The War news.
We may look upon the work which is to terminate in the conquest, or successful defence of the capital of the
South, as actually commenced.
The frock of the despot is now near her temple door, and his armed legion are within cannon range of the
Executive emanation itself.
The frequent skirmishes that have taken place, and are continually occurring, are but the faint murmuring of the turbulent storm that is soon to burst upon us.--There is no want of confidence in the result — The general belief is, that our defence will not only be successful, but glorious.
Our people are hopeful and sanguine; and the
Government, when it resolved never to surrender the capital without a desperate resistance, did more to elevate itself in public estimation than anything it has accomplished since the commencement of the war.
The reports in reference to the skirmishing that has taken place around the city are, as might be expected, various and conflicting; so much so that no two accounts concur.
Even the exact locality of the fight on Saturday is difficult to determine, to one not familiar with the region of country where it occurred.
As well as we have been able to learn, the engagement was near the
Meadow Bridge, over the
Chickahominy, and between the
Horse Swamp and the month of
Brooke creek.
Our casualties in this skirmish were slight, but we have not been able to obtain a list of them.
About 9 o'clock another brisk engagement was commenced on the
New Bridge Road, near
New Bridge, some nine miles below the city.
Our forces in this fight consisted of
Semmee's brigade, composed of the 6th and 10th Louisiana, the 10th Georgia, and 15th Virginia regiments.
The first named regiment was picketed at or near the bridge, and was attacked by a superior force of the enemy, but held its position.
The fight lasted for several hours, and during its progress about forty were wounded in the fifth Louisiana, among them
Lieuts. Johnson and
Steinman, the former in the arm and the latter in the breast.
Yesterday, as far as we are informed, matters were quiet along our entire lines, nothing occurring to disturb the quiet which usually precedes the storm.
It may be that before this reaches the reader, the salvos of artillery and the rattle of musketry will fall upon the ears of our citizens.
It is unnecessary for us to caution them to maintain their calmness and composure.
They have for more than a week been looking for active operations, and as a relief from suspense they rather desire than dread an engagement.
Late in the afternoon, and after the above was put in type, rapid discharges of artillery were distinctly heard below the city.
The cause of the firing, or its result, we have not learned.
We have no late advices from
Corinth.
The last dispatch from that point announced an anticipated general engagement on Thursday last, between the forces of
Beauregard and
Halleck.
From the fact that nothing has been received from that quarter, we infer that the expected fight did not occur.
All accounts concur in stating that the decisive struggle must soon commence, and it is highly probable that the fate of
Richmond and the great Mississippi Valley will be decided within the same week.
