Year: 1862

s2O AoNS VI Jul SHSdSemenG at richmond, a
few unsatisfactory and irregular dispatches
come to hand. Enough may be cleaned
from them to show that during this time
there has been some severe, sharp fighting,
with tremendous losses on both sides. The
estimate of the losses by these dispatches is
probably too high-the Federal loss being
placed at twenty thousand men, and that of
the Confederates probably greater. The
battle before Richmond, during two days
of which Gen. Mcclellan is reported to have
lost ten thousand men, was the most san
culinary struggle which has occurred since
the commencement of the war. A rebel
force of fifty thousand attacked McClellan's
right wing, numbering twelve thousand
while the army under Mcclellan were ope-
rating strategic movement to secure a
more advantageous position as base of op-
erations against the Federal Capital, and
receive the effective aid of the gunboats
During the six days fighting, both armies
were from time to time repulsed with severe
losses and lad not Mcclellan secured the
object sought in his change of position, it
would be hard to determine otherwise who
were the victors of the field, so sharply was
it contested on all hands. But though fight
ing against greatly superior numbers, the
Federal troops held their ground WELL and
bore the plan Of their young General to a
successful issue. There is rumor in one
of the dispatches to the effect that Rich
mond has actually been taken. While this
is possible, it is not at all probable, follow,
ing so Immediately upon the desperate en-
gagements recorded. There is one feature
of the war news which is not favorable. and
that is the repulse of the Federal forces near
Charleston. There was evidently misun-
derstanding between officers in command,
and the attack was ill-advised and uncon-
certed. The Federals were repulsed with
considerable loss. 1t is said there are 15O.-
600 Confederate troops at Richmond, and
that Beauregard and other distinguished
rebel officers have been assigned command
of troops at that place. Great preparations
for defence have been made, and it really
looks as though they intend to fight for
their Capital. The Federal Government is
waking up to the necessity of employing
more formidable means for suppressing the
rebellion and bringing the war to close
and instead of longer continuing the policy
of fighting the enemy even handed, and
often times against odds in numbers, the
President has issued a proclamation for
three hundred thousand more men. The
men called for will doubtless be Immediate
ly provided.


The President has approved and signed
the Pacific Railroad Bill, and the Senate
has passed bill providing for the sale of
alternate sections of public lands along the
line of the road to aid in its construction.


Twenty five Miles Over the New Road


A few days since we took ride out on
the Walla Wala and Grand Ronde road,
travelling over about twenty-five miles of
it. We went as far as the summit of the
mountain dividing the Walla Walla and
Grand Ronde valleys, and few miles bey-
ond the Mullan steam saw mill. The
road is much better so far as we went
than we expected to find over a mountain
Gus country Indeed, the ascent of the
mountain is so gradual that it is difficult
for the traveller to realize that he is scaling
some of the highest spurs of the Blue
mountains. With the exception of one or
two quite steep ascents, which are short,
and might be much improved by grading,
the summit of the mountain is attained
with comparative ease. From this city to
the crossing of the Walla Walla river
distance fourteen miles-the road is nearly
level, and there is no obstruction to the
pessage of heavily freighted teams either
way. The ascent commences Immediately
on the other side of the Walla Walla, and
from thence to the summit the road leads
ulOuS OOnS ol tut lnOuHIdlu, WHICH lOIlnS
an excellent foundation, and avoids the
crossing Of the numerous gulches and ra-
vines. The entire distance of the road to
the mill could not be called good one for
draught teams both Ways; but up to this
time the principal business on the road has
been done in hauling lumber from the mill,
the teams consequently going back light.


Id wagon road thoroughfare be
opened through to the Grand Ronde val
ley-and it will be done at all events next
season. road which will admit the pas
sage of heavily loaded wagons both ways
can be easily made from this place to the
summit of the mountain 1t would re-
quire but one or two changes in the pres
ent road and the heavy hills would be
avoided. From the summit to the Grand
Ronde it will be quite as easy to open
wagon road when travel and the transpor-
tation of freight demand it.


We visited the mill, owned by Mr.. S.
Linkton 1t is situated in the midst of a
heavy growth of pine timber, which will
doubtless be sufficient to supply the mill
for two or three years to come. 1t is a
steam circular mill, and the boiler is sup
piled from a spring. The mill employs
about dozen men, including the logging