which the Union force was divided, aud, bj a bril¬ 
liant piece of strategy, succeeded in capturing a 
large number of rebel prisoners at Corinth. After 
the evacuation of Corinth, Gen. Pope pursued the 
fugitive Beauregard down the Mobile Railroad, 
capturing a great many prisoners, arms, &c. He 
was engaged in this duty when summoned to Wash¬ 
ington. 
Items aud Incidents. 
McClellan a Worker. — Mr. Raymond, in 
N. Y. Times , says:—“No one who has not spent 
some time here, can understand how thoroughly 
Gen. McClellan’s time and attention are occupied 
with his public duties. He examines personally 
every part of his works and every foot of the rebel 
ground accessible to his observation. Every earth¬ 
work thrown up, every gun mounted, every position 
taken, every regiment moved, and almost every 
gun fired, are guided by his personal direction. 
Every hour, not spent in the saddle, is thus absorbed 
in receiving reports and giving directions to his 
subordinate Generals, and any needless trespass 
upon his time and attention, which are absorbed in 
these duties, is an injury to the service and the 
country.” 
How to Dispose ok Guerrillas.— Some of the 
orders relating to bushwhackers or guerrillas, are 
peculiarly significant. We give the point of a few 
of them: 
Secretary Stanton says—“ Let them swing.” 
Gen. Dix advises to “shoot them on the spot” 
Gen. Schofield says — “ Execute them immedi¬ 
ately.” 
Gen. Blunt says—“Give them no uuarter.” 
in conjunction with the evident movement towards 
a speedy evacuation, bewildered the speculations of 
the uninitiated, but Cot. Ingalls, under whose direc¬ 
tions the evacuation was progressing, moved about 
as cool as a summer’s morning. 
The reports from the front on Thursday evening 
continued favorable, heavy skirmishing having 
taken place on the right resulting in the repulse of 
the enemy, and a few more of the wounded arrived, 
who reported everything progressing most satisfac¬ 
torily, while all the indications were that a general 
battle along the whole line would take place next 
day (Friday.) The trains were kept in motion all 
night, carrying forward munitions of war, while the 
wagon trains were still lining the roads wi th commis¬ 
sary stores. 
The Great At. arm. —On Friday morning, the 
first item of nows from the front, received by tele¬ 
graph. was a gratifying announcement that Stone¬ 
wall .Jackson and Ewell, in attempting to turn the 
right flunk, were repulsed by Gen. McCall with his 
Pennsylvania Reserves, and driven back with great 
slaughter. This attempt of Jackson was made at 
three o’clock in the morning, and had closed at six 
o’clock, with a signal victory. This repulse is said 
to have been one of the most decisive and destruc¬ 
tive of the war, the enemy being put to a complete 
rout, with very small loss on our side. Although at 
night, and intended for a surprise, the gallant Penn¬ 
sylvanians were tound to be wide awake. There 
was, however, every indication of a general battle 
Lord of the Universe! shield us and guide us, 
Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun, 
Thou hast united 11 s; who slmU divide us? 
Keep us. O, keep us, the many in one! 
Up with our banner bright, 
Sprinkled with starry light, 
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, 
While through the sounding sky 
Loud rings tire Nation’s cry— 
Union and Liberty! one evermore!” 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., JULY 12. 1862. 
THE WAR’S PROGRESS 
Rebel Means of Escape from Richmond. 
The correspondent of Philadelphia Press says: 
Everyone knows that Richmond lies on the North 
side of an unfordable river, and that Federal troops 
encompass it from the North around to the South¬ 
east, with gunboats to the South. But two railroads 
pass out of the city which are not rendered useless 
to the enemy—the Petersburg railroad and the Dan¬ 
ville and Greensborough combination road. The 
former runs South, but the proximity of our gun¬ 
boats to Petersburg renders it such a dangerous 
passage, that unless forced by necessity no evacua¬ 
tion of the city will be made in that direction. The 
other runs eight miles South-west, then divides, one 
branch running South to Greensborough, the other 
continuing the original direction to Danville, both of 
which are near the North Carolina line. Three 
bridges cross t he James river to Manchester, a small 
suburb on the opposite bank, two being splendid 
structures, but the third old and dangerous. 
For about eight miles back from the river the sur¬ 
face of the country is generally low and swampy, 
being scarcely passable elsewhere than over the 
roads, and they would soon be trod into a terrible 
mire by a marching force of any great number. 
Beyond this, except in the direction of Petersburg, 
where swamp predominates, the land is high, rolling, 
and fertile, and before the war, was assiduously cul¬ 
tivated. This beautiful country extends south and 
west until it crosses the North Carolina line in one 
direction, and loses itself among the spurs of the 
Blue Ridge in the other. 
