The News.
The Richmond and Petersburg lines.
On Monday night, the enemy, supposed to be Kantz's cavalry, drove in our pickets posted near Old Church, in the lower end of Hanover county, fifteen miles northeast of Richmond. Yesterday morning, our cavalry advanced and re-established our picket posts. Kantz was sent round to this section of country to cover the retreat of Sheridan's raiders, who, we learn upon good authority, were too fagged and jaded by their long and wearisome excursion to take care of themselves. Their track, from Fluvanna to the York river, is thickly strewn with the carcasses of their worn-out horses. We had apprehended that Sheridan would soon be at work on our lines of communication south of Richmond; but from what we learn of the condition of his command, men and beasts, some considerable time must elapse before it will again be fit for field operations.On Monday evening, between 2 and 3 o'clock, our batteries on the Jerusalem plankroad, near Petersburg, opened upon the Yankee observatory recently erected on the Avery House, about a mile distant. The Yankees replied to our fire, and the cannonade was kept up till dark. It is not known what damage the observatory suffered from our fire.
Grant still holds a heavy force on Hatcher's run.
From North Carolina.
There were reports current, yesterday, that General Johnston had again whipped the enemy near Bentonsville; no official intelligence to that effect was, however, received during the day. The battle of Sunday seems to have been one of those sudden and brilliant coups for which General Johnston is famous.It was expected that Sherman, having massed his whole force, would attack Johnston on Monday morning, but we have reason to believe that he failed to come up to time. The fact, no doubt, is, that Sherman's troops are not the men they were when they started from Savannah. A toilsome march, through the marshes and sands of South Carolina, under the hot Southern sun, has taken much of the freshness, vigor and fight out of them.
From Tennessee — movements of Thomas, Rosecrans and Gillem — Rumored raid into Southwestern Virginia.
Recent advices from Tennessee are to the effect that Gillem has been reinforced by Thomas, with cavalry, at Knoxville, Tennessee, preparatory, it is thought, for a move into Southwestern Virginia.Thomas has garrisoned Tunnel Hill and Chattanooga with three regiments at each place. Three small regiments of negroes, Dutch and Irish, are at Bridgeport, and two regiments at Stevenson. The garrisons are very small from Stevenson to Huntsville.
The rest of Thomas's army is at Huntsville, Decatur and Eastport.
Rosecrans has five brigades in Middle Tennessee, scouring the country for supplies and recruits. The "rebel" soldiers they catch have the choice of joining the Yankees or being shot.--Stokes's brigade is the most conspicuous in the work.
Preparations for the attack on Mobile.
We learn that the garrison at Pensacola was six thousand strong on the 8th. Their preparations continue for operations on Mobile and Selma.
