July 2.—The Richmond Whig of this date contained the following: “If it be true that the confederate forces occupy Harrisburgh, the attention of the commanding general will no doubt be directed to the coal-fields, which lie within forty or fifty miles of that city. His first aim will be to cut all the railroad connections, and thus put a stop to the transportation of fuel. His next will be to destroy the most costly and not easily replaced machinery of the pits. Whether he would stop at this is questionable. He might set fire to the pits, withdraw the forces sent out on this special duty, and leave the heart of Pennsylvania on fire, never to be quenched until a river is turned into the pits, or the vast supply of coal is reduced to ashes. The anthracite coal is found in large quantities in no other part of the world but Pennsylvania. Enormous quantities are used in the United States navy, the countless workshops and manufactories of the North, in the river boats, and even upon locomotives. It cannot well be replaced by any other fuel. The bituminous coal which is found near Pittsburgh would not answer the purpose, even if it would bear the cost of transportation. Our troops already hold the railroads and canals leading from the Cumberland coal-fields. All that is needed is to seize the anthracite fields, destroy the roads and the machinery of the pits, set fire to the mines, and leave them. Northern industry will thus be paralyzed at a single blow.
“These views may have induced General Lee to move upon Harrisburgh. We doubt whether he would fire the mines, but the destruction of the Mauch Chunk Railroad and pit implements would be as legitimate as blowing up tunnels and aqueducts or burning bridges. Of one thing we may be sure, that whatever is best to be done will be done by General Lee, and if he thinks fit to destroy the Pennsylvania mines they will certainly bo destroyed. Should he leave them untouched, it will be for the best of reasons. But it is impossible not to indulge the hope that he will avail himself of the tremendous power which the possession of the coal-flelds, even temporarily, would confer.”
—A skirmish occurred near Bottom’s Bridge, Va., in which Sergeant Barnett, of company C, Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, was killed. There were no other casualties. The Fifth Pennsylvania captured twenty-five prisoners. — The United States steamer Maumee was launched at Brooklyn, N. Y.
—General Neal Dow was captured by a party of rebel scouts at a private residence near Clinton, La., and sent to Richmond, Va.—The rebel blockade-runner Britannia was captured by the National gunboat Santiago de Cuba.—At Baltimore, Md., the following order was issued by the General Commanding :
“Until further orders, the citizens of Baltimore city and county are prohibited from keeping arms in their houses unless enrolled in volunteer companies for the defence of their homes.” The dwellings of citizens were visited by the Provost-Marshal and the police, for arms, in accordance with this order.
—General William Jackson, with one thousand seven hundred men, and two pieces of artillery, attacked the Union troops at Beverly, Va., but was repulsed and routed with some loss. The rebels expected to make an easy prize of the garrison, which contained the Tenth Virginia infantry, Captain Ewing’s battery, and one company of cavalry, under the command of Colonel Harris, of the Tenth Virginia, who was ordered by General Averill to hold the place until he could reach him with reinforcements, which he did ; but before their arrival, the rebels were repulsed and the Nationals were in pursuit.—The battle of Gettysburgh was resumed at early daylight this morning.—(Docs. 20 and 118.)
—The rebel Impressment Commissioners of the several States, met in convention at Atlanta, Ga., to-day. Virginia, North-Carolina, and Florida were not represented, and the other States only partially. Consequently the Convention adjourned to the twenty-seventh instant for a full attendance.
—A picked force of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, under General Foster in person, left Newbern, N. C., on an expedition inland.—The battle of Cabin Creek, Indian Territory, ended on this day.—(Doc. 30.)
