The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-26

Tie situation in font of Petersburg is unchanged.
Some skirmishng and good deal OF picket firing
continue right the lines being very near to
each other, and the temptation TO take occasional
ehot at the Yankees irresistible. On Wednesday
there was some caunonading all day the left and
centre. and in the afternoon the city was brslly
shelei Is the cucmys batteries near ;he river.
This was the first regular sht4ling OF any conSc-
qucncc for several weeks. The only damage to pro-
perty the partial burnng OF small tenement,
and the only casualty the killing of a negro i'll the
lower part OF the city The canuonadins tho left
kept up with occasional interulissiOns, until
lat, hour OF the night
As We stated yesterday, the authority Of re-
ports brought by scouts, but a comparatively
small loazth of the track of the Weldon railroad
has b2cn ;0Tn up. II is believed that the road
has not been destroycl as far as Reans's station
and that the rails, instead Of being heated and
twisted, SO as 10 render them unfit for further
are being hauled away fast they taken up
The impression also prevails 10 some extent tla
the enemy intends to preserve the road intact tor hi
own use, IN case OF the evacuation OF Petersburg
and Richmond-an event 50 tar in the future thai
Grant may rs well secure lie lease on his position
between Esams's station and Daytss farm, ana vii
! it to his heirs and assigns.
| The euemy's position on the railroad mas not hce:
materially altered, ami he is closely watched by
the experienced eyes Of skiiliul generals, ana con
| lrouted at every point by troops, no can move
TO farther without endangering his safety. If any
| farther movement IS intended 1t will occur in th'
| shape ot raids, which have been already foresha
| dowei 10y hints in the Yankee newspapers. We ar
not aware Of the future plans of our commandin!
1 - jIy41
| by good judgment and carried out with success.
Prisoners report that Grant, Meade, and all th
prominent Yankee generals with the arm,
south of Petersburg, hltsly inspecting and notin
the advantages of the new position Prisoners an
deserters brought i'll daily.
Nothing OF Importance occurred on the line
south of Petersburg yesterday; but the Indication
are that We shall have stirring news from tha
quarter before many days e!apse.
| SKIRMISII NEAR CHESTER STATION.
| The euemys line of pickets IN front of Chester
| on the Richmond and Petersburg railroad, al
tackled yesterday morning by General Pickett
command and driven IN. Some sixty OF seyent
prisoners We're captured ON loss wa small.
FROM THE VALLEY.
| An official dispatch from General Early,
Charlestown, states that he has pressed the enen
| back II IfaTpeT's Ferry.
We have received some gratifying particulars
the recent engagement near Winchester The To
| Vi the enemy WAS complete, equallInE, II II did II
sur1ass III. stampede trvfl kelustown a few wee,
since. The enemy had III the fight about Gag
thousand cavalry, and some 1OUr thousand Or i.
. thousand infantry, whluh was the rear guard
then main army, the latter being III tuli retreat
| winds the Potomac After the affair 1t Front Roy
| cur army pushed Oh, and coming up with the IL
guard at Winchester, were, tor a shoit time, held
| bay by their artillery, and suffered some little L.
but nothing could withstand the yalor oI our trOcl
| and with a veil they charged the enomy, Who bro
| ana ran IN the widest coniu-IOn
They were pursued Tor several mites beyond WI
| chester when darkness compelled General Fatty
ell off his men and allow them 10 rest. The IL
morning the pursuit was recommended, but
> | enemy had taken advantage OF the darkness ii
| gotten too far in advance TO be Overtaker.
We got about two hundred and fifty prison
| and one piece of artillery, besides q number
a. ! horses, and any quantity OF small aims, dotMl
&C. which the enemy in their fright threw away
n But very few of the enemy were killed or wound
-, and our entire casualties did not exceed fifteen.