The New York Herald Newspaper, May 8, 1862, Page 3

s » \ the war; because, wh mainistration ether > , by bis MCLELLAN'S VICTORY. . Highly Important trom the Peninsula. The Desperate Struggle on Monday. Arrival of General McClellan q on the Field. THE RESULT. Splendid Triumph of the Union Troops. Williamsburg Evacuated by the Rebels. SKETCH OF THAT ANCIENT CITY. ITS OCCUPATION BY THE “QUAKER ARMY.” Bver Two Thousand Rebels Taken Prisoners and More Coming In. Colonel Dwight, of the Excelsior Brig- ade, and Colonel Johnson, of the Eighth New Jersey, Among the Wounded. INWARD TO RICHMOND! OTHER BATTLES IN PROSPECT. The Rebel Defensive Line of the Chickahominy. Phere Can be “No Higher Honor Than Belonging to the Army the Potomac.” SENERAL MCLELLAN'S BULLETINS, &e. ~ &e., &e, Wasuincroy, May 7, 1862. rhe enemy have evacuated Williamsburg tnd fled towards Richmond. Our army is following them up vigorously. The battle of Monday was very severe, and ihe loss of the rebels proves to have been large. GENERAL MYCLELLAN’S BULLETINS. Heapquarrers, ARMY OF THE Potomac, Wit.iamssura, Va., May 6, 1862. Son. E. M. Sranton, Secretary of War :— Ihave the pleasure to announce the occu- sation of this place, as the result of the hard ought action of yesterday. The effect of Hancock’s brilliant engagement vesterday afternoon was to turn the left o. heir line of works. ‘We was strongly reinforced, and the enemy sbandoned the entire position during the night, eaving all his sick and wounded in our hands. is loss yesterday was very severe. We have some three hundred uninjured pri- oners, and more than a thousand wounded. Their loss in killed is heavy. The victory is complete. Ihave sent cavalry in pursuit. The conduct of our men has been excellent, ~eth scarcely an exception. ‘The enemy’s works. are very extensive and exceedingly. strong, both -in respect to position and the works themselves. @ur loss was heavy in Hooker's division, but sery little on other parts of the field. Hancock’s, guccess was gained with a loss of not over twenty killed and wounded. The weather is good to-day; but there is (reat difficulty in getting up food, on account Wf the roads. Very few wagons have yet come ay ye T authorized to follow the examples of other generals, and direct the names of battles to be placed on colors of regiments? We have other battles to fight before reach- ang Richmond. G. B. McCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. Wirtamssure, May 6, 1862. Mon. BE. M. Stanton :— ; Every hour proves our victory more com- plete. ‘The enemy’s loss is great, especially in officers. \ have just heard of five more of their guns ‘being captured. T'visoners are constantly arriving. G. B. McCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. cemeral McClellan’s Despatches to His Wife. Wiuiiamssuna, May 6, 1862. \ Airs. Geo. B. McCieian, Fifth Avenue Hotel, Nev York :— The battle of Williamsburg proved a bril- Want victory. We have the enemy's strong works, the ‘own, and all the sick and wounded of the enemy, 4c. None of you,” friends injnred, though our sone is considerable? That of the enomy was ‘NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1652.-TRIPLE SHEET. severe. The Quaker army is doing very woll— Hancock was superb yesterday. Tam in Joe Johnston’s headquarters of yes- terday. This is a beautiful town, and quite old and picturesque. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN. §) SECOND DESPATCH TO MRS. M’CLELLAN, Witiramssura, May 6, 1862, The more we know the more complete our victory proves to be. All goes well. THE BATTLE, Some of the Details of the Desperate Struggle om Monday Near Williams. burg. ‘Wituamesura, May 6, 1862, It was after ton o’elock on Sunday morning when our cavalry and artillery passed through Yorktown in pur- suit of the retreating enemy. They presented # mag- nificent appearance as they pushed past the rebel works and along the road the rebels had retreated. General Hooker's division and other divisions of our army fol- lowed close after the cavalry and artillery. During the whole of Sunday regimentsof infantry were leaving their encampments,in front of the deserted fortifications, and proceeding to the support of those which had taken the advante, In the course of a few hours our cavalry came in; contact with part of the rear guard of the enemy, and slight skirmish. ing took placo between the antagonistic. forces. The rebels covered their retreat with a number of pieces of artillery, which at particular points halted, wheeled into position,and threw shells, for the purpose of impeding the progress of our army. Some prisoners were taken by us, and a few casualties occurred, but no general en- counter with any considerabie body of the rebels had occurred before the fast approaching darkness rendered it prudent for our advrnce to halt for the night, and await the arrival of a sufficient number of infantry. ‘The main forees of the enemy having left their eamps at Yorktown and along the course of the Warwick river several days previous, they had abundant opportunity to secure themselves behind their interior line of works here at Williamsburg, which forms a portion ef their de- fences of the peninsula. At this place there is a chain of earthworks, including five redoubts, which is quite for- midable in character. When daylight dawned we found that the enemy was strongly intrenched, and had an im- mense force behind those works. The rebels were quite inclined to make an ebstinate resistance at this place. During the morning the advance bad several little skir- mishes with bodies of the enemy. From one of their redoubts on the right of our position they annoyed our men