWS FROM RICHMOND PAPERS.
The Examiner says of its own government
-"Ihere has already been enough of trihing
and abuse of the public mind, by the suppress
sion or reserve OF facts on the part of the gov
ernment If the commanding general could
write dozen lines giving the result of the
fight at Gaines Mills, why on each succeeding
day might we not have had a bulletin of equal,
lengte, simply stating results. 1t would have
cost but a tritie of time, and would have con-
ferred an incaculable benefit upon the whole
country in composing public anxiety, If the |
first official display Of our successes had not
been fully sustained by subsequent events, and |.
il the public expectations which were then rails |.
ed to such hight are to be reduced, we believe |
that our people can bear the disappointment
without waiting to hear the facts dim out
through the slur and forced confessions of
u
communication with the river, why wa, not this .
fact boldly and sincerely annouced instead of
trifling with the public mind. BY reports of
surrounding portions of his army, and triangu-
lar swarms, and in the neghborhood of mill |
ponds and other false and vague stories, in.
tended to break the fall of public expectation,
the public is left under the impression of gem
eral facts. We know that the valor of our
troops has so far prevailed, and that the enemy
has been pushed from his lines of investment
of this city but what may be the strength of
the coherent remnant of his army. whether that
remnant is yet involved by our lines, or has
escaped from our grasp, or has been reinforced
for another grand battle are questions which
everybody has been asking for the last week,
and which the government plainly refuses to
answer, by Withholding from the people all in
formation whatever of the battle of Richmond"
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