New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-04
NEWS OF THE DAY.
THE WAR.


Yesterday was day of intense excitement 1t
has had few equals in this country. The ambiguous
atterances Of the morning papers-he sulen silence
of the Government-the evident restraint Of CON-
ment-the il.concealed anxiety of those who ought
to be ct sa.e-tbe imperious call for men-the er-
ratio movements of cabinet otcerstbe resveness OF
the people under all this apparently designed mys-
ti6cations conspred to raise fever In the public
mind Of unequaled fervor. We were called upon,
early in the morning, to give an extra in edition, dis
patch from Fortress Monroe of most unsatisfactory
character. II represented that gunboat had ar
rived from the scene of action yesterday Monday
ten miles above City Point" it went on 10 say that
"tlat division Iwhat division had fought four
DAYS, and retreated II miles" If "that division
was . portion of McClean's right wing, the IL
miles is essly understood. The dispatch jumps at
once to the fight Of yesterday Monday, and says
it was terrific, the enemy having three to one-the
DID, old story. 1t begun by our land forces who
fought four hours; then our gunboats got in range,
and gave the Rebels much troube they stood it for
two hours and then retired. Then we are told that
our men took many cannon and 1900 prisoners
among them Gen. Magruder Most excellent news,
If true.) All this took place at Turkey Creek, bend
or bridge about 10 miles above City Point Seven.
teen miles of retreat from this place would
bring our army down to the place
Harrisons Bar-where Mcclellan had bis headquar-
tiers tso says later Dispatch on Tuesday But then
the Fortress Monroe correspondent abruptly adds
that "tbe retreat of the Rebels last evening that's
Monday was with great disorder, and their loss has
been very heavy, much greater, il is thought, than
ours But he adds that nothing definite known about
Losses And be Immediately adds, with sublime dis
regard of time, place or continuity, that Mcclellan
had 70 spike his siege guns and leave them on1he
Geld the nature of the ground rendering their re-
moval impossible.-Upon this mess OF nDinteligible
stuff, the public left to rumnate until late in
the afternoon. There was almost universal
gloon. Now and then eredulous believer
in the immaculate talent Of great man,
would orscularly pronounce "all rightonly keeping
back the good news for the 4th Of July BIZ, his
followers were few and far between; even he
ardent hope which has SO long sustained us tagged,
and was fast giving way 10 despair-From this
thickening gloom the city was partially reused az
3oclock by dispatch hsiling from Washington
reading as follows: "a dispatch from Ger. McCle,-
Ian, just received at the War Department, dated
From Berkeley, Harrson's Bar, July .. $50 p. H.,
statss thsshe has succeeded in getting his army to that
place, the banks OF James River, and has lost but
gun, which had to be abandoned last nigh, Tues
day) because it broke down. That an hour and half
ago the rear Of the wagon train was within mile
Of the camp and only one wagon abandoned; that
we had a severe battle yesterday Tuesday; that
we beat the enemy badly, the men fighting even
better than before; tina, all the men are in good
spirits and that the re-enforcemcns from Washing
ton have arrived" 1t is needless to say tia, hs
brief and unsatisfactory it is gave mos, welcome
relief to million Of anxious minds. The army was
not besten-so they reasoned all wss-or would
be--right. Yet the statement Of Gen. Mcclellan
that no guns were lost was nexplcabe;
other reports, apparently truthful, said he
had les. DOZENS but this latest came from the
War DepaItmsnt--they could not deceive the people
certainly not Intentionally. SO, opinion was
rather In favor of the latest dispatch and TIE painful
Suspense Of the people was measurably relieved.
In this state Of mind the city entered upon the eve
Of the National Anniversary. But the customary
dsrity was not manifest; the evening was cold and
gloomy, and even the irepressibe patriotism Of
Young America was tame and spirtless. Our next
ts!egrsphic advices, 10 order Of date, are from
Fortress Monroe, July 2, iudorsed, "By Mail to the
Associated Press" The reports from the army by
this correspondent to Tuesday, inclusive. Tha,
was the Gxth day Of continuous fighting all along
our lnes-s fight that for desructvene.s of life has
no parallel in history. Our killed, wounded, and
missing arc estimated at $1,000 to 10000 This let
ter denies the loss of the siege guns, stating that
nearly oil were brought safely of. Gen. Mcclellan
and his staff agree that the army hes 70. into much
better position by the great movement. Some
Of our regiments have suffered terribly; Tor in.
stance. the 9Th New-York lost 800 after
most heroic fighting. The enemy everywhere on.
numbered US they bad ls5, 600 effective rr4u-uo.
Clsllan not more than $1,000. Next we had y di,.
patch from Baltimore but it is suppressed at he
dietstion Of Mr.. Ssndford, Military Supervisor Of
Islegrsphie Dispatches. From other sources We
learn that Gen. ShieldS's army went up James
River on Tuesday to reinforce Mcclellan.
Our Washington dispatches state thu. a
cavalry ofhcsr from Fredericksburg reported heavy
cannonading heard all day on Wednesday, iu The
direction Of Richmond; that at night the sky was
strongly illuminated with lurid light, and on Thurs.
Gay yesterday morning. thers was dense smoke to
.As south, ~ from some grea, conAsgraticn The
death OF 6tooswall Jackson and also of Gen. Barn
" ell Rbst Of South Carelina is announced in a
Richmond paper. From this sketch Of the days
0ispstchss, and from the letters Of orr cor.
respondents elsewhere printed, the reader
can got oil The Light available to the
public in regard 10 the great contest before Rich
ynond. But the manner in which information bss
besa conveyed, and the hss:sncy on al sldss stopt