The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-07-21
THE WAR NEktS

WITH the exception of vague report.
which we could trace to no authentic
source, that sharp fight took place on
the lines In front Of Petersbury on Tues
day evening, We heard nothing in the
shape OF a rumor during the day. Such
"a period OF quiet in the midst of a cam
paign which began with 50 much yigor
and excitement constitutes an an anon
ally in the history of warfare; but it may
be the calm which prccedes the storm,
and ere many days elapsc the din OF
deadly conflict may break the monotony
which now prevails. This morning ush-
ers in the anniversary Of the first battle
of Manassas. 1t would be 4 striking
coincidence if the day should be signal
lied by the advance of contending hosts.
II such an event were to occur, il would
result, by coincidence still more strik-
ing, in the complete rout Of the enemy
II is stated that large numbers of Yam
kec transports are still moving up the
bay in the direction Of Washington, but
we hardly think that any more TROOPS
are being taken from the army on the
south side of the James.
FROM PETERSBURG.
BY the Petersburg train last eyeslng
We learned that 50 far from truth was the
report that a sharp fight took place Oh
Tuesday evening, everything at the front
was remarkably quiet. There was not
even the usual amount of Smelling, NOR
tar or picket firing. All along the lines,
from our extreme right to the river, for
hours at time there could only be heard
an occasional explosion, and the quiet
was 50 unusual rs to cause general com
mcnt in Petcl sburg. The few shells
that have b.en thrown at the city for
two or three days past have produced
10 damage to property, and Inflicted no
Injury upon persons. Some erlatic III
dlyidual accounts 10, the appalcnt inac-
tlVity OF the enenly by saying that he. Is
inluatiiously pushing forward a Grand
plot tor undel mining the t0ckadc City,
which Is to be blown up as by 4 tfe-
mcndous blast from the Internal e@ioit3"
a scheme, it will be admittea,sto which
the famous gunpQwder plot Of Guy
fawkes bears no sort OF comparison
The EtpreSS briefly alludes to these re
ports, and says they occasion no sort OF
uneasineSS. Grants position is not 4
favorable one iOr successful operations
OF this kind, and the effort would be but
Il wa.tc OF time and labor. lie cannot
80 many feet below the surface OF The
ground before he strikes a stratum OF
mail, and there he finds watel to impede
his progress. We consider the idca al
together too absurd for serious consider
alton.
Prisoners taken on Tuesday deny the
report OF the death of Grant The story,
however, was reiterated by u Coniede-
cate officer who came over last evening,
anl We hear that it was asserted at Gen.
! pickett's headquarters on the authority
of the Washington chronicle, but still
We do not believe it,
We learn that the New York He,atd
of the 18th, makes no ailusion to the
death OF Gen. Grant. The report is
! probably without foundation.
| Nothing OF Importance occurred on tn,
lines yesterday, and the situation at Tia,
| front is in every respect unchanged.
! IMPORTANT FROM TIE VALLEY THE ENEM,
! ROUTED AND DRIVEN ACROSS TUE SHE
NANDoAH.
The prevailing dullness was relleve'
| last evening by cheering news from tn
! Valley of Virginia An official dispatch
received yesterday afternoon at the Wa
Department, states that large force o
Yankees crossed the Shenandoah rive
at Smokers, on the 18th. At 3 o',locl
p. NJ. they were attacked and driver
! across the river in confusion. Our los
is stated to be between two and thre
| hundred; that of the enemy mucl
greater.
| Smokers Ferry, where the Yankee
forces crossed the Shenandoah ,, is ii
Frederick county, l5G miles from Rich
mond Snickcrsviilc, which, from
similarity of name, may be supposed t
have been the scene OF the light, Ii II
the western part OF Loudoun county
and adyantageously situated al the bas
Of the Blue Ridge Mountain. A gool
turnpike from Winchester to AleXandri
passes through it, and intersects at til
former place with one from Washingto
to Winchester, which passes throug
Leesburg. 1t wasby one Of these road:
doubtless, that the enemy expected t
! advance and strike our forces in tn
rear, but the moysment was happily al
ticipated. Hunter has again come I
grief, and would save his future reputa
ton by resigning his commission.
A letter from one OF Mosby's gallal
| troaAere saye that the t'paiun INTO Mar,