The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-27
FURTHER FROM THE North.

seem TO be In trouble everywhere, Kentucky is in
danger" they say Western Virginia Ia very inse.
cure, and Pope's army Is rhipped. Gen. Corcoran
had arrived 10 Baltimore and been pnbcly received
by the (Federal) Mayor Of the city He was to ad.
dress his fellow citizens Of Irish birth" at meet
ing in Monumen. Square. "n Wednesday evening
The fact that Gen. Mcclellan was the "iast man 10
cross the Chick ahominy' the retreat Is paraled
IN the NOT thern papers. Captain Wm Clark has
been arrested in Maryland for recruiting for the
Confederate States service The following account
Of the retreat OF Mcclellan is deeply interes, ing
ia from the correspondence of the New York Ht,-
aid
M'CLEILAEs LAST CHANGE OF BASE
The correspondent dates from Headquarters
Army Of the Potomac,n August l7th, and writes g.
follows:
BY Wednesday night all requisite arrangements
were completed, and the army ready to march at
short notice 1T any time Nearly all the sick had
been embarked. and ,he rest could be disposed Of
in an hours time In the afternoon il became known
that Gen. Mcclellan hal gone down the river for
some purpose connected with the anxiousiy pect-
ed movement, and It was reported and generally be-
lieved that upon bis return Inaic ching orders would
be issued aud the line of march to be taken would
be indicated and tho suspense relieved. The
certainty which existed lis TO our destination was
rather annoying to us who had 10 make the Jour
y, *,
enemies we were To meet OF what battles had to be
fought before we were exricated from unpleas.
ant situation. The weather continued to be quite
cool and comfortable and much better for march
ing than any which had prevailed for two or three
weeks previously.
Thursday morning was pleasant and comfortable,
and nothing Of particular interes through
the day until In tho afternoon, when Gen. McCel-
Ian returned and II was soon rumorcd about that
the long-looked for time had arrived and that the
army would commence moving in few hours, and
that its destination to be Williamsburg In the
first instance 1t was believed that the army
would move by three roads, In order to get through
more rapily aud to be better prepared to meet any
attack which the rebels should fit to make upon
our columns. BY some means the general plans
intended to be pursued had become known (as
events proved0 probably it not having been deem
ed necessary TO maintain with perfect secrcsy in
regard to them as had hitherto been done.
At about six o'clock in the evening orders were
issued to the regiments and batteries comprising
Gen. Porter's corps to prepare to move imme
diately. These orders were received with cheers
by the soldiers who rejoieed at ne fernii-
nation OF their suspense and the prospect OF q
change of locality. Many Of them also believed
until the very last that it was to be an advance
towards Richmond, to cooperate with General
Pope in the reduction of the rebel capital They
could not aud would not believe that after 80
many sacrifices and the expenditure of so
many lices, ana much time labor and money,
the campaign would be abandoned and the PEE
ninsule allowed to relapse to rebel rule again
They could not realize The fact that the p7o,td Aymy
of the Potomac, odch three nonihs bst0re had CONF
menced its march mih sac high and noble hopes and
aspirations, Wih full ranks and joyous hearts 10
aoipe out the damniny record Of BaH Kun and Balls
Bluff n0r soi.h dscafed ranks and di keartened
spirifs about its steps and acithoRt
haeiny accomplished is purpose 1t true that the
army had fought well, and stood by their General
through good repor. and evil report-they had
at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks. Hanover
Court House, Gaines's Mill White Oak Swamp and
MQiV6rn 4nEhIina1 heir n,xiuA hsnp pf
glory by their danntless courage and gallant brave.
ry so fearessly displayed, often against superior
aud sometimes overwhelming numbers; and now,
that all 10 be abandoned and retrogaie move.
lnent was to be made, they utterly refused to
dit. Soon all was bRsile and excitement in the
camps the tents were struck, and the wagons
packed very rapidly. So perfectly had everything
been prepared that il took but comparatively
short time to have everything in readiness. BY .
