The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-13
Greniug TeIrgtaph
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1864.
PICTURES OF RICHMOND AND Pc
TERSnNRG IN A STATE or SIEGE.

The army correspondent Of the Columbia Caro-
Enian. writing from the intrenchmcnts around
Richmond. under date Of November l6, furnishes
an interesting letter, from which we make the
following extracts -
Among all the cities OF the Confedeacy none
can more Justly lay claim to the title Of metropo-
lis than It's beautiful capital. Although invested
BY a hundred thousand enemies, whose besiegng
guns, morning, noon, and night, roar out their
hate although grdod around by line of
battle that may at any moment burst into Hame,
such is the faith reposed in those brave defenders
who have so often
the dashed with force that turned ts edge"
that one may look In vain for sign Of
doubt or trepidation. Day breaks, and hungry
thousands are making their way TO the well.hIled
markets. Later, the stores open their sleepy Ids
and every window displays tempting goods that
tell the story Of busy enterprise and broken
blockades The restaurants, OF which there are
scores kept in a style Of magnificent abundance,
hang out their yenison, birds and turtle, aud eX-
pose long shelves freghted with the choicest
lquOrs that tempt the bon Uirant 10 certain imam
ca ruin. The hotels and boarding houses pour
forth their living contents, and by o'clock Main
street and its tributaries begin to witness the
grand professional movement which continues
Through the day.
Ladies and clerks are vending their way TO
their several posts of duty men with official bust
ness plainly written on their faces are hurryng
in the dirt ctiOn Of the departments mothers,
wives, and sisters applying for the detail or fur-
Tough of some loved one, or perhaps eager 70
leafn the fate of a missing husband, son, or
brother are also there; officers are galioplng
from the front to bring reports 10 tne
headquarters in town; quarternasters with
their accustomed energy, are looking up the
days supplies; soldiers from camp on few
hours leave Of absence begin TO arrivei men on
crutcbes hObbling forth from hOSptable roots to
breathe the fresh air; the fair sex attired with
richness and elegance, in raiment that you will see
nowhere else in the Confederacy, add to the attrac
tions ofthe street and thus gathering its contrbu-
tiOns from thousand channels, the population out
OF doors grows and dversifes, until you find
yourself plunged into one of those cosmopolitan
ground swells that exist only in the great cities of
the world. BY noon the tide is at its Hood, and
You may elbow the best and the worst, the high
est and the lowest the greatest and the meanest
peOple in the land. Night comes, and the lights
atsh mCrrily from n thousand parlors, where
reign peace, pleasure and content. Hospitality
Abounds and with graceful hand the good citi-
zens dispense it's rights, not more among them
selves than upon the passing stranger, whose only
claim may be that he is soldier. The transient
visitor has offered to him the temptations OF the
theatre and the cOnCert-TOom, while score OF
hells are ready 10 engulf those whose baser
tastes best fit them for their enjoyments. Such
Is Richmond.
And ii is a strange contrast that one expe.
rienCes in passing these metropolitan scenes,
where dress and fashion are the presiding deties,
to the severe associations of the camp, where
comfort at best is but rude, and every thought is
subordinate to the duties of the time and place.
Here everything speaks of war. The place in
which write is the headquarters of one of our
generals, and yet headquarters are but deserted
negro hut, where a sing.e apartment, divided by
strip OF canvass, serves the purpose OF offices,
chamber, and dining-room.
Just in our trout is the continuation of the
outer line of intrenchments which encompass
RichmoLd and now hold the enemy at bay. A
few hundIe cd yards distant CLEAN the fires along
a linz nf lffFFF 70
beyond mark the presence of a Yankee division.
The woods have been leyeled for miles, and the
ground covered with an abattis that shas been
already unsuccessfuy explored by the Federals
Across this space occasional glimpses are afforded
OF the intrenChments of the enemy, but for seVe'
raj days no demonstration has been made by them
which indicates vigorous life. Still, we know
they are there.
Our men arc rapidly getting into winter quar-
ters, building wells, putting up log huts with
thaJchcd roofs, and preparing for the inclemency
OF the season.
The most interesting portion of the entire lint
Is around Petersburg where the two armies havi
dug and dug until the entire face of the countr!
belWeen them resembles a labyrinth, which, q
the uninitiated, has neither beginning nor end
Necessity, the mother of invention, has taugh
our meL low 10 protect themselves, and you viii
find them burTowing like squirrels under ground
They live In caves, holes, chambers ingeniousl.
constructed, with hunks and fire places, and in
word, except in time of action, are completely
life in the trenches, continues incessanuy; bu
beyond thirty or forty men daily killed Q
wounded along the lines-men only missed b
the loved ones Of the home circle-sll Is quiet.
That this comparative rest will not cOntinu
long is general impression. In spite of OF
shell and shot, the Dutch Gap canal Is suppose
to be nearly completed and the gathering of Il
mammoth armada, and arrival Of General Shel
dan ~ City Point with portion of his forces, q
indications which certainly point 10 a grand cor
buCd land and naval attack within few day
If GIANT is unsuccessful, and no one familiar wi
our pr parations doubts the contrary, it is ST
missed that with his usual promptness he "
move sOuthward and commence a winter Ca
pAgn somewhere else.
Among all the antagonists that have confront
General Lee during the war, none have gi'
that great chief more trouble or occaSioned M
anxiety than General Grant. Although he
been rel eIeRtedly brought to the ground beat
aud discount ed, like n reckless prize-hgh
covered by his own blood, and blinded by
blows that were rained upon him, he has dasl
again into the fray, and again and again snife
the moTtihC0tion OF defeat, without once ackn'
Lodging that he has been whipped. And he 8
clngs with death,like tenacity. The resources
an immense power are at his back.
lie calls for renfOrcements TO take the place
the tens Of thousands over whose graves he sta
like the demon Of death and they are furnish
Nothing is wanted TO make his success compl
but sheer human inability TO stand before
superior prowess Of Southern men. With
peculiar obstinate, bull. dog nature, General CIR
is firm believer in the "aItrition" process, VIII
wears out by repeated blows what is not acct
plished by one. Hence the necessitylof keep
our own army fully up to proper leye
strength. Hence the revocation of details
recommendation Of the President concern
negro labor, and the measures about to be
Yised by Congress for general Reorganization
the army.
Sr. PATRoK's BODY GoUND.-While the W,
men Engaged in the renovation Of st. Patri