The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-13
LETTER FROM OUR ARMY CORRES-
PONDENT.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Near New Bridge, Va, June t.
This i. rainy day with us in camp, i'll
fact, showers and thunder storms seem to be
the normal characteristics Of the climate here
abouts-such at least has been our expert
encc for the past few weeks. This unprcce
denied wet season has greatly impcdcd the
| operations OF the army, aud We now lie soak
ing on this side of the hickahomny wolcn
to a formidable rivcr-when we might bave
been comfortably quartered IN Richmond had
the weather and the state of tho roads per.
united our advance. But here we are still,
trying to put some bridges over the Chicka.
hominy, which rises and falls in such an I'M
accountable manner as to put quite at fault
the skill Of our engineers. Wemakc calcula-
tions for bridge of 100 feet, and when about
to put it down We find that three hundred
feet won't answer, the size Of the stream hay
ing increased so largely. If recolect Alright,
early history tells US that Capt John Smith
mirel down and was caught by his wiley foes
somewhere abouts in this Chickahominy bot.
tom, and from what little I've seen of it'll am
not greatly surprised at the rcdoubtable
Smiths mishap. trust n similar fate may
not await the army of the Potomac.
The character of the peninsula from York
town up to our present encamp smear New
Bridge is monotonous and undressing The
country consists principally of vast pine tracts
and swamps; the soil is poor, and whore it is
cultivated yields but indifferent crops. The
cereals and tobacco are chiefly raised. As we
leave the Pamunkey and approach Richmond,
the country improves somcwhat,s more high.
ly cultivated and thickly settled.
We passed u number of fine farms with
handsome residences, on our march from
White House, the propretors in many cases
remaining at home, though taking good car,
to send away their cattle, horses. negroes ant
valuabes. As a general thing they are bitter
secesslonists, and make no concealmeut of it
yet they have the unmitigated eifrontery t
demand safe guards for their property, aut
| SiuuDic IL lhtN mss u Ii'htt rum tHcl
fences, or u chicken from their barnyaris. -
They send all their provisions to Richmond
where they get three prices for them, ant
then expect our commissaries to sell then
supplies at government rates They are farm
ers by day, guerllas by night, and traitors
always!
Oug army is encamped on both sides of the
Chickahominy, and holds itself ready for any
, emergency. From present indications Il grea,
battle must come off within the week. if the
enemy intends fighting outside of his en-.
0 trenchments. Heavy firing is kept up con,
e tInuaIIy along our front-the boom of cannon
, and the rattle Of musketry seldom ceases.
Our balloons, Of which we have two-the
r CONSTITUTION" and the Intrepid, ARE con
T. stantIy IN the air. All day they hang in the
clear sky-when we have one-huee and uo.
tionless-hang like impending fate above the
devoted city. The amazed citizens Of Rich.
mond, with good glass, may readily dis.
tnguish the arms of the United States ms
they arc painted on the silk covering of the
} balloon, or read the large characters that
form, to them, that word of threatening i'm
port the CONSTITUTION" Much valuable
information with regard to the character of
the country and the movements of the enc.
my's forces, is obtained through these ascep.
sions
| We hold the Chckahomny from Bottoms
Bridge to Mechanicsville. | rode over our
lines few days ago, terminating nv ride a,