New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-08
City Poini.
From Our Sp"oss Couesponden'.
HFAnqDxKIBRs AsNI OF IBF POTOMAC !
BRroEE PKIERsBgRG, Va, July q, lo<i.


Still no rainl Every afternoon, the clouds
gathering IN dsrk masses in the West encourage de-
nsive hoFes Of oupioas supply Of tie aqueous fluid
but night coes and wares wito q, bringing the longed
for ooudescensioD. Ibe-run. blesred and dimmed by
thick suocatiug crnas Of dust looks down upon vese'
tation parehed viii cred and dropping In the heated
stmospbsre-upon everything snimGte or inanimate.
but all enveloped In piquitus drst The men hing IN
the trenches opposite tho city although sharing the
deadly peril Of shat aud she probably suer less IRON
the dus, and heat tran th,ss whose duties rail them
toward tie roar Excavations in the sides Of earth
work., aud shelters formed by pieces Of canvas or pine
horgls serve ~ pro,oci tho ffom the seorchinf
rays of the sun and although within IN nnpehsanJy
close proximity 20 Rebel shrpsbooters. they manage "a
pass time by dulging IN social games With their CON-
fadea or by doing away IN bcif coTrrts, many
weary hour But tae Intelligence OF suspicious move.
euts ou the part of the enemy Is always sure 70 find
them prepared for stack or dofeDse. Inc Keen con-
sciousnes Of their perbus position renders them wal
and vigihnt and al the first alarm no matter at what
hour In The tweDty-four 1t may sour. every Den is
found in hi, place.
Of afsira II lie not unfrequepy the case that hesSy
and artillery lire bursts nut 1T sUIne stil hour
OF the night, startling every une within hearing and
leading 10 the belief that we are sustaining tremen'
dons attack But the elArn IA usually causeess one.
ard the result Of disordered brain on the picket
line which sees In every innocent stump and bush le-
lion Of advancing "Jobnnies." Everything moment
before vas profoundly quiet As the night depens the
crack OF the sharpsbOoters rife gradually dies away,
until with TIE exception 81 the farof booming OF
great gun on the right az intervals VI half an hour
through The night deep hush steals over tho two ar
mics Suddenly the pop Of single rife % the picket
iine, another nnd another and then q voley followed
for several minutes by the incessat peal VI ousselry
moment after and the Of greet guns Is added 10
hs roll Of Ina.etry Al ever N rev. y. moments n
mary one the firing dies away and the men again drop
YEARLY IN the enehes e. doEe and ~ sat 10 their feet
y, the next signal OF DANGER These alqrms are Tost
frequent where the lines separated BY only few
rods ard where not the utmost vigilance eIer'
eised few moments time would suffice for the achieve
lnsnt Of .ucesss sOr either party ,,,,s.
Penderee passed of 9uietly, and with no Imposing
demonstrators a nafionai salute wss fired during
the day along Butler. line which met with no response
fon the enemy. battery Of PARROT guns stationed
near Gcn. Smiths headquarters ut doom opened tie
salute dropping az intervals of minute opound
shell into Petersburg until every state had been repro
ssnted The only visible result OF the salute ves the
raising Of VAT cloud OF smoke and dust over the streets
Of the town.
The various hospitals received extra attention from
the Commissions the FOURTH who distributed besu'i
fully canned fowls and lemonade among The SICK and
wounded in addition 20 their usual Issues Of pickles.
oniors jeIles cake, wines &C. Never until cow have
our soldiers fully appreciated the beneaetions OF
thcss noble societies; aud the fact that considerable
amount u sanitary stores found their way 10 the men
In the trenches should not detlact from their merits.
when II Is known that everything within the scope v'
their shilty done.
The report that communication r. completely severed
between Petersburg and Richmond Is Incorrect 81.
though Il Il doubtless somewhat interrupted. Several
batteries command the road certain pone but trains
sl run rregulsrys the long range rendering tie run
ming Of the Blockade comparatively safe Most OF the
trains however, pass through during the night On
The afternoon If the 9Th last Rebel train consisting
OF fourteen cars loaded with troops and having cat
terry on board. moved from Petersburg toward Rich
ulOnd successfully running the gauntlet Of O mortar
battery smiths bne. Understanding the Importance
Of rtaining possession Of this railroad, tie enemy have
probably taksn egeiy precaaton to guard agains On
attack part
The irrepressbe suter again AZ the front dispensing
bis stoIcs At the beginning OF the campaign many Of
these industrious and dsinterested characters follow cd
IN tho wake u Grants army In order ~ seize the rst
lrcd interval On recOmnence Oper5tUns bat 50 restless
was the army and eo rapid its m0vements thgt they
were unable prosecute their vocation. Many spp4'
reny became thoroughly dsgusted With tie Lieutenant
General whose activity did not ct all conform 70 their
notions OF campaigning, and they lei the army
and while tie army lies quietly In front OF Petersburg.
no scarcity OF suffers need be a,pTehendei.
But little artillery firing has oceuIred for three days
past although moderate pekefrtnx is still kept up on
the right Or batteries generally occupy commanding
positions. AMI usually succeed Ia sencng the guns OF
tie enemy Of and around Por. Clifton which 10 being
strengthened nightly.
City Point has assumed al aspect OF businesslike
buste and activity. Trains OF loaded With CON-
misssry stores are runniag 20 the Uat tugs prope..
ers schooneFc steamboats, and water er OF every de-
scriptioD are anchored at tie wharf bUsy plying up
sad down the river. Eating saloons. oaTber-shofs.
paper stands Photograph galleries have been estab-
shed and there every Indication Of protraced oc-
euPation o! that point a. a base. &c. o.