The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1864-12-10
Scenes Before Richmond.

A correspondent Of the Philadolphia BuLLErts
sends the following interesting letter from the
army;
headquarters IN the Fell, Berere Richmond,
Nor. N-Wth prophecy may say thai all is
gu ct aong tho lines, except the usual aiding
10 TIE vicinity Of Dutch Gap. Day before yester.
DAY our batteries near the Hewlett House took the
IN Ia;iye, giving the enemy specimen u our
nlcry practice. In a short time . shell, containing
Grcek nro, was thrown into house which the emo
my used az picket post, which, exploding, imme-
d.atcly wrapped the luil,ling In flames. TOTS
seemed 10 CvAsp rate the rebels. For almost i'm
ucdiatcly their batteries in the vicinity Of the
grave ard" oPoneJ upon picket posi which was
ut this place with crushing and fntn effect. Three
shells passed through the house, dong II fearful
DAMAGE, and killing John Richmond, Co. r, 9Th y.
5. G. T, and Andrew Sewborn, Co. Il, 36h L. =.
Z. T., and wounaing sllas Hollis, 9sth U. S. c.
4, severely IN The lcft hand. The bodies OF
chmond aud Newbern torn to peccI
and Suffered ia every direction for sixty yards
around. Qlivei1ng picccs q flesh indicated the
locality OF tie frightsul scone, while fragments
Il the hearts and in,estnes were hanging upon
thc ranches Of the ucighboring .roes. About the
Esrue time another scene was being enacted in
the 10th corps WIN. Thompson, Co. " Sd u. s.
Light Artillery, suffered the extreme penalty of
military law in the presence Of his own company,
md the 81 Brigade 3D. division, for endcsvoring
to encourage descrtion TO the enemy from the 9th
Maine, rom winch reg ment Tho firing party was
BUiCcloi. lilo took his stand by his coffin, and
when look convinced HIM that he would likely
tall AGAINST II, he, with much cUinposurc, stepped
little asdc, buttoned his bl' use, and, as an ind
cation for the firing, struck his hand against his
lga breast. At his own request his hands were
len free and his yes were unband'Red. Nine
shots struck the condemned man. On Thanks
giving Day u number Of recruits came to the 9TH,
1th and 10th Connecticut Regiments, in the Tenth
Corps, and on the same evening Il was discovered
that a number Oh them missing from camp.
General Terry Immediately sent out In pursuit,
aud overlook some nlno Of them pressing on the
lht our line, where the vdeuos apart,
ana toe oppOr .unties for escaping into tho lines
Of tue enemy ave most favorable. These bounty
Jumpers Will probably 10 tried Monday,
aud shot on TuCsday. Ono thing iE evident, that
the manner in which these persons struck for
toe Rebel lines shows q familiarity with the coun-
uy and the position OF the two Armies which fl
vors the impression that they had gone the same
way before. The untiring industry Of the enemy
to dc.cui Richmond the north side OF the river,
in front Of the Army OF tho James, Is manifest in
the construction III every conceivable means of dc.
fence. In front Of Fort Rlrnham, formerly Hal.
rison, they have three lines Of palisade works,
of torpedocs, and then well-copBtructed line
| OF brcastworkg. Tie torpedoes arc placed in the
ground, about four feet apart, with very littlC
/ dirt thrown over them, that they may readily ex
podc, should an advance take place In that dircc
! ton, OF which the enemy is In daily fear. Bush
1 rui johnson and Lees trigades are IN front d
Blruham. For some days past have leaned that
Ealy % uoOps from the Valley In front OF the
10Th Corps, On. hest lated 10 Ineution II Until could
10 bey ond all possibility OF doubt. IL Is nov
ccr.an that Korshsw's division Is here, and II :,
fir to suppose that the information which rcporti
inCrp OF rebels from the Valley in our front :!
correct. Early has not yet lc thai scene Of opera
uons, but may 10 expected here daily.