Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-08
RECONNOIsSANCE TOWARD RICH.
MOND.
Malvern Hill Rs.eccupisd-six Miles Near
er Richmond.

er htchmond.
Correspondence Philadelphia Inouirerl
liz CAMP, HARRIsoN's LANDING, Va, August
s, 1892 -When writing Yesterday morning in 20.
ference to contemplated movements, little did
we think that we would 50 soon be allowed tn
speak OF them, and that our record would he Of
80 pleasing character.
The expedition OF Monday of which the N,
lowing are the particulars, 10 perhaps one of the
most successful Of tn kind inaupurated aimee the
commencement Of the wer, a. the benefits 70 sc.
but few.
On Monday afternoon, Gen. Joseph Hooker,
with his entire Division, together with the DIyi
sion under command Of Gen. sedgwick, brig
ade OF cavalry under Gen. Peasanton, aud four
batteries, commanded respectively by Captains
Der ussy, Benson, Bramsll and Tidball, the
whole under the immediate command Of Gen
HOOKER, were ordered to make reconnaissance
towards the enemy's lines
At four O'Clock they leA the encampment and
proceeded out the Charles City road; after fol-
lowing IL few miles they struck of into the by
roads, and about ten reached Nelson's farm
where they bivouacked for the night. Early in
the morning they were again on their way and
still following roundabout way IN an hour
after this second start they find elves In the
rear Of Malvern Hill, and the Rebels there sta
TONED, thus sffectualiy getting between Rich
nond and It's protectors Judging from the pre-
parations that had been made for our reception,
II was evident that some Of their many spies
which, at all times, are believed 10 be among US
had given them the information Of our coming.
Soon after reaching our position the forces
Were formed in line Of battle. The artillery on
the ont, supported by infantry, and the cavalry
TO the left, TO do the scouting.
Soon after O'Clock the enemy opened upon US
with their Geld pieces, our forces promptly re-
| the enemy retired towards the river, taking with
them their pieces.
twas the opinion Of the commanding General
when commencing the battle, that the enemy
were in large force at this point-the nature Of
the ground and the character Of the country pre-
venting sight at their encampment, and hence
their numbers were not definitely known After
the night II was discovered that they had only
three regiments Of infantry, four pieces Of srti-
lery, and a small number OF cavalry. Toe pris-
oners taken all concur in saying that they would
have retired upon the first intimatiOn OF our ap-
proach, had they not been nom entarily expect
Ing the arrival OF Gen. Toombs and his division
Up to late hour Last night IL had not arrived
Tue Cavalry under General Pieesantou are de.
serving OF immense credit for the part they took;
| not only duriag tn time Of the engagement bat
from the start and during the entire night, they
were continually on tue 60, securing the country
In every dlIecton, ana securing most Of the pris-
oners captured, some sixty In all.
Daring the engagement We had only two bat.
| terIes engaged, Captains Benson and BramalI so
| effectively Were they managed that the infantry
were not called upon 10 fire single shot
/ The party, when they left for The Hill In the
l afternoon, TOOK with them large number Of
1 contrabands, and doubtless, ere this they have
succeeded In throwing up entertainments to q
Our gunboats too, should not be forgotten for
| during the engagement they occasionally let slip
| some few shells among them; II doing no imme-
diate damage, they succeeded In creating an i'm
mense fr!gn nj, for nothing are the rebels 30 much
afraid OF as they are OF the shells which are fred
from these same gunboats.
The non-arrivai Of Gen. Toombs with his d..
visitn is, by some, attributed to the presence of
| our gunboats. There is SUFFICIENT reason for this
l suppOsition, as there is no road not previously
occupied by us by which he could have reached
the hill, except one that runs directly along the
all the gSnboats there stationed.
| The result OF this expedition 10 gratifying In
the extreme, az II has enabled Us TO iepossess and
hold one OF me strongest positions between this
lance II not greater than Is our present position
The high and otherwise peculiar situation OF the
ground WIN enable our gun-boats to better pro.
tect US, II there asslstance 10 needed. And In al
probability, the entire army WIN occupy thai
point at no distant day, thereby be lin straighi
| lin six miles nearer the desired harss Otner
troops were sent last night to assst those already
there should they b. attacked. We omitted td
to state that our troops, In their winding way o,
Monday afternoon and mig ht, travelled some afteer
miles ere reaching the spot fer which theJ
The immense advantage eaine8, with the fev
casualties, six killed and twenty -four wounded
renders this one Of the moot brilliant Affairs OF
the aind which s hs. h,pIened, at least since ",
Of the successful accom- plishment Of this under.
taking IS due % Gen. Hooker. 'A '
i ~ The ltsIIan upefs House Of Paris wa, re-
Gently sold at auction for 1900, 600 francs NJ
Calzado, the present occupant, offered Q 500, COX
france, The position Of these rival spectators Il
sHsulst , saoq 1as, ssgsr %, ths tssssr
while NJ. Calzado has the privilege Of perform.
Ing Italian opera, without the theater.
IVA lady In this city, q teacher OF music
was called upon few days since and asked u she
usually che should be happy to have such pupils
but she could not teach young men muaic IN