The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-01

Everything continues quiet in front of Petersburg
The enemy, after ercely shelling the city on Mon
day, throwing missiles at times at the rate of one
hundred per hour, suddenly GAINED down ON
Tuesday, and during the whole day not single sle!
annoyed the inhabitants. The Express describes
the scene after nightfall ON Monday as somewha,
dangerous to behold, though in the highest degree
attractive, and approaching the sublime" We
think that is sort of Attraction" possessing few
charms, but rather calculated to create nervous
desire to get away from it by the earliest opportu-
nifty. "Away in the distance" continues the
Express, !" could be seen mortar shells ascending
and descending in every direction thicker far than
ever shooting meteors showed themselves Some OF
them seemed to ascend almost to the very regions
tho stars, and. gracefully eurying, would descend
with inconceivable rapidity, their blazing fuses
emitting brilliant light. Oths-s, less ambitious,
would shoot up an hundred or tw seet and quickl y
disappear below the horizon lighting the heavens
with the blaze of their explosions. "
All Of which makes very pretty picture ON can
paper, but rather more pleasing in the magi-
nation than in the reality. 1t is gratifying to state
that during all this shellng personal injury was
sustained, and the damage to property eompars-
lively slight.
An impression has got abroad tha. the enemy is
weakening his force on the Weldon railroad and
some have gone far to assert that he is prepar-
ing to abandon his position altogether. 1t is hardly
Necessary to state that there is no foundation what
ever for this belief. His piekets still occupy the
same position below Petersburg, and daily to be
seen short distance this side of Rearns' station.
The prospect is that the Yankees will hold the rail-
rosd until they are elected By General Lees vete-
rams
A brigade of Yankee cavalry il encamped at
Wyatt's crossing, two miles north Of Reams's and
foraging parties sent out daily. On Tuesday,
seven men, who were out on oneef these expedi-
tions, were captured by the Ninth Virginia cavalry
Hancock bids fair to outstrip all his coadjutors in
the accomplishment Of lying. In his official report
Of the battle on Thursday, while he admits de-
feat he puts down his loss at twelve to fifteen hun
dred. Now, We know that two thousand pri-
have been received here the fruits Of that
engagement, and We have undoubted authority for
saying that it took the Yankee details under flag
truce two days to complete the burial of their dead
Their losses that occasion certainly number several
thousand; but exactly how many we shall probably
never know. Stanton, taking his cue from Hancock,
asserts that the rebels have lost ten thousand men
the Weldon railroad III the last two weeks. These
enormous falsehoods doubtless made up with a
view to affect the action Of the Chicago Convention
A letter from private soldier 'in the trenches
i'll front of Petersburg says that Order 6j is pro-
ducing wholesome effect upon the Yankee troops
Deserters are daily coming III ana claiming the phi
yileges guaranteed.
WHEELER'S OPERATIONS
A report comes to ns by way OF Bristo! and Lynch
burg that Wheeler has destroyed the Loudon bridge
the Tennessee river, and succeeded IN capturing
large number of prisoners.
THE NORTHERN BORDER
A Confederate officer, just from Staunton says
that the report there when he left that
General Early gained complete victory the
enemy on Saturday last near Shepherdstown; but
Yet it lacks official confirmation.