Some of the large warehouses are at the lower end 
of the town, a lock and canal of sufficient capacity 
to pass boats drawing eight feet of water being 
the means of communication with the slack-water 
navigation of the Upper James River. Goods are 
lightered along this canal to the higher parts of the 
city. 
If the enemy make up their minds to evacuate 
Richmond, instead of risking all in one last grand 
battle or if McClellan compels the evacuation, they 
have but two courses before tlmm; either to go west 
by turnpike and common roads, through the mud 
and mire of the swamps, for the only railroad in 
this direction, the Virginia Central, we control; or 
to go south-west, using the Danville and Greens 
borough Railroad and the line to Petersburg, so far 
as it is uncontrollable by federal gunboats. For an 
army as large as theirs these would be slow means 
of evacuation, and as the roads, turnpike and rail, 
leave Richmond liy bridges, Union guns from a 
hundred points almost could batter down every 
stick and stone of all of them. 
Thus the rebel evacuation would be a slow pro¬ 
cess, and of course, the better to disguise it while 
making, there would be all sorts of desperate attacks 
upon our lines. Sorties, and charges, and 
trains of transports in tow. The vessels nearest the 
landing were also stored full of commissary stores 
and munitions, and moved out in the stream. The 
immeuse piles of boxes of crackers, barrels of pork, 
and other stores along the landing, wore again cov¬ 
ered over with bales of hay, so as to be ready at a 
moment's notice to apply the torch for their destruc¬ 
tion, if it should become necessary. 
There was great commotion among the crowds of 
contrabands, who have been found most efficient 
laborers, and who have been used to great, advan¬ 
tage in the commissary and munition departments. 
They soon understood that,danger was apprehended, 
and being assured by Col. Ingalls that they would 
not be l.eft behind to meet the vengeance of their 
masters, went to work with renewed energy. Stores 
aud munitions everywhere disappeared from the 
landings with great rapidity,and were beingpacked 
on the wharf-boats and vessels contiguous. The 
wives and children of the contrabands also soon 
made their appearance, and with bundles and 
babies, took positions on the canal boats as they 
were floated out in the stream. 
The mail steamer, which should have left for 
Fortress Monroe at 7 o’clock in the morning, was 
ordered to be detained, and at 9 o’clock a dispatch 
was received that a general battle was progress¬ 
ing along the whole line, the enemy haviDg 
renewed the attempt to flank Gen. Porters posi¬ 
tion on the right wing. At 11 o’clock a second 
dispatch announced that Gen. Porter had driven the 
enemy before him and repulsed them three times 
with terrific slaughter, and was then ordered by 
Gen. McClellan to fall back. This dispatch was a 
signal for renewed energy In the work of evacua- 
Okmshy McKnight Mitchell, whose portrait 
we have the pleasure of presenting to Rural 
readers, is a native of Kentucky, but received his 
cadetship from Ohio, in 1825. 
In 1829 be graduated in the same class as the rebel 
Generals Joe Johnston and Lee. He served three 
years as Professor of Mathematics at West Point, 
and was a short while in the army. But in 1832, 
becoming weary of inaction, be resigned his com¬ 
mission, Studied law, and opened an office at Cincin¬ 
nati, Ohio. From ls34 to 1844 he filled the chair of 
Professor of Mathematics in the Cincinnati College, 
and in 1845 founded the Cincinnati Observatory. 
Ilis love for astronomy induced him to devote most 
ofhistime to the study of this science. He published 
several works on the subject, which attained consid¬ 
erable popularity; and in ls58, when the troubles 
in the Dudley Observatory, Albany, N. Y„ left, it 
without a manager, he was called to (he vacant post. 
Astronomy, however, did not engross his time. 
Like McClellan, Burnside, Curtis, and others, he 
was a railroad man, and for many years filled the 
office of Engineer of the Ohio A Mississippi Line. 
He was also at one time Adjutant-General of ()hio. 
In every position he was remarkable tor energy, 
boldness, and thoroughness. 
When the war broke out, he was among the first 
to inculcate the necessity ot defending the unity of 
the country at all hazards. He was one of the 
speakers at the great meeting on Union Square, New 
York city, and his speech was probably the most 
thrilling that was delivered (hat, day. He said: 
“ 1 owe allegiance to no particular State, and 
never did, and, God helping me, 1 never will. I 
owe allegiance to the Government of the United 
States. A poor boy, working my way with my own 
hands, at the age of twelve turned out to take care 
of myself as best I could, and beginning by earning 
but four dollars per month, 1 worked my way on¬ 
ward, until this glorious Government of die United 
States gave me a chance at ihe Military Academy at 
West Point. There I landed with my knapsack on 
my back, and, I tell you God’s truth, just a quarter 
of a dollar in my pocket. There I swore allegiance 
to the Government of the United Stales. I did not. 
abjure the love of niy own Stale, nor of my adopted 
State, bat high above that was proudly triumphant 
and predominant ury love for our common country.” 
