The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-13
THIRD EDITION.
FROM the JAMES RIVER,
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OUR SPECIAL pEsPATcH.
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HEAVY FIRING IN BURN
SIDES FRONT.
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Arrival Of Deserters and Refugees,
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SCARCITY OF MALES IN RICHMOND,
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Reinforcements for Gen. Early
---4-.----~,--7-.-----s----.-.-----
NO FEDERAL PRISONERS AT
REIIE ISLAND OR IIRRY.
OUR SPECIAL DESPATCH.
Arrival of Deserters and Refugees,
SCARCITY OF MALES IN RICHMOND,
Reinforcements for Gen. Earl,
NO FEDERAL PRISONERS AT
BELLE ISLAND OR LIBBY.
Special to The Evening Telegraph.

steamer John Bro0kShas arrived this morning,
from City Point. Affairs at the front remain
much the same as at last reports with the excep-
ton that during Thuday night and yesterday
morning heavy firing was going on in Burnsde's
front. The John Brooks brought up six refugees
from Richmond, and twcnty-one desertcrs from
| the Rebel army, including Lieutenant Mix, Of
Georgia, Of the lst Confederate battalion.
The names Of the refugees are Edward Powers,
Charles Giblan, John Morris, NJ. Roach, NJ
Conway, and Peter Doyle. They left Richmond
| ON Thursday night at s O'Clock, in charge of q
| guide, to whom they paid from three hundred Co..
hve hundred dollars each in Confederate scrip for
plotting them 10 the river, and they walked
twenty-five miles, through woods, to Haxal
farm, and came out 10 gunboat, from whence
they were sent yesterday morning to City Point
in time to take the John Brooks.
They represent that there are no males (men
or boys in Richmond, except those in Govern
ment employ. The men are nearly all in the
army, eyeHto old men over ffty-flye, who form
the militia OF the State.
On Saturday last four trains Of twenty cars
rived in Richmond, bearing a body of
each IA "otersbHrg, said to be q division, aud
troops ION ''v on the Central road to re,
inforce Early in the valley.
A large body OF cavalry arrived on tne same
day, coming by railroad, and dep|'ESd i0F the
same destination.
One Of this party Of refugees worked on Belle
Island, and states that when he lett there were
but five Federal prisoners there, the others hav-
ing all been sent soqb6, to Georgia. There are
but few FcdaEaI prisoners IN Libby, in fact, none
but siG,h aud wounded are kept there over few
! days.
At the time the Danville Railroad was cut,
prisoners were made TO walk on foot some seventy
miles before they took tho railroad, aud refugees
heard the guards, when they returned, say that
| many gave out and died on the road.
There are no troops in or about Richmond,
except in the fortfcations thoseon the south side
reng fully garrisoned, while those on the north
side have barely enough men in them to keep
them in order.
One of these refugees drove baker wagon,
and says he sold loayes Of bread weighing six
ounces at one dollar, and bacon had lately fallen
in price, it being now quoted at from seven to
ten dollars per pound, instead OF from eight to
eleven.
The deserters from the army aforementioned
have belonged to different regiments, and have
left their lines al different times some as late as
Monday, LIST August inst. Most of them are
from Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, and have
not generally served over one year, but that year
has been enough.
Those from the States named above say that
there is a sort of half mutiny among the troops
Of those States, who are sick of war, and anxious
to give in. The officers, however, manage to keep
they come over to our lines that Grant will put
them in the front ranks.
They state that for long time some Of them
believed this nonsense, and were deferred from
coming over; and they are satisfied if the men in
the Alabama, Georgia, and Florida regiments
knew that they would be treated well, desortions
would be extensive.
They represent the works at Petersburg as
very strong, and do not believe that General
Grant, or any one else, can take them by storm,
but soy that had our men acted promptly when
we blew up their fort we could have entered
the town easily; but the golden opportunity is
passed, and we cannot possibly gain another op-
portunity so favorable.
The houses in the city have been pretty well
battered, and many destroyed, some of them by
fire. Nearly all the fire engines belonging to
Richmond are in Petersburg and they nave a
regularly organized fire department, composed
| of soldiers, who are ready at moments warn
ing to 20 to work and eXtinguish the fires occa-
stoned by General Grants shells.
Most of these deserters have been stationed at
the 'front.' and cannot, they say, form any correct
estimate of the strength of the Confederate force
at Petersburg, but none Of them believe that Their
entire army exceeds fifty thousand men, aud
| brigades and divisions are being sent away once
or twice every week. to other points.
Conscripts are constantly being received, how
ever, and their army may be for some time kept
up by these accessions.