The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-06-27
The Siege Of Richmond,

The special correspondence of the Phila>
delphia Press from Richmond contains in
formation of great interest: e,
I MCCLELLAN ACROSS THE CH1cKAMoM1NY.
1 write tonight with better spirit than I
have done for weeks. There is an indica.
ton that Richmond is being surrounded
closer and closer, and though its fall need
not be anticipated for some time, yet living
there is fast becoming q dangerous thing
for its citizens. Tuesday afternoon tie
centre of this army pushed forward and
General Mcclellan moved bis Headquarters
across the Chickahominy and now lies with
in five miles of Richmond, bis advanced
posts at that point being much closer. To.
night when write, more than four-ffths
of his force is across the river, and had not
an unexpected event countermauded the
order, daylight tomorrow would have found
the remaining fifth safely crossing.
BR1DaE-BU1LD1Na.
Yesterday and to-day bridge building
was carried on on the most extensive scale.
Thousands of wood. choppers piled their axes
in the forests near the river, and hundreds
of teams conveyed the logs to the edge of
the swamp. Workmen laid them, and
sharpshooters stood ready to pick off rebels
wandering with villanous intent upon the
opposite shore. Cannons were mounted on
every commanding bill, and any one not
knowing tie plans of our crafty Comman.
der'in. Chief would have imagined that,
through thick and thin, we were to cross the
river at these points and fight our way, past
battery and breastwork, to the top Of the
rebel hill.
This extensive bodybuilding is all a
feint, the crossing places of the right wing
being now as they have been for two weeks,
in perfectly good condition and out of reach
from rebel guns.
NODE OF CROSSING.
The details shall not give, but the idea
is that the entire right wing shall march to
the left under cover of the woods, cross be.
bind the centre, and with its flank resting
upon the river encamp behind breastworks,
thus efectually securing the position.
WHAT HENRY J. RAYMOND SAYS.
Bot General Mcclellan, l am inclined to
think, does not intend to await their move-
ments. Unless they make haste, they will
not be left to select their point of attack.
The losses OF his army have been repaired.
The Chickahominy is now crossed by all
the bridges that can be required. Four
days of hot weather had dried the roads and
rendered the ground everywhere reasonably
practicable for artillery, though the heavy
rain of yesterday has seriously damaged
the condition of things in this respect. But
unless some new obstacle intervenes 1 feel
quite confident that the present sOeek will
witness a decisive trial OF strength between
the opposing armies. 1t may possibly be
postponed little longer to insure the CO.
operation of the gunboats on the James
River, and the arrival of expected REIN
forcements; but 1 think not. The enemy
evidently suppose that Burnside is to ad-
vance upon Petersburgh from the direction
of Suffolk, for we have report today that
they have not destroyed the railroad be.
tween these two points. But whatever
may be the facts about Burnside's move>
ments, l do not believe that McClellan's
will be delayed on account of them.