His speech was continued with a fervor that held 
his hearers enthralled, and amidst his remarks, the 
following words also fell from his lips:—‘When the 
rebels come to their senses, we will receive them with 
open arms; but un I il that time, while they are trailing 
our glorious banner in the dust, when they scorn it, 
curse it, condemn it, and trample it under foot, I 
must smite, and in God’s name I w'ill smite, and as 
long as I have strength I will do it- * * * tarn 
ready, God help me, to do my duly. I am ready to 
fight in the ranks or out. of the ranks. Having been 
educated in the Academy, having been in the army 
several years, having served as a commander of a 
volunteer company for ten years, and having served 
as an Adjutant-General, I feel I am ready for some¬ 
thing. I only ask to bo permitted to act; and in 
God’s name, give me something to do!” 
lie was appointed Brigadier-General from New 
York, and sent to Kentucky. There he obtained 
command of a division of Buell’s army, which was 
the first of our troops in Bowling Green. From 
Nashville, he was sent due south through Murfrees¬ 
boro’ aud Columbia. Near the latter place he left 
the bulk of his division under one of the brigadiers, 
and with a brigade of infantry, a squadron of cav¬ 
alry, and two batteries, he made an extraordinary 
forced march on Huntsville, which place he occu¬ 
pied before the rebels suspected his proximity. He 
seized the telegraph office, and, it is believed, ob¬ 
tained some useful information in the shape of 
dispatches from and to Beauregard. Since then 
bo has been dashing hither and thither on the Mem¬ 
phis & Charleston Road, until now he holds two 
hundred miles of the line, from Stevenson. Alabama, 
to Tuscumbia. He is one of our most dashing and 
splendid Generals. 
Gen. Mitchell, like many of our more prominent 
generals, is also an author. lie has sent forth to the 
world several of the finest astronomical works, some 
of which have been reprinted in a popular form in 
England and on the European continent. His 
“ Planetary and Stellar Worlds,” and his *• Popular 
Astronomy,” have become text-books, and his 
” Astronomy of the Bible” is now in the press. He 
has also written three other works, which we believe 
have not jet been published. His age is about 57. 
mines 
would all have to be adequately prepared for by our 
troops before hand, so as to be rendered defeats 
instead of victories to the enemy. Yorktown was 
defended by just such means, and at no time with 
greater vim than just before the evacuation, and for 
all of these the greatest amount of all sorts of mili¬ 
tary material must be in readiness. There are no 
indications, however, of a rebel evacuation. If at 
this moment they are at it, they perform their work 
with a quietness and skill which never were equal¬ 
led in the history of earthly wars. 
along, above and below the Pamunkey Bridge, so 
as to give them free play for the use of their guns. 
On the same evening we had a report from head¬ 
quarters that a division of the rebels, the forces of 
“Stonewall” Jackson and Gen. Ewell, were ap¬ 
proaching, and threatening to open the way by the 
right flank for a raid on the White House. In the 
meantime the trains on the railroad were kept run¬ 
ning night and day, carrying forward nothing but 
ammunition and munitions of war. with siege and 
rocket trains aud field pieces. 
Doings on Thursday.— The fact that the gun¬ 
boats had taken position in front of the landing, 
with their guns out and shotted, and the sweeping 
away of the trees, which was still progressing, gave 
renewed activity to the rush of the camp followers 
(or passes by the mail-boat to Fortress Monroe, and 
our population commenced to be rapidly depleted. 
The down train from the front reported all quiet, 
with the exception of certain mysterious movements 
within our lines, that were not understandable by 
civilians. The immense stock of stores and forage 
at Dispatch Station, eleven miles from White House, 
were being carried off with great rapidity, and sub¬ 
sequently we learned that an immense train of 
wagons had been running trom that point all day, 
with forage and stores, and that the greatest activity 
in their removal was being observed. In the eve¬ 
ning it was announced that not a bale of hay, a 
bushel of oats, a barrel of beef, a box of crackers, 
was left 
While all these preparations were going on, indi¬ 
cating the probable intention of evacuating the 
landing on shore, the numerous steamers and tugs, 
probably fifty in number, had been busy towing 
down tho river to West 1’oint. a distance of fifty 
miles, through its tortuous windings, long lines of 
brigs and barks laden with stores. The vessels that 
were scattered about in the vicinity were also gath¬ 
ered together in separate groups and anchored in 
near Turkey Island bridge. Ho immediately 
opened communication with Com. Rodgers, of the 
Potomac flotilla, and through him with Washington. 
