Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-01
War News.

an important bridge and four miles of
railroad track near Walthall junction on
the Petersburg and Richmond railroad.
Early's (late Longstreet's) corps crossed
the James river near Drury's Bluff in
strong force, and was seen coming down
the Petersburg turnpike as Buffers forr
ces entered the works.
OUR LOSSES HEAVY.
Up TO Saturday night we had taken
81 pieces of artillery and some 1900
prisoners before Petersburg. Our losses
are reported as high as 5000 up to Sat
urday night, since crossing the James,
The enemy were behind intrenchments
and lost less. Their works are Of the
strongest character, and our men had TO
get at them exposed to a cross fire from
batteries SO as to sweep the entire space.
The heaviest fighting occurred on the
right centre, where each division OF the
I'd corps at different hours charged the
rebel works in front, but without sue
cess.
RICHMOND VIEW OF CHANGE OF BASE.
Says the Richmond Sentinel of the
18th: "Grant is not only whipped, but
confesses it. A little while ago he said
he would fight it out on the Fredericks-
burg line if it took him all summer. He
has since skunk away from Lees front
several times, afraid TO fight him. He
humiliated himself to look for McClel-
lan's track on the peninsula, but was not
able to gain bis position. He changed his
base to the White House, and is now
hunting for the James. What is the
matter with the man? Why does he run
about in this manner? Mcclellan, in bis
adversely, praised the james; Grant,
who has spent eighty thousand men to get
to the James, may also think it beauti-
full river; but the world will understand.
Grant may annoy US from the James, but
is not dangerous there. He has been
playing lion; be may turn gallinipper ;
be may raid upon water tank, and be
may capture barn-a pig-sty; but he
cannot take cities. We have gates upon
the James that he cannot carry and can
not pass. Grant, in short, lays down his
high ambition, consults his safety, and
aims at small enterprises. The man Of
destiny proclaims bis failure to the world.
Who comes next in regard ?"
BEAUREGARD COMMANDS AT PETERS
BURG.
Beauregard commands the defenses of
Petersburg in person, and he has, un-
doubtedly, been reinforced from Lees
army, to the extent of detachments from
Longstreet's, EwelPs and other corps
The works are Of the strongest character,
and nave been constructed under Beau
regards own direction. He now super>
intends their defense, and will doubtless
exercise all his skill in retaining posses
sion of them. During Gen. Birney's
movement, on Saturday, the formidable
character of the intrenchments was fully
developed, and the fact, also, that the ar
tillery manning them was of heavy cali
Der. In order to approach them an ex-
tensive field has to be traversed, which is
covered by guns SO placed as to deliver
most withering cross-fre.
GOV. WISE IN CHARGE OF THE MILITIA.
Gen. Henry A. Wise commands the
Virginia militia at Petersburg. He is
sued an order on the 18th, complimenting
his troops for repelling the first attack of
Kautz's cavalry, in which we recognize
his ancient rhetorical exuberance, thus:
"Let the reserve and second class mill
tia of the surrounding counties now come
in promptly, one and all, and emulate this
bright and successful example-letit it hiss
to blood red shame the laggards and slug
CARDS from the streets and alleys Of the
city to the lines; and let it proclaim
aloud that Petersburg is to be, and shall
be, defended on her outer walls, on her
inner lines, at her corporation bounds, in
every street, and around every temple of
God, and altar Of man in her very heart,
till the blood of that heart is split
Reused by this spirit to the pitch of les
olution, we will fight the enemy at every
step, and Petersburg is safe"
GEN. TERkY's RAID ON THE RAILROAD.
The raid of Gen. Terry on the Peters
burg and Richmond railroad was under
taken in consequence of the discovery
that the rebels had withdrawn from their
works in front of Bermuda Hundred
1t was bolder affair than our men knew
at the time, and Gen. Butler would not
have ordered it if he had had the least