Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-07-12

verse the fields where it lourished The gardens have
been uprooted and utterly destroyed. The pleas
ant and comfortable farm houses, recently happy
homes, are now filled with bleeding and suffering
wounded soldiers; and under their roofs many
once brutal invader, broken in spirit and body,
receives Christian charity from the hands OF those
he came to crush and subjugate.
TIE SITUATION NEAR TUE RIVER
An explanation may be furnished of the various
and extraordinary accounts circulated in the city Of
the position and movements of the enemy by the
fact that his forces have been dispersed such
wide extent of country, and thrown into such con-
fusion, that it has been impossible to follow his
movements or reconnoitre his position with pre-
cision
1t is believed that that portion of the enemy's
forces which are described in communication with
the river, and as having taken their way towards
Shirley and MISSIONER with long trains of wagons,
&c by no means composes the bulk Of McClellan's
forces AMI that considerable portion of his army
Is still detained within lines the roads lead
ing down through Charles City county.
The original plan of cutting oil the enemy's CON-
munication with the river, which was to have been
executed by movement of Holmes division be-
tween him and the river was frustrated by the severe
fire of the enenys gunboatS, and since then the
situation appears to be that of division or dis2er
sion of McClelan's forces, one portion resting on
the river and the other unable to eXtrrate itself from
our lneS-Such a situation in which we would be
likely to hear of new dispositions OF our forces being
made every day, and many confused stories of the
nature of operations
The difficulty in obtaining precise and reliable
news from the seat Of active operations besides those
which ordinarily exist is due to the essential nature
of the situation ITSELF in which an immense army Of
the enemy has shifted his position and scattered his
forces TO such extent that generals have
been able to get but dssolving views in the change
Of scene and uncertainty of movement which have
.lnls hn, ,l,-G e M,IN1 liz
SKILL OF ENEMYs RETREAT.
The skill and spirit with which Mcclellan has
managed to retreat remarkable, and afford no
mean proofs of his generalship. At every stage Of
his retreat he has confronted our forces with strong
rear guard, and has encountered us with well organ
ized nes of battle and regular dispositions Of inian
try, cavalry and artillery His heavy ried cannon
have been used against Us constantly OF his re eat.
WHAT Is KNOWN OF THE SITUATION OF THE ENEMY.
We believe all that Was known in this city yester-
day, outside Of the circles Of bureaucracy,
was that the enemy had taken strong position,
with one of HIS TANKS resting on the river about
Berkeley, completely under the cover of his gun
boats, and his extreme right reaching to Herring
creek, where his position defended by an almost
impossible mOraSs. it Was supposed that the
my would have been attacked yesterday; bu. there
had been no lighting up To the last accounts we had
from the lines There three OF the encmy's
gunboats at Berkeley. 1t wa, reported yesterday
with great p rSiscnce, that the enemy debarN-
ing his forces, but Inclined 10 suppose that
he was doing nothing more than transporting his
sick and wounded.
THE COUNTRY AROUND BERKELEY AND MISSIONER.
Berkeley and We>tovcr have, within the past
three days, become points OF absorbing Interest,"
The remnant of the grand army of the North having
eluded the Confederate generals. and escaped from
the awk ward situation in which they sought to hold
il IN the swampS near Carriers mill pond in the
OF Shirley, has taken position, anI il Is thought
will make last desperate stand on these plantations.
In this situation of aifIirS description Of the local.
~ and Typographical features Oi the encnyS selected
Thermopyle. WILL be matters of interest.
In cnumeratng the advantages secured to the e.e-
my by his present position, his super "a ihteS of
transportation must not he omitted Whilst our
ammunition and stores must be wagonei 4 distance
Of nearly thirty miles, his steamers and transports
running up to the very doors OF MS tents
II we have gwen the reader an idea of the topo-
graphical features OF tile enemy position we have
fully accomplished our object. Ii is for us TO
suggest how our generals are to overcome the Oh.
staceS presented TO their advance nor to discuss
McClellanS ability to resist siege indenitely now
that his water communication free an uniter-
rupted.
For the benefit of the distant reader we NAV here
properly say something of tue character Of the coun.
try TO which, suddenly and Unexpectedly, the seat
of war had been shifted. Ten days ago when Nc
Clcan beeagucred Richmond with the exception
of about five miles of Chickahon my low ground he
occupied the most barren, aud of the same time the
watered and most unhealthy region of Eastern
Virginia AgueS, hoop poles and whorteberries
have been always the only sure crops of the coun.
try within radius oil ten miles about the Seven
Pines taking that point as centre; and but two
living streams tuc Nine Mile or Williamsburg
roads between Richmond and Bottoms Bridge. On
these two roads, with the Seven Pines their head
quarters, the very pick aud flower of the Northern
army was concentrated; and here for weeks their
vigour and numbers melted away under the inHu-
ences OF .niaSIna, bad water and Il southern sun
but, by his haSty trip through White Oak swamp,
Mcclellan has emerged, with thluncd ranks, into
more genial land. broad fresh river flows before
him, while his tired and hungry hordes will find
shines The country of the lower James
river is the very garden spot of Virginia. No where
does the soil better repay the toll and skill Of the
property of wealthy owners who have spared neither
skill nor means in their Improvement The dwell
inghouses of almost princey size, and surround
ed by teemng gardens capable of supplying the
markets of the great city Of New York
1t is sincerely to he hoped that the ability of our
generals and the daunLeSS courage of the Southern
armies, will soon relieve this portion of our State
from the presence of the invader. In them under
Heaven, is our only hope. So long the enemy
holds undisputed possession Of the lower James so
long is the capital of the COnfcderacy menaced
Casualties in the N. c. Regiments at Richmond.