The War News.
Yesterday, like its immediate predecessor, was exceedingly dull and quiet.
With the exception of a vague report, which we could trace to no authentic source, that a sharp fight took place on the lines in front of
Petersburg on Tuesday evening, we heard nothing in the shape of a rumor during the day. Such a period of quiet in the midst of a campaign which began with so much vigor and excitement constitutes an anomaly in the history of warfare; but it may be the calm which precedes the storm, and ere many days elapse the din of deadly conflict may break the monotony which now prevails.
This morning ushers in the anniversary of the
first battle of Manassas.
It would be a striking coincidence if the day should be signalized by the advance of contending hosts.
If such an event were to occur, it would result, by a coincidence still more striking, in the complete rout of the enemy.
It is stated that large numbers of Yankee transports are still moving up the bay in the direction of
Washington, but we hardly think that any more troops are being taken from the army on the south side of the
James.
By the
Petersburg train last evening we learned that so far from truth was the report that a sharp fight took place on Tuesday evening, everything at the front was remarkably quiet.
There was not even the usual amount of shelling, mortar or picket firing.
All along the lines, from our extreme right to the river, for hours at a time there could only be heard an occasional explosion, and the quiet was so unusual as to cause general comment in
Petersburg.
The few shells that have been thrown at the city for two or three days past have produced no damage to property, and inflicted no injury upon persons.
Some erratic individual accounts for the apparent inactivity of the enemy by saying that he is industriously pushing forward a grand plot for undermining the
Cockade City, which is to be blown up as "by a tremendous blast from the infernal regions"--a scheme, it will be admitted, to which the famous gunpowder plot of
Guy Fawkes bears no sort of comparison.--The
Express briefly alludes to these reports, and says they occasion no sort of uneasiness.
Grant's position is not a favorable one for successful operations of this kind, and the effort would be but a waste of time and labor.
He cannot go many feet below the surface of the ground before he strikes a stratum of mall, and there he finds water to impede his progress.
We consider the idea altogether too absurd for serious consideration.
Prisoners taken on Tuesday deny the report of the death of
Grant.
The story, however, was reiterated by a Confederate officer who came over last evening, and we hear that it was asserted at
Gen. Pickett's headquarters on the authority of the
Washington Chronicle;; but still we do not believe it.
We learn that the New York
Herald, of the 18th, makes no allusion to the death of
Gen. Grant.
The report is probably without foundation.
Nothing of importance occurred on the lines yesterday, and the situation at the front is in every respect unchanged.
Important from the Valley — the enemy Routed and driven across the Shenandoah.
The prevailing dullness was relieved last evening by cheering news from the
Valley of Virginia.
An official dispatch, received yesterday afternoon at the War Department, states that a large force of Yankees crossed the
Shenandoah river at Snicker's, on the 18th.
At 3 o'clock P. M. they were attacked and driven across the river in confusion.
Our loss is stated to be between two and three hundred; that of the enemy much greater.
Snicker's Ferry, where the
Yankee forces crossed the
Shenandoah, is in
Frederick county, 156 miles from
Richmond.
Snickersville, which, from a similarity of name, may be supposed to have been the scene of the fight, is in the western part of
Loudoun county, and advantageously situated at the base of the
Blue Ridge Mountain.
A good turnpike from
Winchester to
Alexandria passes through it, and intersects at the former place with one from
Washington to
Winchester, which passes through
Leesburg.
It was by one of these roads, doubtless, that the enemy expected to advance and strike our forces in the rear, but the movement was happily anticipated.
Hunter has again come to grief, and would save his future reputation by resigning his commission.
A letter from one of
Mosby's gallant troopers says that "raid" into
Maryland was one of great profit; that seven thousand horses were safely brought off by the cavalry, while three or four thousand more were appropriated for artillery and transportation purposes; besides a large number of fat cattle and an immense amount of spoils of every description.
From another source we learn that at last accounts the captured stock was being driven down the
Valley.
There was no official intelligence from
Georgia at headquarters last night.
The telegraph reports a pleasant little affair on the evening of the 19th, in which a line of breastworks and a number of prisoners were captured.
It is to be hoped that this is the precursor of more important successes.
Judging from the tone of the newspapers of that city,
Atlanta is to be defended with heroism, and the belief is general that the great battle for its possession will come off in a few days.
The army and the people are in fine spirits, and confident of driving back the invader of their soil.