O'Clock most OF the regiments were alleready and
waiting for marching orders, aud by 10 all the pre-.
paraiions We're made. The division OF Gen. Sykes,
which was to lead tha advance, Commenced itJ
march at about that hour This was followed by
Gen. Morrelis and Gen McCaTls divisions.
1t was nearly three o'clock on Friday morning
before all were fairly started on the march. The
sight was romantic and Interesting as tha long
at the front aud into the Charles City road their
bayonets glitterng il She moonlight az they
moved silently along. Suppressed eongratula-
tions were exchanged Il 1t we We're at length ac-
tnally leaving the conti lcted lines within which
for more than Six weeks the army had lived and
suffered diseomforts wh. Il must ever render the
recollection of the plac. anything but pleasant
satisfactory. We procee ed slowly along, and soon
the signs OF approaching lay streaked the horizon,
and i'll the light OF early lawn We bid a last fare
well To the scene of ON recent uncomfortable ex-
periences. The air WIS Gotl and healthfui and the
men generally cheerful and good natured We
reached Charles City Cvur, house at about eight
A. H. This is about five miles from Hairison's
Landing, and from it road leads to Rarrett's
Ferry. on the Chckahomiay river, near where it
eulptes into the James. To this point our ,.Rv's
march WAS intended to reach, and il WAS said to be
twelve miles distant; but my subsequent expe.
rience would seem To indicate that ii was nearer
fifteen.
The Charles City Court House, which is the seat
of government OF Charles City county, is Il very
ancient sand venerable booking one story brick
building, with two wings. The miain building WAS
used Court House, aud the wings con; ain the
jury rooms. &c. Adjoining the Court. House is ano
ther smaller building, which contained the various
county offices, and where were kept the public re-
cords OF the county These buildings have Tor some
time past been used rs a sort Of headquarters for
one Of our cavalry regiments on duty III that vicn-
ity. The records aud public documents which
were kept in these buildings extended back for
nearly two hundred years, and must have been OF
very great Importance to the inhabitants and Piol
erty owners of the county. These had been pulled
pieces and scattered all about the buildiu KS and
the adjoining grounds Great confusion mus. arise
from this wsntOn destruction Of valuable papers,
and litigation in the future be largely Increased
thereby. By such conduct friends and foes ate in
jured indiscr,ninately and without auy accompany
ing advantage to compensate for the injury inflicted
Here also Ii the county jail, which had not time
to examine and these, with two or three other
buildings, appear to constitute the city. It don't
take much to make city in the South. The DIV ell
ing houses appeared to have been generally desert
ed by their inhabitants
Leaving this place we moved forward slowly
and cautiously, as 1t WAS thought that beyon nd
hnrQ wa IN " frnn lla
from the enemy Previous cavalry reconnois
sance had shown no rebel force between US aud the
Chickahominy river, but ye! there was possibility
that they might attempt to annoy even it not in
force to make u serious attack. The moving
column OF soldiers, artillery, army wagons and
horses filled the road for miles as it moved aODg.-
There were not many residences along the road,
aud some Of them had been abandoned by their
former occupants The few Inhabitants who re-
manned appeared to be very mnch ttstonsLed to see
us passing in such force. They pretended to have
had no communication with their rebel friends
with Richmond for long time, and to he in COM
plete ignorance Of what had lately transplred ia the
outside world. They were very anxious to know If
II was q movement of our whole army only
portion Of j, for some particular purpose. Their
rebel proclivites caused what their caution could
not entirely disguise-the exhibition OF their re-
jocing at the thought that We were going away
although they generally made professions Of
neutrality, and denied having any part in the
war; &c. One fact is especially noticeable in Mi,
Stat0, 6uu utSc lOuilu IL dtuOSL inPutHOy WuCEC'
ever have been, and that Is the absence of all
young or middle-agsd men. persevering inquiry
will usually disclose the fact that they with the
rebel army, although most generally their friends
claim that they have been forced away under the
Conscription, volunteered to the disgrace Of
having been drafted There are to be found on the
plantations only women. old men and children
The negroes who are able to be at any service arc
also mostly gone. some having been removed down
South by their masters for safety and the balance
having sought refuge within tho lines OF our army,