The enemy on the South side.
The
Yankees are making their appearance in force on the south side of
James river.--On Thursday morning a regiment of infantry landed about ten miles below
Suffolk, on the
Nansemond river.
About ten miles from there another regiment, with cavalry and six pieces of artillery, landed and marched to
Cherry Grove, where it formed a junction with the first force, both being under the command of
Gen. Graham.
Still another regiment, the 23d Massachusetts, under
Col. Love, landed Thursday morning at
Rock Landing in
Surry county, on
James river. Four deserters, who claimed to belong to the 8th New York, came in and surrendered.
These deserters, we hear, gave very conflicting accounts of
Burnside's movements, stating positively on Thursday that
Burnside was preparing to move up the
Peninsula, and on Friday declaring that they knew nothing about
Burnside.
They were brought up to
Petersburg.
The conflicting accounts they give of
Burnside would indicate that they are spies, and have deserted for the sole purpose of deceiving our officers as to
Burnside's movements.
Information from a gentleman who was within five miles of
Portsmouth on Wednesday night states that
Burnside's forces were janding in large numbers at
Portsmouth all day Wednesday.
The enemy hold
Suffolk, and have sent out forest in every direction.
They now occupy every road leading to that town.
A large force, estimated by some to number between three and four thousand, quartered at Philips's Mill Thursday night, nine miles this side of
Suffolk; one thousand stayed at
Hardy Chapman's, one mile from Zatil, on the
Norfolk and
Petersburg road, the same night and a party who was at Wind or went off Thursday night in the direction of
Franklin.
Spears is said to be also operating in the direction of
Franklin.
