Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-16
FROM McCLRLLAN's ARMY.
Immense Federal Fleet in James River
Com. WiIkea in Command.

The transport steamer Haze, Capt Clift, ar
rived at New York Monday MOI ming from Har.
rison's Bar, the headquarters OF Gen. McClellau's
army when she sailed on Friday afternoon last
Her news Is interesting.
THE FEDERAL FLEET.
The Federal feet In James river comprises an
six hundred transports and war steamers between
Newport News and Haffison's Bar, besides al
most innumerable small craft-among which are
one To two hundred cenai boats. Including the
numbees twenty 10 twenty-five vessels.
While the greatest number Of the vessels Of all
classes at any one point are at Herrisons Bar,
there are several squads three to six miles apart
and the vessels composing them lie at anchor so
closely together that IL 10 al cut to pass rough
This Is for the purpose of protection from the
Rebels, who beve field batteries on the banks
and move them from point 10 point as our gun.
General Burnsides feet OF transports and war
vessels was lying OF Newport News, near his
encampment on the nth when the Haze passed
The men were all under tents; but their situa-
tion was such that they could be embarked at q
few hours notice. 1t was the prevailing opinion
that under the orders Of their gallant chief they
would not long remain inactive.
COMMODORE WILKES ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE
GUNBOAr FLEET.
Just before the Haze sailed Com. Wilkes ar
NV and assumed command. Commodore
throughout the army az well as the navy az Com.
moaore wilkes appointment, and high expec-
Already better feeling exists, The pros nert ~
more acuve service under man of recognized
ability and energy stimulates the GERS, and the
nay VIII soon be prepared 70 take an active part
In the operations before Richmond.
The Monitor and Galena are among the vessel.
on Harrison's Bar The movements of the Mon
ltor are greatly admired. The improvements
p mnIcn nave been made In her turrst and machi-
merry are quite obvious. The Galena was moi 40
much injured in her Hght with Fort Darling as
was grnefaily supposed. The marks Of some Of
'ns AnoI, however, are plainly visible on her
which 10 10 par tally EMBEDDED; another went near
~ through and broke, one bali Of Il falling Off:
thlrd passed Into tie wood work but not tsrough
70. r vessel. These marks Of her fight remain
hseo u ,sn.g 70 nef upper deck thin plating has
Both the iron-clad vessels made q reconno,,.
ssnce up the James about the middle OF last week.
ou' us result was not reported
SENEGAL M'cLRLLAN's ARMY
The Federal army occaoe, the bank NJ tho
ilvef LOT several miles, extending above al well
as below RarrisOn's Bar, and the reg ular encamn-
=" ,h reach one or two miles away, according
10 the nature Of the ground The amount m Ian6
nearly covered with tents is estimated M sfteen
TO twenty square miles
mere are no new buildings. The old Harrison
.ssiGsnce mas been surrounded with two cur oIas,
ana II 10 now used both as hospital ana "a fhs
headquarters Of McClellan's signal corps n is
wen situated for the latter purpose an II ia in
view OF nearly the whole Of the army, a. well an
The officers and soldiers In spite Of the recent
feverses, are enthusiastic and believe thew are IN
incceed at an early day. No demoralizatisn
Whatever exists An order for an advance AT any
ZINE nenceforth would be obeyed with the az.
most aiacrityi but 10 Ii believed that the line Of
Ine James river, % that the aid of the punboats
may De obtained, will be the new line OF march
TO Richmond ' VI A0@H
-, Nearly all the war material Of the army is on
tne vessels which lie in the river; and only such
portions as are wanted for use are landed The
supplies are very great Ao
Reinforcements In men are constantly arriving
On the ON and 9TH insts. four or i've Thousand
men arrived; on each day thereafter, while the
maze remained, transports were coming In loaded
DANG ERs OF NAVIGATING TIE JAMES RIVER
me attacks OF the rebels along the line of the
1ames flver on our vessels are very frequent The
nature or the benks, which are often thiciIv
wooded, and cut out In high bluffs, render these
OI ssa comparatively safe and effective. A
whole regiment could In some places be Stationed
entrely out OF sight and within a few rods NJ
where vessels are Obliged 10 pass
. Suer las, with rides In their hands are nsHinc
ne navigation Of the river very dangerous, OF
'eis at the several points W.