Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-06-14
The One Hundred Days Men Go
ing to the Front.
Band Of the l50th Serenadss Dis
til guished 0hioans at Wash
iDgtOn.
Speeches by Secretary Chase
and others In Response.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Despatch to the Cleveland Leader.I
First Dispatch.
WAsH1xorOz, June 1882. 4

HEADQUARTERs Army OF THE POToMAC,
June l1th, 1854. !
The past few Days have been quite uu
evsntfuI to tho Army Of the Potomac
Our lines are scarcely nearer te the enemy
than was the position in the case Of th'
battle on Friday. More than week sgo
the troops on both sides, each behind theil
en- trenohments, have kept up desultory
but useless firing, just sufficient to make II
apparent that the respective works were
not vacant. Both armies, in fact, have
lsesn enjoying repOse which was needed
after the hard fighting and rapid march
ing Of three weeks campaigning.
From the banks of the Rspidsn tO.dsy
silence is even more marked than before.
The sound Of nusket has scarcely been
heard along either line. A few bursts Of
artillery and the explosions Of 8 shell or
two, high over the trees about the center
Of the line, have been the only reminders
this afternoon Of the enemy's presence.
Prom pre-, ent indications it is not likely
there will be any Sighting for several
days to come, but the storm is brewing
and may burst in q quarter least expected
By the enemy.
It is not prop:r at this time to say pre-
oisely how General Grant will attempt to
disOomht the enemy.
Yesterday an order was issued by Gen.
ersl Meade fOrbidding unauthorized com.
municstions with the enemy. The men on
both sides have been holding intercourse
with each other for tbs interchange Of
newspapers and the barter Of coffee and
tobacco. In this way great deal of mis-
chief was likely to result, as information
Of vital importance is always apt to leak
out
The opposing lines Of rife pits, it must
be bOrAe in mind, are not q hundred yards
apart, and in some parts Of the line much
closer For any portion Of the body to be
exposed the penalty is certain WOunding
if not death, but he men arc utterly
weary with loading and firing. They
have kept up this heavy
skirnishing for days and no possible ad-
vantage has been gained by either side.
Fire gradually slackeRs and officers re-
come csreless about urging the men 10
their work A tscit and magnetic shell
influences with equal power our own men
and their mortal enemies. 1t Is very
curious. The cOmbssants are entirely hid.
den from each others sight, the last shot
is fred and the lull in battle storm is per-
feotly adventurous. Spirits on both sides
cautiously raise their heads above the
esrthWorks and cry out "HoW are you
Johnny" "HOW are yOu Ysnk." The
question usually banded, "Won't you
shoot says one, mo" says the other,
Well, we won't" chims in all and imme
dislely the Psrspets are swarmed with
men wac have been concealed behind them,
out jumps the fellows from rifle pits and
putting doWn their guns stretch their
ersmped form upon the grass. Sharp
shooters covertly slide down from their
perohes in the trees and loll about in utter
abandonment.
Trade Is quickly opened and all sorts ef |
commodities are bought. Tho men have
seen pleasure in their singular armistics.
Bantsring each other sharply and never
OVsrstepping the lines which separate
their respective fOrtihcatiOns. Suddenly
the cry is raised, "Run beck, Johnniss,"
or Rua back, Ysnks," just as it it hap
pens to be, "We're going to shOOtP P' and
the kOstiliti5s begin again. It is always
understood, however, that the FIRST shots
shall be simed high, and the veriest
dswdler gets back to shelter and safety.
While this scene is being enacted
on one limited part Of the lire. The bat.
tie RACES hot st other portions Of the ex-
tended front, which measures by miles.
Was ever such strange warfare known be-
fOr2 Iii easy enough to see, however
that these anomalous episodes may te
ABUSED. The rebels aVsiled themselves Of
such truce the other day 10 strengthen
battery which had been reduced to silence
and had kept still for nearly week. The
work consequent ,, has had to be done
over again.
have seen great many pr isoners late
ly. Their appearance utterly refutes the
current stories that the rebel army is in
g destitute and starving condition. 1t is
simply Idle to talk about starving the az
my into submission.
The rebel soldiers, IS ; general thipg,