Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-18
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.
Rebel Papers TO the 0fh-Rebcl Ac-
counts from Petersburg, Atlanta and
Charleston.
AFFAIRS BEFORE PETERsBURG-sHELLING OF
THE TOWN.

|
! From The Richmond Examiner, july u
Yesterday was another quiet day. There
was no news, and but few rImors concern
ing military operations along the lines of
the army of Northern Virginia. The day
also passed off quietly in Petersburg, with
the exception OF the monotonous and never
ceasing shelling of the town by the enemy.
We hear nothing more of Grants rumored
change of base. Military men believe he
has no intention of abandoning his present
position, though from time to time he may
| vary the disposition of his troops, accord
| ing to circumstances.
BURNING THE CROPS ON JAMES RIVER.
Dense columns of smoke were visible
yesterday morning down the river, appar-
emily distant twelve or fifteen miles. The
smoke rather increased than diminished
during the day. Towards evening persons
arriving in the city from the direction of
the conllagration reported that before day
| light yesterday morning the federals cross
ed from the south side and set fire to the
wheat stacks on the Turkey Island and
Curl's Neck plantations. At last accounts
the fire had extended from the wheat
fields to the woods, and was, owing to the
wind and parched condition of everything.
raging with terrific fury and making wide
spread devastation. 1t was feared that
everything of value-houses, fences and
crops-wOuld be swept away by the de-
vouring element
LATEST FROM PETERsBURG-sHARP SHOOTING
| AND HELLING-MAHONE'S CAPTURES, &C.
From The Richmond Enquirer. July 81
Yesterday was the quietest day Peters
burg has enjoyed during the siege. Parties
who left at half-past four o'clock state that
few if any shells were thrown into the city
during the day. They heard of none. The
only cannonadlng of any Importance Oc-
| CURED from several of our batteries, which
operated at periods of the day upon the
| lines of the enemy.
The Express of yesterday (July 81 con-
tains the following:
1t is literally true that there is nothing
stirring along the lines of the two armies
| in front of Petersburg except dust, which
| in clouds and volumes fills the roadsides
| and every conceivable place trodden by
man or beast. This added to the sweltering
heat makes it anything but comfortable Ell
| ther for pedestrians or equestrians to go to
the front.
sHARPSHoOTING AND sHELLING.
But this is not all that is uncomforta-
bic about walk to the front. On some
parts of the lines the sharpshooters have
an ugly practice of shooting at. everything
they see; and then again the shells-those
awful things-are ever and anon hurling
| through the air to the terror of all non
combatants and to the occasional annoyance
of the struggling soldiers.
PRISONERS AND THEIR STORIES.
Yesterday several prisoners were brought
| in, among them Lieutenant of cavalry,
'just all the way from Cork" He repre-
sents the cavalry arm of the Yankee SER
vice as being in anything but the best
plight. In other words, he says it is used
up," and will not now number one-fourth
of what it did when the campaign COM
menced. Their operations on the north
side of the James and on the south side OF
the AppomattoX rivers will lay them on
the shelf and render them useless for weeks
to come.
MAHoNE's CAPTURES.
The battle flags recently captured by
General BIahone-ten in number-were
yesterday sent to the War Office in Rich
mond. BY the by, this division of Ander-
sons, commanded by Malone, has captured
since the campaign began thirty-siX hun
dred prisoners, fifteen colors, eleven pieces
of artillery and nearly three thousand stand
of small arms, besides putting out of the
way immense numbers of filthy, lousy,
greasy lduhees'
DEsERTERs FROM GRANTS ARMY.
From gentleman who arrived in this
city yesterday from Ivor, we learn that the
country there and from thence to Suffolk is
lined with stragglers and deserters from
Grants army. He represents the numbers
to be extremely large, and the men are ex-
erting every effort to escape arrest. The
country around Petersburg does not suit
ha lie ~ nr fnrt
good water too scarce and Confederate bull
lets too unerring. s
The limited crops inrthat section have
been completely destroyed by the enemy's
foraging parties, and but little is left the re-
naming inhabitants to subsist upon. If
Grants army remains on the south side |
much longer the counties open to his troops |
will be desolated and ruined.
GRANT REPORTED LANDING FORCES AT WILL
cox WHARF.
IFrom The Richmond Examiner, July o.
AS usual of late, there were rumors afioat |
yesterday that had better not be repeated. |
A gentleman who left Charles City coun-
ty yesterday morning brought to the city I
the report that Grant was landing forces at
Wilcox wharf.
Other parties who reached the city last
evening stated thata large number of trans
ports loaded with troops passed down the
river during the day.
Upon these reports a rumor was soon in
circulation that Grant was withdrawing
from Petersburg and crossing to the north
bank of the James. r7t- t..a.a-e,
Up to seven o'clock p. M. no official re-
port of such movement had been received
at headquarters. u.. s5r
We hear nothing more from the Yankee
force which were reported to have disem-
barked at White House on Thursday, We [
should be inclined to believe the force were
q raiding party but for two facts We have
nothing worth makingan expedition against
from that quarter, and the enemy's cavalry
are in no condition to make raid. Sheri-
dan and Wilson have had raiding enough
for long time to come. -,
JOHNSTON FALLING BACK ON THE oHATTA-
OK HooCHEE RIVER. Dt jsc
lFrom The Petersburg Register, July o.
1t has been known for day or two, says
The Richmond Sentinel, that Gen. johnson
las made another change of position. The
;elegrams of to-day contain some of the de-
;ails of the movement. We had been pre-
pared for this for some days. An officer of /
Johnston's army-a highly intelligent gen.
,leman, and blinded by no personal attach
nents-i Informed us, very recently, that
Gen. Johnson had fortified a position on the1
outhbank OF the eChattahoochee, and would,
le believed, fall back TO II ina few days.i