The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04
EVERYTHING READY FOR THE
GREAT STRUGGLE.
m 500 d10t &w6t

Hon. Henry J. Raymond, of the New
York Times, in his letter from Mcclellan s
camp, dated Goth instant, says:
On cur side every thing has been perfectly
quiet. / met three Or four of cur compa-
MES of Engineers going out with axes and
spades to construct two or three small cor
duroy passages for artillery, and at one OR
two points saw men at work completing
breastworks. But all our preparations are
substantially done. And if there is any
further delay it will be due to some other
cause than that which has done duty thus
far, that we we're not "quite ready"
l.. 1t is quite possible that Mcclellan
may be awaiting the co operation of Burn
side, Mansfield and the gunboats on the
James River. I throw this out merely as a
conjecture. But Burnside came here to
headquarters last week, then went to Wash.
ington, and then returned 10 his command.
Mansfield was simultaneously sent to SUI.
folk with strong force, Il state only what
has been announced in the Richmond pa.
pers,) and certain ugly customers have gone
up the James River. If the Instructions,
including Fort Darling, can be so removed
as to permit the passage of our gunboats
up the river, the surrender of Richmond be.
comes question of hours only. Consider
ing McClellan's well-known inclination to
save life,--his utter abnegation of himself
in his desire to serve the cause,--his rather
inexplicable delays here for the last few days,
and other circumstances to which have re-
ferred, am halt inclined to suspect that he
means to postpone direct attack until he
hears the echo of the guns at Fort Darling.
You may remember note acknowledging
the important service rendered by our off
GERS who succeeded in opening communica.
lions with the James River.
2. For two or three days now the rebels
have made deuce of row with the drum
every morning. At very early hour we
can hear the tattoo in their camp, with the
words of command, sc. If they intended to
attack US, they would not thus give US nov
tice. II they intended to evacuate, they
would cloak their design with precisely
such demonstrations. Their ostentatious
firing to day reminds me very much of the
similar performance the day before they left
Yorktown. General Mcclellan said on
Wednesday that he had lain awake all the
morning listening TO their tattoo, ana won
dering whether it did not mean "skedad-
de-" He may advance to morrow in order
to ascertain.
3. Mr.. Robinson, in his letter given
above, says that 'both armies are intrench
ing" This is true. The rebels have put
up some very formidable earthworks during
the last three weeks; and our side has at
least kept pace with them. They dig to
prevent our advance. We dig to make
sure that if checked we need not retreat. I
do not think that this proceeding warrants
Mr.. Robinson's inference that there will be
no fighting for some time. There may not
be, and then again there may. When there
is any it will be severe, and on our part will
be mainly battle OF artillery. You will
probably hear of sixty pieces being massed
in single field. do not believe the reb>
els have anything which can withstand it.