The situation at Petersburg.
The situation at Petersburg remains unchanged, if we may except a slight advance of the enemy's lines. There was continued skirmishing yesterday, at times quite heavy, but nothing was accomplished. The Express says:‘ Our forces, after driving back the Yankee column of advance on Saturday, retired during the night to a more eligible situation nearer the Boydton plankroad. As soon as this movement was discovered, the enemy again advanced his lines, and on Sunday occupied the farms of Dr. Albert Bossieux and Mr. Oscar Pegrain, their pickets making bold to enter the residences of these gentlemen. On one portion of their advance, the Yankees endeavored to dislodge a body, of our troops occupying a rise of ground, but were easily and handsomely repulsed with loss.
’ On Sunday, our batteries opened upon and drove the enemy from the dwellings above mentioned, their fire being so accurate as to render these quarters too hot for comfortable accommodation.
Yesterday the enemy's line of battle extended through Pegram's and Bossieux's plantations, with their pickets in advance. It is unnecessary to state the exact positions of our army, but will let the Yankees find it out for themselves, which they will to their cost if they persist in their efforts to reach the Southside railroad.
The enemy's pickets yesterday occupied the "W. Davis" house, west of the Weldon railroad, our skirmishers on that point retiring. There is nothing gained in this movement, however.
During the past few nights the trains of Grant's new railroad have been constantly in motion --running from the City Point to the Weldon road. The noise of their movements can be distinctly heard by persons on the suburbs, and even in the city on a quiet night. Night before last cheering could be plainly distinguished in that direction, as if the trains were moving up reinforcements to the right. Grant may, or he may not, be sending troops to his left, but we opine that he is practicing the same game of deception in running his trains so busily, and causing his men to cheer so lustily, in hearing of our troops. We have no doubt, however, that he has largely reinforced his new position, though not to that extent that he would like us to believe.
We have intelligence thus far of the presence of two corps massed on our right and engaged in the recent battles there, viz: the Fifth, commanded by Warren, and the Ninth, formerly commanded by Burnside, but since his relief by General Gibbon. These corps, as have the others of Grant's army, have been greatly strengthened by the assignment of new recruits to their ranks, and now number probably eight or ten thousand men each.
Since Grant established himself in front of Petersburg, he has lost five thousand men for every mile he has advanced. If our readers will take the trouble to count his losses in taking the Weldon road, thence to the Vaughan and now to the Squirrel Level road, they will find this a correct estimate. At this rate it will cost him thirty thousand more men to reach the Southside. More than that, we reckon.
