The War news.
It is more than probable that
Grant is making preparations for that "brilliant move" which we have been so often assured he had in contemplation, and which a Northern paper of the 22d announced as about to commence.
On Tuesday night it was known that a large force of the enemy was crossing to this side of
James river on their pontoons.
From two to three corps, it was supposed, crossed in the darkness, and yesterday morning a very large wagon train followed.
Yesterday morning their advance deployed in front of a body of our troops, who fell back from the line of breastworks they occupied near
New Market, about nine miles below the city, to a stronger position, where they could not be flanked by the largely superior force in their front.
During the day, in some skirmishing that took place, prisoners were captured from the 10th and 19th (
Canby's and
Hancock's) army corps, showing that a large portion of the
Yankee army has crossed to this side.
It would appear from this that
Grant has come once more to try his luck in the swamps of the fatal
Chickahominy, and that once more he is to strew the old fighting ground with the corpses of his soldiers.
This may be economy, for they were dying so rapidly, and dying so idle, beyond the
Appomattox that the
Yankee nation was getting tired of it. More blood is wanted by
Grant's masters, and he is about to yield to the demand.
The armies in Georgia.
In another portion of the paper will be found some very late and interesting Northern news.
The death of
Major General McPherson (who won all the victories ever won by the
Yankee army under
Grant) is confirmed, and will prove a serious blow to the enemy's operations in
Georgia.
McPherson was the ruling adviser with
Sherman, as he had been with
Grant, and was possessed of great caution and much ability.
He is the man who has led all the flank movements which have resulted in the flanking of
Gen. Johnston from
Dalton back to the rear of the
Chattahoochee river.
It was in making a flank movement on
East Point — which, had it been successful, would have insured the isolation and siege of
Atlanta — that he was himself struck in the flank by
Hardee and lost his life.
There is no man in
Sherman's army who approaches him as a commander except
Thomas, who though successful as a fighting General, has no reputation as a strategist.
The Valley.
There is nothing further from the
Valley, except the report that we get through Northern papers that
Gen. Averill, notorious as a raider and spoon thief in
Western Virginia, was killed in the recent Confederate victory by
Gen. Early.
was yesterday represented by passengers who came over as quiet, with the exception of occasional firing from the enemy's batteries.
