The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-12
THE WAR In VIRGINIA.
FROM PErERsB3Re.
.o,,,,s 'of last reeES operations

The Petersburg Express OF the gu, says heAFy
fire Of musketry commenced on our centre, ana
continued very rapidly for 20 minutes 1t was
Thought at first that general engagement had
commenced, but it soon ceased. 1t was the opln
ion of those who heard it, that the Yankees bad
assaulted our lines and were repulsed as usual.
The following official dispatch has been received
at the War Department:
HEADQUARTERS A. n. VA, July L.
To the Secretary Of Var: Gen. Beauregard
renorts that feeble demonstration was made on a
norton of en- Johnston'S line about 5 p. yes
terday. His skirmishers, supported by two lines
of troops, drove in our line Of skirmishers which
was reestablished at dark.
In the various conflicts with the enemy's caval-
ry on their late expeditions against the railroads,
besides their killed and wounded left the field,
1000 prisoners 13 pieces of artillery, ~ wagons
and ambnianccs, many small arms, horses, ord
nance stores and several hundred negroes taken
from the plantations On their route, were captured
r. Il. LEE, General.
A gentleman has loaned US the Richmond Ex-
aminer and Petersburg Express Of the 4th, from
which VIC Gull the following items:
The Petersburg Express of the 4th, has an ex-
tended account of the disastrous termination to the
Yankees, of their great raid. Itputs down the
number of prisoners taken at 1900. Two beautl-
full mountain howiszers had been found in Motto
way river making fifteen cannon captured. Three
thousand horses we're taken, and the enemy killed
800 or 1000.
A yankee major has revealed to Confederate
captain most extended programme that had been
marked out by Grant for the raiders Wilson a0d
kautz were to effect thorough destruction of the
Southside and Danville Railroad, and then to part
Wilson was to operate through the rich southern
counties of Virginia; and Kautz was to proceed to
Danville, thence to Greensboro, n. c., thence on
to Raleigh, and thence on the Raleigh and Castor
Railroad to Weldon, where the bridge was to be
burned and the raiders make their way back to
. Grant via Blackwater.
The Express had learned from source entirely
reliable, that the enemy emb arke6 a large number
of troops at City Point on Thursday last. Wheth-
er their times had expired, or were being removed
Cor operations elsewhere, was not known
Heavy cannonading commenced on the night OF
the third. One Of the guns was whopper, and
each explosion shook the city. 1t is understood
to belong to Confederate battery, but the Ex-
press had not learned the damage done the enemy.
Northern journals say large body of rebels,
said to be under Gen. Early are reported to have
reached Winchester. The N. Y. Times comedies
a reverse to Sherman army. McPhreson's corps,
it says, lost 5000, and another corps lost $40.
Grant total loss is said to be III 600.
Burnside was reported week ago to have left
Petersburg and gone to Washington. Since then
we have-heard nothing from him. We admit, as
the general conviction seems strong in that di-
rection that he has left Petersburg, but are by
no means satisfied that his whereabouts has been
satisfactorily settled. Why should he 60 to Wash
ington? The Yankees certainly do not intend to
make "bnavy artillery out of him and his negro
troops.
Mostly OF, The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
We have authentic information that last We'd
Lob tbo Po1* nd
road at Duffeld station, captured seventy five men,
burnt the depot and destroyed the railroad at that
point. Dufield is between Ma1tinsburg and Har
per's Ferry. This information comes from Off
who was present and participated in the attack.
The gentleman to whom We are indebted for the
Eaamtiner, lett Petersburg the morning Of the
4th, and he has seen gentleman who left there
that afternoon. They both say that the Smelling
on Sunday and Monday had not been on as extern
siye scale as for day or two previous, but PER-
haps somewhat more effective. On Sunday night,
thirty pound shell passed clear through the
Washington street Methodist Church; while the
congregation assembled, but it did no damage
to any one. The congregation ran out to recon
noitre, but soon returned and the services were
quietly resumed.
They report that the enemy had certainly re-
moved, up to Sunday evening, the left wing of his
army resting on the Railroad, and it was believed
to have gone north of the river. A corresponding
change in our army was Immediately made.
The Examiner of the 4th Of July has the fol-
lowing editorial the situation of the two armies:
This may be the most eventful day of the war.
There are many and strong reasons to believe that
General Grant has determined to celebrate it by a
.combined attack on both Richmond and Peters
burg
He knows that he cannot keep his army in the
position it has held since he crossed the river.
His camps pitched on the most unhealthy
ground iE Virginia. Hundreds Of acres of what is
called sora marsh, covered every day by water,
and the ooze left by high tide dried by the sun,
are close around him. Our army holds :be high
and healthy ground and the good wells In this
position We afford to be ida and Grant cannot.
Nor is he the man to be idle without excellent
cause. He has been quiet for some time, because
time was needed, after all those repulses, 10
bis army up to the lighting point again. Ho has
probably prolonged the period of rest in order TO
make final trial on this, the national holiday. 1t
has once proven lucky day to him; but apart
from personal considerations, its associations and
their effect on the minds Of his men, are legti-
mate elements in a military calculation.
Regarding only these general reasons, it would
seem highly probable, both that Grant would eight
shortly, and fight this particular day in prefer
ence to all others. The apparent ntelligen
both from the northern and southern banks of the
James, is, 10 the highest degree confrmatory of
the superstition. Indications not to be mistaken
point to an assault or gigantic bombardment o!
Petersburg this neutrality-suspicious. both will be
tried before the sun sets Warren's corps said NO