The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-05
FROM GIN. PARLIAMENTARY.
Special Correspondence Of the Evening Post.
MAR RrcHuoNn fnno On 1890

| Special Correspondence Of the Evening Post
NEAR RICHMOND, June 20, 1862.
! The rebel line Of defence and ours of attac
have almost wholly changed. Instead of hold
ing the Chickahominy as the base of operations
that stream has been almost wholly forsaken
and our troops have edged themselves into tn
enemy's country above the great White Oa]
Swamp, and between it and Richmond, alto
gether On the other side of the river, until
line is formed almost at right angles with tn,
river.
The majority of our troops are across the riv
err, and there is but one thing to fear from the
present position. The river is not p!easan
thing to get over, and there is no apprehension
that the rebels will attempt to cross it; bu
they may cross at Meadow Bridge and com,
down near Hanover Court House, if force suf
fciently strong and daring could be detached
! from the front of Richmond for the purpose
Such movement would do US more serious
damage than the sudden raid of Stuar. and hi
handful of gallant rebels did.
THE NEW DISPOSITIONS.
Our extreme left wing is now more supported
and the presence of our cavalry and few more
expeditions like the successful one made by
Capt Gregg to Charles City Court House will
deter the rebels from sending out any guerrilla
bands in this direction, and certainly there
seems to be no proof that the enemy intends to
make any serious attempt to flank US, although
each day, for nearly week past, has witnessed
feints in this quarter. Yesterday two brigades
drove in ou- pickets, in their evolutions thro'
the open field and woods adjacent, but retired
as soon as they discovered that we were pre-
pared to receive them.
In the centre of the space between the two
armies which is occupied by the picke:s, is
very pleasant forest, not wholly unsuted to
free fight, and affording excellent opportunity
for skilful maneuvres and shade from the Sun.
Most of the forests, if not swampy, are the best
camping grounds, and no one will be surprised
to know that the Southern army is almost Who'll.
Iy encamped in the woods.
At the right, in front, the country rises grad.
ually until it meets the high land on the Chicka.
hominy, opposite New Bridge, affording good
site for rebel Notifications This high land is
not wholly in the possession of the enemy, how
ever, for two divisions of our army have serious
ly encroached upon it, and the pleasant and
healthful forest camp-grouRd, is thus shared in
part with some Virginia, Alabama and Georgia
regiments. 1t is chiefly at this point that the
between pickets and the frequent ex.
change Of newspapers takes place. General
Smiths Division is noted for similar occurrences
at Warwick, and very many anecdotes are told
of the bantering of the "l02d" Vermont and
the Tenth Georgia
EXCHANGE PAPERS.
The Vermont Brigade is as apt at Joke as in |
. shot at chicken or stray rebel; but Gen. |
Smith has put veto upon these pastimes be.
fore breakfast, and we shall no longer have
regular rendezvous at the big shady tree in the
open pot for paper flags of truce and the ia
est news" from the rebel capital. For the sol.
1iers this interchange of com pliments was very
we'll, but it was much better for the rebel off.
,ials, who, no doubt laughed in their sleeves at
me small price they were paying for the regu-
ar and fullest news go conveniently obtained
rom all parts of the country.
These pastimes were carried on to a much
greater extent few weeks ago than now and,
before the thing got out" kind of contra.
'and commerce was kept up under the paper
nag OF truce blockade. One day, after the
Usual exchange, it was found that one soldier
lad Richmond Dispatch, but we had no New
OK or Baltimore papers to exchange; and,
which was most provoking, the fellow who had
ust appeared with the Rebel paper declared that
I. was two days later than previous advices.
nd, in fact, was dated only the morning pre-.
lous. ....
Whatl you take for it? I'll pay you in
money" said one of our men.
Your moneys counterfeit !" replied the
Rebel -r.s...
our paper isn't dated yesterday! |"
Yes, tits, n I'll take tifty.cent Richmond
hinplaster for it." .
haven't anything but Confederate bonds"
They amt worth picayune |"
Here the truce was likely to end, when the
Ilabamian again aceosted us, and we finally got
be paper. 49,
THE REBELS AT MEcHANIcsvILLE.
Opposite Mechanicsville the Rebels never ,
eemed to be in much strength, although their !
lumber fluctuated Their forces occupied the t
FOODS in front, until the removal of the greater
art Of our troops across the river led them to i
ccupy point at the fair ground and between t
and the line of our troops, on the railroad and I
cross to New Bridge. 4
PROSPECTS.
The bridges are all rebuilt, the swamp cordu. I
Dyed, the river has subsidized within its banks. I
nd the roads are all hard. Everything indi.
stes readiness for operations; but Generals -.
,em to like to play with the feelings of those
no come to look on +; and it appears to me as
these roads and bridges were not the roads !
I'd bridges for which we were waiting. The i
ebels expect US to "shovel" into Richmond I
we did at yorktown; but that is no longer
lr programme. No one doubts General NJ. :,
lellsn's ability to occupy Richmond at any hour
chooses; and the Rebels are greatly sur.
Used and puzzled that be does not but be c
'efers to let the whole available force of the /;
ebels occupy the city before be attacks il. :
What is really to be feared-and it will Give !.
tile comfort to the Rebels to tell them soo;. .