Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-10
FROM THE PENINSULA,

.lSPecisi correspondence Philadelphia Inouir
HAsEisoss LANDIse, Va, July -Af,er the
week, the Intense nietness Of to- day seems nm
natural, and for0odes trouble. The e1emy WIN
for % long time have been In our rear, and con.
.lnaally harassing us and making feints OF an at
tack, seem to day 10 have entirely subsided, for
not single report OF musketry or gun has been
heard, and searcelya Rebel piciet has been been
AT what moment, hcwevet, the storm OF war may
break out, noRe know, none can tell bdt tha, It
there are none that dare gainsaY.
Were IL not contrabana, we could tell you and
your readers pr the Preparations being made for
defensive sna offensive operations But of one
thing you may rest assured, that the scene 4 last
week will never again be enacted, and that n fu-
ture ell VIII 60 on smoothly to the end.
THE L.TR CHANGE IN POS rIoN.
,hoe s .oSp ss is,e haven
the position OF tse Grand Army before Rich
mona. Almost every one have their own pecu-
liar views In reference to st. some censure the
change, and others, who are largely In the
majority, and occupy prominent positions, af.
hrm IL 20 be ore Of the most brilliant movement
Of the campaign. There are none, however, but
are forced 10 admit that tie movement was no.
only admirably planned, but thst q was executed
In manner never e,cel.ed, II ever equalled by
the movements OF any army that ever had an ex-
lstence In any age or any country.
Perhaps the most plaus BILE reason for the
change. was the peculiar nature and situation of
the country and its surroundings, about Fair Oaks
admitting OF no resting place for our extreme
rig ht ana left wings. In view Of that fact, and
knowing that the enemy bad an immense force
nd that any mOnentthcy nigh send a ruff lent
number around our right and left, to the rear,
and either capture or kill the entire party, OF
force us into Richmond, and hence the retire.
msnt D this place was resolved cr, where both
our extra'ne right and left wings are on the James
liver, and where, 70 reach rear that river has
TO be Crcssed and an attack TO apturs US IN ont
is an utter impos sloilitY.
In support of that theory we will refer to a
statement made by Rebel officer who was taken
'..'s,r Pofte1's Division Tin which are the
ronnsylvania Reserves) suffered so severely
iJ.s Rebel OH rer stotst that, the corning OF
the IL ht In quest!o1, thev rushed out three sepa
ATE olunns, 81 tSgrIty ia JusaId each, reaching
ali the way from Richmond 10 Alleys Station
IND that II was their intention to have got In be.
tween the ChIckahominy aud Porler's Division,
forcing Porter to The West, and leaving no OBJ
stac.es to their uninterrupted march down the
Ioove stream, and taking US in the rear Of our
Notifications There Is not a doubt but that
this programme would have been carried out Lad
It not been for the stern and unfiinching bravery
Of the Pennsylvania Reserves, under Mccall
and tie troops under Porter who fought with
a determined bravery, gradually retreating nh.i
rear being guarded Dy ths fan OBS bucktail
toward our main army on the east bank of the
above steam. Ia this en2ag ement, although oul
troops were opposed by almost quadruple their
number, tney succeeded In reaching the main
army In admirable order, and noIwithstandiny
u cir own loss was immense, they have added
largely to to the list Of mortality among the
Rebels.