Year: 1864

Special Dispatch to the c ncinnati Gazette.


Headquarters Army Or THE POToMAC


June p NJ.


WASHINGTON, June l3-The past few
days have been quit = peventful to the
Army of the PotomN. Our lines are


c3rcely nearer the enemy than wa theil
position in the case Of the battle of Fri
day more than week ago. The troops on
both sides, each behind their intrsnch-
ments, have kept up desultory but use
less fire, Just sufficient to make it ap
parent that the respective works were
not vacant Both armies, in fact, have
been enjoying the repose which was
needed after the fighting and rapid
marching Of three weeks campaigning
from the banks Of the Rapidan.


To-day the silence is even more mark
ed than before The sound of mus
ket has scarcely been heard along the
entire line A few blwts of artillery,
and the explosion of q shell or two high
over the trees, about the centre Of the
line, have been the only reminders this
afternoon Of the enemy's presence.


Prom present indications it is not
likely that there will be fighting for
several days to come; but a storm is
brewing, and may burst in q quarter
least expected by the enemy. IL is not
proper at this time to say precisely how
General Grant will attempt TO dicomiit
the enemy. Yesterday general order
was issued by General Meade forbidding
Unauthorized communication with the
enemy. The men on both sides have
BEEN holding intercourse with each
other for the interchange Of news
papers and the barter of coffee and
tobacco In this way great deal of
mischief was likely TO result, as infOr-
nation of vital Importance is always
apt to leak out The opposing lines Of
ritle,pits, it must be borne in mind, are
not one hundred yards distant, and in
some parts Of the line much closer
For any portion Of the body to be ex-
posed the penalty is certain WOunding,
if not death, bat the men are utterly
weary with loading and firing They
have kept up this skirmishing for days,
and no visible advantage has been
gained by either side


The fire gradually slackcns. Officers
become careless about urging the men
to their work A magnetic spell in
fuences with equal power our own men
and their mortal enemies. 1T is very
curious that the c0mbatants are entirely
hidden from each other sight


The last shot is fired and the Iull in
the battle storm IS perfect Adventu-
rous spirits on both sides cautiously
raise their heads above the earth
works. "HOw are you, Johnny "HOw
are you, Yank 2 are the questions usu-
ally banded Wont you shOoty says
one. "No," says the other. We'll, we
won't, chime in all and Immediately
the parapets are swarmed with men
who have been concealed behind them.
Out jump the fellONs from the rifle pits.
and putting down their guns, stretch
their cramped forms upon the grass
Sharpshooters covertiy slide down from
their perches in the trees and loll about
in utter abandon. Trade is quickly
opened, and all sorts Of commodities
are exchanged The men have keen
pleasure in their singular aTmistice.
bantering each other sharply, and new
er oyerstepping the halfway line which
separates their respective foftiiications
Suddenly the cry Is raised. Run back
Johnuys' s. or Run back Yanks, just
as it happens to be, were going 70
shoot, and the hostilities begin again


Itis always understood, however, that
the first shot shall be aimed high, and
the veriest dawdler gets back 20 shelter
safely


While this fraternal scene is being
enacted on one directed part Of the
line, the battle RACES hot ct other por-
tons Of the extended front which
measures by miles Was ever such
strange warfare known beiore2 IL is
easy enough to see, however, that these
anomalous episodes may be abused
The rebels availed themselves Of such
a truce the other day 10 strengthen q
battery which had been reduced 10 ST.
lence, and had kept still for nearly a
week The work consequently has had
70 be done over again.