The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-17
IRON THt. ARMY.

The following news OF Mcclellan army is from
various let.ers dated at Harrisons Landing July
9Th
With the army everything proceeds quietly, and
were it not for the continuance of hot weather, with
i!s dehi!itatiDg effects, the men would ENJOY the
short season Of rest they secm likely TO have. The
bot sun is hard fatigue parties detailed for en-
trenchiHg or chopping causing teW eases oi sun
stroke The daily drills are so arranged as to come
off in the cool OF the day, and every effort Is made
IN saw, uhe men as much possible from unhealthy
exposure. They surely have earned the right 10
some consideration. 4 great blessing to tbs army
is the near vicinity of the James river, in whose
waters il may freely lathe
II would not be a bad idea to follow out the sug
gesiion recently made by prominent oihcer, that
the troops be marched by regiments or companies to
the river be marched in for wash bath, having
the thing so systcmatized that every regiment
should get its weekly or semweekly cleansing us
regularly il Is Obliged to 60 through drill SO
used the James would he tho best physician and
ply sic that yet have minstercd TO the health OF the
army.
The sick and wounded men. thrown by the for
tune OF war into the hands of The rebels have not
been forgotten by Gen. Mcclellan. Yesterday Il
flag Of truce was sent the lines, bearing
qnest that we be allowed 10 send hospital stores to
disabled soldiers held by them as prisoners, and
that they be accompaniment bY physicians ami surgeon
TO give the necessary treatment. II Is understood
that favorable answer returned, and that the
way is now open for The accomplishment of these
humane objects.
Our steamers have passed and repassed the river
to-day undisturbed by the tipping OF rebel she'll -
President Lincoln ja doubtless before this safely at,
and may be beyond, Hampton Roads. AIN
ed by naval officers that my opinion, expressed in
recent letter to the Times to the effect that the guns
which the rebels have fired at OR transports are
nothing more than field pieces, which not kept
stationary at any point but moved rapidly from
place to place along the banks OF the river, h:iny
occasional Shots driving at full trot back into TIE
woods to again seize opportunity tor mischief is
corrert They are thus enabled 10 eude the gun
boati and stand chance Of living to pour ont hu-
nierous rounds. But there are methods OF stopping
the continuance OF the nuisance, ana IL ID not diia
cult 20 epiploy them
The aroind usuaIly selected il biutf upon
bend Vi the river go that the vessels not only re-
ceiye brOadsde fire, but also receive IL rear hte.
The guns used six, ton, and tweiVe-Pouho"i
field pieces and can be easily transferred from one
to another earihwork or can be placed in battery
upon any favorable cninence, go that IN order 10
silence them it viii require a line OF gunboats com
manding the whole extent Of bank occupied py the
rebels.
At Ii O'Clock yesterday morning the regular mail
boat. Nelly Baker, followed by the transports
Georgis C;snonicus, ana Achilles the latter having
in tow six scsiooners loaded with forage, iet Fort
ress Monroe aud proceeded mp the James river,
destined for Harrisons Landing. When within
about ten miles Of the landing the Captain OF the
Nelly Baker was hailed by an officer from gun.
boat and informed that the rebels bad erected
battery at point u few piles in advance and that
he would be likely to hear from it. few minutes
later gunboai, which War further up the stream.
o.nmeneed sheling the woods, which were sup
posed to conceal the battery, nut isi'ei 10 -e',
response from the rebels. When the Nelly Baaer
had reached bend In the river. three iuiles below
Harrison's Landing, arfiilef'sts behind bushes ana
bseses tied 10 trees were discovered upon the East
,,,n.d nj lie river 10 wafd the landing For some
,easoa the rebels allowed ls mail boai to puss un
,asesrd hut ~ soon ~ the vessels which followed
came within rangs they opened upon tnsal WIN