The war News.
We give elsewhere full details of the battle on Thursday near Reams's station, on the Weldon railroad.
Each fresh development in regard to this affair makes our victory more complete, and the discomfiture of the enemy more serious, than represented by first reports.
It now appears that the number of prisoners captured will reach over twenty-five hundred, and among them is an acting Brigadier-General by the name of
Cutler.
The commissioned officers number about one hundred.
The reported capture of
Colonel Spear, of raiding notoriety, we regret to say, is not confirmed.
It seems that fear lent him wings, and his flight was too rapid to admit of his being overtaken.
The success of this movement reflects great credit upon the skill and sagacity of our commanding general, as well as upon the valor of the officers and men engaged.
The results, too, are vastly important, apart from the loss immediately inflicted upon the enemy.
The further destruction of the Weldon railroad is effectually checked, and a force is thrown into
Grant's rear to co-operate and assist in any movement which may be made upon the front.
The
Yankees are thus placed between two fires, and so "cribbed, cabined and confined, " that it is difficult to see how they can operate to any extent, or even hold their position for any length of time.
At last accounts we still held the captured works, which are represented to be very strong; and if the enemy makes an attempt to dislodge our victorious troops, it will only result in a fearful sacrifice of the lives of his men.
Something is the matter with the
Yankee soldiers composing the
Grand Army of the Potomac.
They are evidently dispirited, discouraged, worn out.--All the way from
Spotsylvania to Cold Harbor, though defeated in nearly every engagement, they rushed impetuously against our fortifications, and displayed some courage, even in the midst of carnage almost unparalleled.
But now they fight with far less vim, and though protected by strong breastworks, bristling with cannon, are no match for Confederate valor.
There is no doubt that disease has made serious ravages in their ranks, but the fruitless battles, with their attendant slaughter, in which they have been engaged, and the recklessness of the lives of his men, which has characterized the movements of their commander, have had more to do with their demoralization than any other cause.--Altogether the situation in front of
Petersburg is quite as favorable as could be expected, and the prospects are "bright and brightening."
A report was brought by the train last evening that on Saturday
General Hampton fell upon a body of the enemy near
Reams's and captured a large number of prisoners.
Not withstanding the generally-received opinion that a battle would take place on yesterday, we are assured that nothing of the sort occurred.
Up to the time the train left for
Richmond everything was comparatively quiet on the lines.
Most of the prisoners captured on Thursday have been brought to this city.
We are informed that
Hancock's adjutant-general escaped from the train on Saturday evening, but was recaptured yesterday while swimming the river.
Rumored fight in the Valley.
The city was alive yesterday with a rumor that
Early had inflicted a severe chastisement upon
Sheridan's forces on the
Northern border.
It ran in this way:
General Early met the
Yankees one day last week near
Martinsburg, fought and defeated them, inflicting a heavy loss, and driving them back to
Harper's Ferry.
Our loss is stated to have been Rumor adds that our cavalry had crossed the
Potomac into
Maryland.
The report is said to have been brought by a man who was in the fight; but if it is true, nothing is known about it in official quarters.
The latest reliable intelligence we had from the
Valley was a dispatch from
General Early, stating that he had pressed the enemy back to
Harper's Ferry, and it is hardly probable that he would have ventured forth from that stronghold to give battle to our troops.
The whole story may be classed among those Sunday rumors started by somebody to furnish a theme for gossip.
Another Rumor.
It was currently reported yesterday that the enemy had landed a force at the
White House, on the
Pamunkey river, twenty-four miles from
Richmond, and that their advance had reached
Tunstall's station.
The numerical strength ot this force is not mentioned, but those who credit the report believe that it is a body on raiding purposes intent.
A well informed gentleman, who left
King William county yesterday morning, gives it as his opinion that the story is entirely without foundation.
