The New York herald., 1864-07-17
REBEL ACCOUNTS.

tFrom the Petersburg Express, Jolly 12.l
We except the usual picket firing and occasional NOR
been quiet a. the front since our last There has not
been much Smelling during the past day as on the
several days preceding and people entertain faint
hope that Gran, has at last TO tho conclusion that
the army now confronting IT cannot bc whipped by en-
deavorirg TO frghten the and children who are
unable to leave the city.
Ruors OF the enemy's leaving we're most industrousy
circulated at early hour yesterday and repeated
through the day This is very far being
these ruors have grown out thofe s'couds dust'
about which have Of late heard much. An officer
were good reasons for believing that the enemy was
moving portion OF his forces; but that he entertans
is quite different matter. Grant is a most stubborn,
pertinacous sort OF man, and has been baed often
scarcely leave where he Is now unless forced to do sol
Pesides he finds great protection in his grnboats
the first time he has enjoyed such protection since he
coSrRAonse hts LINES
We have positive assurance that Grant has grea tly
contracted his lines After repeated efforts to extend his
left flank around TO Reams' Station he has ith-
DR. il to the east OF the rank road and several miles
TO City Point Probably he has abandoned the
idea Of crcumvaa.ng Petersburg aud Richmord for the
present not being able to command tho 12jo 600 men
which would require 10 eGecualy accomplish such an
Cannonsdiug was heard yesterday afternoon on the
eremys left but is believed to have been nothing more
than little shcling o. the woods, which the enemy have
lately infested to q considerable extent.
FRINGE GEoRGK.
We conversed with an acquaintance Yesterday wholeft
Prince George sunday but reached Petersburg mach
hau he expected greatly hss the ouemy lines
been outrsoted, lie informs that Grants army 10
stretched from his lines Immediately 10 the cast OF Peters
burg, down to City Point The reople without excsp-
tion have suffered the loss OF everything that
tribute TO the support OF ife Meat bread crops cattle
ard In Instances furniture have been taken
from them Many hitherto wealthy families of the
IL drawing rations OF hard tack and sat pork
from the Yankee Commssay, and their negroes
gagged in cooking and washing for the invaders.
Our informant states that he was told BY the Yankees
two weeks ago that they occupied Petersburg butwhen
hac m "A
that they did bold II exactly but that trey had mat
,ers anged that hey could come into u whenever
possession OF the Weldon, scuthsde and Richmond rail
roads, and had destroyed the Danve that the rebels
| would never be able 10 again operate IT..
THE SCARCITY WATER
Our informant states that but for the proximity OF the
James and Appomattcx rivers the enemy would have
been compelled to evacuatc Prince George for lack of
water The Blackwatcr entirely dry and has been fer
weeks, and all lesser in the county have
beon dry Tor much longer period.
Tho Yankees have large hospital camp about two
miles rom City Point. between tho Appomatox and the
City Point road So great has beou tine scarcity Of water
that they dug canal from the Appomaitox TO this
camp. Tney have also brought steam fire engine from
and thus supply the erea, necessity Heretofore they
have been compelled bring tho water from the
buckets ana barrels which was very tedious as we'll
ss n q I e
few cattle aud horSes. They have probably formed
! different opinion since. .
1 TFrcm the Richmond Examiner, July IL
1m WAR NEWS.
Since last issue nothing moment has occurred
( the lines about Richmond or Petersburg.
Picket GrDg In front ot Petersburg bao been kept mp
almost constantly during the past three days, with oc
casiopal artillery skifmsbipg.
reported yesterday that Grant was Withdrawing
part Of lis forces from or 'front.' at Petersburg but the
rumor seems based solely urcn conjecture We have
been unable 10 learn anything confirmation of u.
1he ana,r on our lett 81 Petersburg on frioay
evening 10 now rerreeepted BY the Petersburg pa
pcrs 80 .sskirmishnp only nothing more From
y
obteired the facts Of the "skirmish Inere was
I no assault by te enemy, and whatever bkht
there was brought by own TROOPS. About i've
O'Clock on Friday evenrn Our rope On our lett near the
the encmys works, whcorcd and yelkd and shook tbs
bushes, and created grc,t cornmotten. The enemy,
approhendng serious assault showsA tbemssves aboyr
their breastworxs and many ven1rec cDd Them SO
the lines cpcncd upoo them. They ~ driven
into their trenches but guns kept up the rse fo'
AZ hour ana q halt Tue eneray's artillery replied u
ours, snd great noise was made there was no one
hurt on sac 1his the whole affair. We MAJ
| have killed and wounded o. tho euemy, but We d
posed 10 us AZ tbis rcss negroes, who had ouy
Friday relieved The whites whs had been in the trey hs
since the beginning cf the siege.
| Thc Petersburg papers saAe that the enevIy or
suffering terr bly, for wart II water The srr rs ben
all r they depsudsnt fos their supply OF Water upo
0s hauled great dstsnces IN barrels, durng which pr,
cess ~ becomes 90 heated A. b unp.atsbls and
wholesome.
Grant s said to have soIlt an scmepss wharf. half
milo long, ~ City Point He wiz end this very useful
ne has 70 leave his present position in haste.
rheic brisk 49, yesterday IN tns divec,ic
o. Re muda Hordre6, OF which, yet, have heard
! explanation We pgelume II was the vesal haymlc