Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-22
APPROACHING RICHMOND.
More CavalFy skirmishiDg.

WEsIovRR LANpINs, July IS, 1862 -Squadrons
Of our cavslry scout around through the country
between our present position and our old camp,
taking prisoners every day, and gaining much
useful Information, and occasionally skirmish.
Ing with the Rebel cavalry. Tbs day before yes
,srosg Sapt Ems msAtnuI commanding two squad
Fourth Pennsylvania, proceeded up the Long
Bridge road, some seven miles beyond our lines
The enemy were posted In force along this road
and encountered the Fourth Pennsylvania hrst,
and after a short skirmish the Fourth fell back
somewhat d sordered The Fifth came to their
| assistance, and soon drove the enemy before them
like chat before tho wisd; Three rebsl saddles
Both these regiments are In the First Cavalry
Brigade, now under the command Of General
Our army At the resent time 10 really strongrr,
although decimated greatly In point Of numbers
since they left the vicinity Of Washing ton, thsa
they were previous to the recent severe battles.
They have become Injured to the fre, and no
troops Of ancient Sparta fought better than they
did and what will they do In the next battle :
This problem Is easily answered the next battle
will take us into Richmond.
Our troops are rested, but the extreme heat de-
bilitates many poor fellows who are on the mend
A little cool weather would be relief, indeed.
All day to-day IL has been drxzling with a little
breeze. The sick cannot take advantage Of this,
on account Of the dampness. A few convalescent
soldiers arrive daily, and again take their respec-
tive positions In the ranks
Our gunboats were again Smelling the woods
on each side OF the river, this evening, giving
Rebel guerrilas practical illustration OF tie eff
feet Of large shell at long and sh ort range It's
dangerous to be In the vicinity Of these missiles
when ley burst. Our gunboats send she'll some
four mics into the interiJr.
HARR,soN's LANDING, Enthusiastically, az well
az In mental point Of view, this, our Army OF
the Potomac, was never In better condition than
at present II must be admitted that, numerical
Is lacking in that respect 10 fully made up by the
admirably chosen position for our resting place
On the LEFT fank the James river our right rest.
ing on deep wide creek, known as Herring
creek, while along our entire line are alternately
dense swan ps, deep ravines, massive woods and
high hllsthese, in every particular, made strong
by nature for defensive operations. And again,
add to these natural defenses the strong, i'm.
pregnab!e, massive Notifications 80 skilfully
planned by our able corps Of engineers, and by
our private soldiers 30 admirably aud so speedily
thrown up, that Ito use an expression we heard
uttered by an able General, a few DAYS slnce) a
brigade Of sick men could hold the position
against the combined armies Of Secesh.
The nature OF the diseases most prevalent here
is fever, though the cases Of the "Simon Pure
typhoid are but few.
ton, that can be anticipated, is that Of cutting
on our supply below. We have faith enough In
our commanding General to know that be appre-
ciates such danger, and that by him nothing will
be left undone to prevent so distressing calam-
ity. We cannot, however, close our eyes to the
fact, that the Rebels are in considerable force on
both sides Of the river, from four to eight miles
below. We feel from the reports being daily
brought in from that quarter that their forces are
continually being augmented, and we know that
scarcely a transport that passes either way but
receives some compliments from them and upon
each occasion more CT less damage is done.
The United States mail boats seem TO be under
the special care and attention of the same gueril-
las IL 10 reported at the mail dock this morning,
that the United States steamer John A. Warner,
Capt. John Gone, having on board Gen. Burn
side and staff, when going down Yesterday morn
Ing, was fred into, tine damage but trifing and
scarcely worth mentioning.
The United States mailboat Nelly Baker run.
ming In connection with the Warner, has suffered
severely from these repeated attacks, and had TO
be Withdrawn for repairs, substituting the John
Tucker to run In her place.
These valuable, efficient and MOTTO be done
without gunboats have, for the past three DAYS
vacated the waters Immediately adjacent 10 this
But from the occasional cannonading, the sound
they are some where down the river, and that
they are operating on the Rebels with what sue
cess we are not informed. Some Of them will
doubtless be up tonight, when We will try and
learn the particulars.
IL is known here that the Rebels are building
above US, at Turkey Island Bend, at Curtis neck
and Dutch Gap, large and massive batteries. Our
gunooat have been up on several occasions, and
shelled and driven them from their work. But
the moment the gunboats leave the vicinity the
men return to the batteries, and probably ere this
have them fully prepared, equipped and ready
for active operations.
A tour this morning among the pickets showed
us that the rebels have not advanced at any one
point. They still maintain the line, some ten
miles distant from us, while their pickets are
back at least I'VE miles.