New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-18

army Of the Potomac now spread across the wooded,
swampy, drery Peninsula. rode miles to-day
along the line. The wonderful adaptation Of our
soldiers to circumstances WISE TO be seen on all hands
Patches Of wood Of acre or two had been cleared
OF the small trees for the encampment Of regiments
and these occurred at regular intervals, and gener.
lilly near stream; though as for water, it was
everywhere; bowers, tastsfuy laid out and deco
rated, marked every spot. Groves Of small pines,
growing on all hands, supplied the abundant mate
rial. Not unfrsquently taste and the rules of land
scape engineering were observed in manner that
would have pleased the eye of an artist; and in
nearly every case there minging of utility and
adOrnment seldom met with in the Slave States.
The front line of the corps less than mile from
the Rebel line. The Warwick River, 30 called only
at times separates our pckets, who frequently hold
conversations across. "Whst regiment DO you
belong tot" shouts one picket "The 7th Geor.
gs, is the response what regiment do you belong
and we're going TO whip you like II" is the reply.
liz CAMP, Kzrxs's CoRP. PENINSULA, Va, April H. 1902
The enemy in the vicinity Of Lees Mills, for the
last few days. have been busy though precisely
what they have been up to is not fully known 10 yet
No doubt there was some particular motive for
throwing strong picket force across the Warwick
in the fac of our men. The fact Of the enemy thus
crossing ard recrossiDg would seem TO afford ground
for the inference that the river is not reality utterly
impossible, and that we might 60 over as well as
they. Yesterday their picke1 drove ours Tor some
sixty yards, but the ground was speedily regained
by our troops, who were surprised.
Yesterday a small Rebel gunboat came up Tor
went down. James River, and opened with its single
gun on light battery which Gen. Keyes had posted
on our left, and though its firing was brisk from
rihed 80 FOUNDER, no harm was DONE This morning
the operation Was resumed at different points along
line on James River The possession of this river
is Of the highest Importance to the enemy. The
Merrimac is the key. Hence you may rely on it
that no risks will be run with her. She will be
handled with prudence, and with reference to her
value in blockadng James River and the defense of
Norfolk. The enemy keep open chain Of COM
muujcaton with Norfolk and Richmond on our left,
and via York River and the West Park and Rich.
mond Railway on our right. BY both routes they
have been receiving reenforcements, and it is pre-
sumsd, moro and heavy guns.
We learn from prisoners that during the firing on
the 9Th by our artillery the enemy suffered good
deal in these works. The report from the same
source is that from fifteen TO twenty were killed by
the explosion Of single shell from Capt Wheelers
battery in respoDse to the shot that blow up one OF
his limbers. Our guns fred about two hundred
shots during the eannonadng.
The fine weather continues. II is more valuable
than men or money at this juncture Am happy in
being able 10 say that notwithstanding the exposure
and toll 70 which they have to such an unusual
degree been subjected for the past week. our troops
in excellent sanitary condition, tho tenants Of
the hospital being under the circumstances remsrka'
bly, few.