The result may be that the steam transports may 
relieve his soldiers of the fatigue of marching on 
Richmond, by landing them near the rebel capital, 
after the gunboats have cleared away the obstruc¬ 
tions. Our army is now extricated from the mala¬ 
rious swamps of the Chickahominy, and is on the 
high grounds of James river. 
From the correspondence of the Baltimore Amer¬ 
ican , we gather the following: 
At the White House, on Wednesday, matters were 
progressing as usual, with the exception that there 
had been a check in the landing of stores of all 
descriptions, while those on the landings were 
being rapidly loaded in wagons and moved off 
toward the left flank. Several steamers, with large 
strings of vessels laden with forage and subsistence, 
had also been started down the river, with orders to 
proceed to City Point, on the James river. This 
reversal in the course of transportation, occasioned 
considerable comment and speculation, but was 
ascertained to be the fulfillment of an order direct 
from Gen. McClellan. Some supposed it to be 
intended for the supply of a portion ol Gen. Bum- 
side’s army, which rumor said had reached the 
James river to co-operate with him. An order was 
also received from headquarters early on Wednes¬ 
day, to prohibit any one from coming forward to the 
lines on any consideration whatever, unless the par¬ 
ties belonged to the army. This order was so per¬ 
emptory, that even those connected with the press, 
some of whom had come down to forward their 
reports by the mail-boat, were prevented from 
returning, and others who had smuggled themselves 
through, were promptly sent back. 
Ou the same day Gen. Casey came down aud took 
command of the small land force, not exceeding 
GOO men, and in the evening was notified to prepare 
at any moment for the entire evacuation ot the post, 
and the preservation, as fur as practicable, of the 
public property. Similar orders were also sent to 
Col. Ingalls. He immediately communicated with 
axes, 
The New Uomiiiuntlcr in Virginia. 
John Pope was born in Kentucky in 1822. He 
was appointed a cadet in the West Point Military 
Academy, from Illinois, in 1838; graduated in 1842, 
and was commissioned a brevet Second Lieutenant 
in the Corps of Topographical Engineers on the 1st 
of July of that year. General Pope, in the Mexi¬ 
can war, was attached to the army of General Tay¬ 
lor. At the battle of Monterey he won his First 
Lieutenancy, and for gallantry at Buena Vista was 
brevetted a Captain, his commission bearing date 
February 23, 1847. He was still a Captain in the 
Engineer Corps when the rebellion broke out, and 
was one of the officers detailed by the War Depart¬ 
ment to escort President Lincoln to Washington. 
^ hen the President increased the army by calling 
lor Volunteers, Capt. Pope was named as a Briga¬ 
dier-General, and appointed a command in Mis¬ 
souri. Gen. Pope’s operations In Northern Missouri, 
in re-opening and protecting railroad commuuica- 
lion, and driving out guerrilla parties, are well 
known. The most important engagement with 
which he was there connected was that of Blackwa- 
ter, where, by the co-operation of J eff. C. Davis, a 
large number ol rebel prisoners were taken, and 
their army routed. Gen. Halleck intrusted him 
with the command of the Army of the Mississippi, 
destined to co-operate with Flag-Officer Foote’s flo- 
Ulla. At the head ol a well-appointed army, Gen, 
Pope, left Commerce, Mo., marched on to New 
1 ad rid. captured that place, and acted with Com- 
modere Foote in driv ing the rebels from Island No. 
to into a well-conceived trap, where 5,000 of them 
^ ere taken prisoners by Pope’s army. When Hal- 
uk took command on the Upper Tennessee, he 
arrested Pope’s course down the Mississippi, when 
o was about.to commence the attack ou Fort Pil- 
o\v. V ith his army he proceeded, in obedience to 
ju ers, to 1 ittsburg, and was assigned a position on 
Lieut. Winslow. The Fort Henry will be three 
hundred teet long, pierced for twenty-two guns, 
aud will be so constructed as to be serviceable as a 
sea-going steamer. Lieut. Hall will be in command. 
Condition of A Hairs before Richmond. 
Latest advices from McClellan, at Washing¬ 
ton, on the 30th ulfc, were up to 2 o’clock Saturday 
P. M. Up to that time he had successfully carried 
out the plan he pointed out sometime ago, which 
plan was to swing his right wing toward the rear, 
which included all the forces north of half way 
between Bottom’s Bridge and New Bridge, at the 
same time advance his left wing toward James 
river, opening communication with the gunboats. 
The attack of the enemy Thursday week, in great 
force, necessitated this strategic movement, and in 
changing his base, of course White House landing 
was abandoned. All sick and wounded, ordnance 
aud commissary stores, troons and nrouertv. were 
the fleet, and a division of men, armed with 
proceeded during the night to cut down the trees 
around White House, and subsequently all the way 
