Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-09


Enemy--They Don't Celebrate Ihe
| Fourth.
Special to the New Ysrk Times.
HEADQUARTERs Dept OF VIRGIEIA AND
NORM CARoLISA, In The FIELD.
Save national salute At high noon,
which was made peculiar and emphatic by
the use of shotted glns trained upon rebel
defences, independence Day came and
went with few outward signs to mark it
from many others which have been dis
tributed during the last two weeks through
the calendar of the Union armies on the
south side of the james river. But the
| fires OF patriotism burned not less hercely
because they bursted out into brilliant py
| rotechnics. The stirring memories of the
DAY made themselves known through the
sense OF feeling rather than sight. IL was
impossible to move, yesterday, along the
| lines of the grand army, from the james
river on the right to the Weldon railroad
on the left, without being infused with its
animating spirit-without realizing its ALL
pervasive state of strong hope, earnest
faith, unfinching courage and indOmitable
perseverance. These are the qualities
which actuaIe and inspire the noble SOL
diers who are here in arms tor liberty and
their nations lite. Not di5comfOrting heat
and dust, not oeaseless toll in trenches,
not long and wearisome marches; not
unexpected delays and discontinue
impinging upon defeat not any one of
these, nor ali combined, can diminish the
ardOr of their patriotism. They will go on
battling for the right, until everywhere the
myrtle wreath shall be displaced by the
laurel crown. And the day of victory ap-
proaches. Signs of hope and promise are
abundant. There is sublime confidence felt
on all sides in the successful result OF the
campaign Would that might give the
reasons upon which this faith is based, as
then the veriest doubter must surely re-
joice at the encouraging prospect. But
publication now would imperil success. /
can only plead tor continued Patience.-
Trust with perfect trust in the army and
its leaders, and bide the "gnod time COM
ing" The plans now in operation may
not reach fruition in one week from now,
nor in two, but before the 3lst day OF July
expect Joyful news and glad tidiugs. Ye
gold gamblers, who for gain make mer-
chandise of the nations troubles, your time
is short. Sell eagerly aud at once your
last dollar mythical though the coin may
be, while the price still rules high. There
will be "tumble' soon, like that of Mag
ara. Ifno uutoward circumstances irus-
trate the Intentions of Lieut.. Gen. Grant.
As regards the weather, the day WAS
somewhat capricious. The sky, at day
light, was overcast with dark clouds, that
promised LOGGED for and much needed rain.
A few great drops even fell with "A cheer
full splut into the deep and almOs. lmpaiPa-
BILE dust of the roads and camping grounds,
and were welcomed as harbiugers OF CRATE
full showers soon to follow. But Jupiter
G,L nd n1ty pla vRN
our hopes and fears until 10 O'Clock, when
he gathered up his vapOry garments and
departed, leaving frey Old Sol once more
monarch of the empyrean. But Boreas, in
kiudlest mood, blessed US with his presence,
sending throughout the day breeze that
swept over the wide parched plains, and
rushed refreshingly through uPraised tents
soughiug through the pine woods, aud
tempering the sultry heat OF tue trenches.
This period OF release from what seems
to be here the normal condition OF torrid
heat, must however, have been special
dispensatiou for the Fourth. To-day we
have returned to the Old state OF blistering
holiness, which makes breathing almost an
impossibility.
To our thunderiug salute, with sbotted
guns, the rebels made no reply-a piece OF
good taste for which they are entitled to
credit. Having. disowned their country,
of course it was impossible for them to sa-
Lutte her flag, aud themselves OF their own
choice being hagIess and uationless, they
kent solemn silence. In their ranks, doubt
less, are maay men who would willingly
have participated in the natal day oil the
nation which they have been delud.d into
disowning, bat the path OF desertion 10 the
only way at present open for their return
to allegiance, and that is a path fraught
with difficulty and danger. There are ma
ny rebels, however, who willingly incur
this risk TO be once more under the pro-
lection OF the Stars and Stripes. From 10
front of Gen. Buffers lines alone the nY'
erage number ot deserEions are ten day
or three hundred month-an enormous
number when it is considered that there
is not more than one division (Pickett's)
holding the enemy's entertainments at this
Doint. These desertiOns are made too 10
the face of q general order, in which the
rebel commanding officer falsely asserts
that Gen. Butler cOnscripts every mau who
comes across 10 his lines. One OF the most
significant indications Of the rottenness Ot
rebellion from the first has been the per-
sisteuce OF its leaders in downright lying.
A cause which has to be bolstered thus Is
surely doomed to fall. ---rs-
From Gen. Smiths front, which opens
more directly on fetets :" CI"u "J
other on the line, the national salute was
fred from 3O-pouod ParrOtt guu, which
at the same time gave the recusant inhab-
itauts of the ..Cockade City" thirty four
lessons 10 couchology, at the rate OF one
every two seconds. II isto be hoped That
these thick headed and obstinate scholars
will profit by such angry teaching
Alter the big rife gun had formally
made its devoirs, it united With all tue
rest OF the artillery-of calibre both small
aud great-in sPiteful salvo, aimed at
one particular aud devoted steePle on the
outskirts of the town. But when the blast
was over, the steeple, though riddled Win
out doubt, still lowered as proulIy as
before. The noise aud shock Of the can
non AZ they Numbered from the heights
- ...I.S- f.n,., the ralIer heloW. was