The War News.
Still all is quiet on the north side of
James river.
The Yankee and Confederate armies are still strengthening their respective earthworks, but there is no sign of an early renewal of active hostilities.
Our river batteries continue to hammer away, with little intermission, at
Butler's workmen on the
Dutch Gap canal, and deserters say our shells are very destructive to Yankee and negro lives there, and materially retard their operations.
Our only reason for doubting the effectiveness of our fire is this story of the deserters, who are liars all.
To the lines south of
James river, though there has been no battle, and to all appearances as little prospect of one as on the north side, still the term "all quiet" by no means applies.
On the contrary, there is an incessant, ceaseless war of pickets and sharpshooters, varied, if not relieved, by an interchange of cannon shots.
On many parts of the line a man cannot show his nose above the entrenchments without becoming the target for a dozen The slightest circumstance suffices to bring on a heavy cannonade and mortar shelling, which sometimes even seems to break out spontaneously and last for an hour or more, the rifle shell skimming over the works and the great mortar bombs fizzing and bursting in every direction.
One of these bombardments was brought on a few nights ago by some of our men firing at a flock of wild geese that passed over camp flying low and uttering their weird chant.
To be in the trenches on the south side, is to be in a continual battle.
All, therefore, is not quiet along those lines.
An attack on
Wilmington has long been hinted at, and, indeed, anticipated.
There is no doubt that a formidable fleet is fitting out at
Beaufort, North Carolina, and
Fortress Monroe, and troops are being collected from different points for the special purpose of making an early movement on that place.
As good fortune would have it, the month of November is nigh; and terrible are the storms which beat upon the shoals of the
North Carolina coast — the harbor is bar-locked and land- locked, and none but the best pilots can get in at all. As to lying off the mouth of Wilmington harbor for any length of time, it is simply impossible; no vessel can live there ten days without going to pieces.
The enemy seem to be considerably exercised about the movements of
Hood.
He has, as anticipated, possession of
Tunnel Hill and
Dalton, and has been tearing up the railroad towards
Tilton.
He has been for the last week "just where
Sherman wanted him," and we presume he is there now. If he should blow up the tunnel, which is nearly three quarters of a mile long, and through a gravel hill, it would interfere seriously with the operations of the Western and Atlantic railroad, by which
Sherman hopes to get his supplies — when he does get them.
From the Valley.
Passengers by last night's Central train brought no news of importance.
Sheridan is believed to be moving in the direction of
Winchester, as his communications are in danger, he has no means of subsistence, and he is far removed from his base of supplies.
Rumors are afloat that
Mosby has made another grand capture; but at last accounts the rumor was still flying, and could be traced to no reliable source.
It is said that all the troops, with the exception of a very few, have been withdrawn from
Florida, and that the country is once more in the enjoyment of quiet.
