Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-09
AFFAIRS ON SATURDAY.

Saturday, it appears, comparatively quiet, nothing
occurring the inevitable skrm hing that always takes
place when two hostile armies close ours and the
rebel army letter to the Philadelphia Inqui-
rer, dated on Saturday night, says:
!" The question with the army is, whether can
or cannot make another approach to Richmond by flank
movement any strategic euvre to avoid the
necessity of digging way the space now interven-
ipg between us and the rebel capital What the plans Of
Generals Grant and Meade is of course, uni uown
.'At present we are digging like beavers, Our men
have fully learned the advantage of this process and they
work with will Crawling forward the rebel
rifle pits possible, without showing themselves
sharpshooters having gained position their liking will
set to work quietly with the bayonet to loosen up the
earth, which they will afterwards scoop out with their
hands Tin cup any instrument that nearest to
hand s
At many parts of cur line we have our breastworks
almost in contact with those of the enemy
the whole extent able to keep them under FIRE
that rebel scarcely show his head above them with
out beng shot At few points they have found their
works uutenabe and withdrawn to others short distance
the but cannot always occupy these abandoned
PITS, they constructed enable the enemy
completely TO eplsde them from another part of the hne
"Our men, like the rebels obliged to lie quiet
behind their works, shower of bullets from rebel shsrp
shooters instantly quetng every one who himself
to their ann Col. Morris Of the 7th New York heavy
artillery shot this morning by OF them while walk
ing n company with Gen Barlow. Col Mexican, of the
Slst Pennsylvania commanding the FIRST brigade OF Glib
oons division, also sho aud 1t has been impos
sibe for to venture out and bring in his body
The enemy have disappeared in front Of Warren aud
Burnside on the extreme right but will doubtless reappear
at another point"
Another letter. dated at nine O'Clock in the morning Of
Sunday, says;
There demonstrative movements by either army
during Saturday. desutory csnnonadng heard on
our extreme left in the direction of Bottoms idge sup
posed to be the enemy sheng Sheridan In the morning
but it soon ceased The day COOL and rain fell in suf
fcent quantities to refresh and deuge the men in hos
pitals, on picket, and in the trenches
Last night about eight o'clock the enemy made his
accustomed night attack 10 furious assault upon Barlow
but as ever BEFORE repused with loss About
midnight be attempted to drive Hancock bis son
and again sgnally failed 1t is ascertaned this morning
that the enemy has withdrawn his forces from right
front at Bethesda Church. and aud then cannon shot
is heard, probably from cavalry hsrassing their re-
treating column
sbetdan's seizure Of Bottoms Bridge, and his stub.
born refusal TO retire. excites their ard sctve
relstance. No battle anticipated to-day Considera
bic musket firing right heard about nine
o'clock, the result of which, however, at this time IN
known.
Grant speaks with quiet confidence Of his ability TO
capture Richmond-says it Is oily question Of time.'