considerably. Gen. Smith, with two of bis brigades, attempted to take the work. Oneof these brigades took up a position to assault tho redoubt in front, while the other was sent round to the rightto attack it at the side orintherear. The rebels had secreted a large force iu the woods, near this work, and when our brigade ad- vanced tothe assault the rebels came out of the woods in which they were concealed and endeavored to outflank us, When this manquvre of the rebels was perceived, our brigade, in extricating itself from the critical position it was placed in, fought desperately unti! forced to retire be- fore their superior numbers at this point. The Second New Jersey brigade, in General Hooker’s division, suf- fored severely. Colonel A. J. Johnson, of the Eighth New Jersey regiment, was badly wounded in the breast. Colonel William M. Dwight, of the First regiment Excel- sior brigade, was also among the wounded. The First Massachusetts and Second New Hampshire regiments, which fought bravely in the battle of Bull run, were also engaged in this action, and lost quite a number of men, Quite a number of officers belonging to either ‘wide fell on the field. A charge made by a de- tachment from our cavalry was repulsed. During the engagement the enemy captured three of our batteries— namoly, the First and Sixth New York aud the First bat- tery of regular artillery. Captain Bramhall, in General Hooker’s division, lost his guns bécauso they became imbedded in the mud and all his horses were killed, and. when the enemy advanced to take them we had nota sufficient force of infantry near enough to support them. Hence tney had to be abandoned, ‘The tide of battle was evidently against us until at @ propitious moment, late in the afternoon, General McClelian appeared on the field in person. He was greeted by our soldiers with the greatest enthusiasm. He perceived at once the position of affairs. The difficullies by which our forces were sur- rounded at that critical moment called out the genius of his military mind, and thenceforward the former disas- ters were in part retrieved, and the fortunes of the day were in our favor. Gen. Hancock's brigade, by a brilliant bayonet charge succeeded in capturing two rebel redoubts and in driving the rebels from their position in that part of the line. General Kearne; division was also engaged in the action. Another rebel redoubt was cap- tured at the point of the bayonet, when night closed on the desperate conflict of that eventful day. Thus were the rebels signally defeated at their second defensive line. During the night they evacuated the portion of the position which they held when the battle closed, Neaving their dead and wounded on the field entirely neglected. Genera! McClellan followed up this advant- age as Napoleon would have done, and is fast in pur- suit of the fleeing In the meantime, at noon to- day, General razklin’s division started In transports up the York river {> ‘Test Point. When he effects a land- ing at that pis 1 probably cut off the retreat of a large porte routed rebel army. OTHEL DESPATCHES. ‘Yorxtown, May 6, 1862. Yesterday morning our troops followed up the retreat _ ing rebels with great rapidity, and overtook them at Williamsburg, where they fought all day. Atthe outset we took twoof their works, and wore advancing; but the exhaustion of those of our regiments which were earliest in the field, and which had bad no provisions during the day, compelled them to fall back, as they were utterly worn out. One of our batteries was Jost by getting imbedded in the mud, and its horses were shot. General MeCielian arrived on the ground at five o'clock, and assumed command, He directed allour ea, hausted troops to retire, filled their places with fresh men, drove back the enemy, repossessed the ground and works laken inthe morning, captured another breastwork and look about oue hundred and fifty prisoners. Mancock's brigade made a most brilliant charge. The firing was kept up until after dark, at which time everything looked well. To-day the whole army—re- serves, rogulars and all—is ordered up, and the battle will be renewed if the rebels stand. A strong force bas gone to West Point, and will attack the rebeis in the rear, No report of yesterday's losses ia yet received ‘Wiiuamssona, May 6, 1862. ‘The enemy evacuated this place and their works in front last night, the rear guard passing through about six @elock. At nine o'cluck General McCiellan and escort entered the town ant took possession. About one huudred and fifty of the enemy’s wounded were loft bebiud, without any rations, medicine or sur- geons. They also left ® number of their dead unburied. All of our wounded ia yesteraay’s engagement who fell in their hauds were left bebind, Colone! Dwight, of the Exeelsior brigade, who was severely wounded, and taken prisoner, was also left. In the engagement yesterday the enemy suffered ter- ribly. General Ricketts was killed, ‘The enemy had a force here yesterday of 60,000 mon, and only decided to evacuate after the brilliant bayonet charge of General Hancock. The town is very pleasantly located, and a majority of the white inhabitants are remaining. ‘The number of the enemy now is our hands will reach about one thousand, includin, wounded, Batrimons, May 7, 1862. ‘The regular news letter from Vid Puiat is received. st says the mail boat Nelly Baker arrived just before the Old Point boat left, and reported that Geueral McClellan ‘was in Williamsburg, having driven the enemy from his position there. A few captured cannon had been resaptured,and a whole division bad been thrown im tne rear of Williams- burg. The General Ricketts Reported K11) Wasninaton, May 7, 1862, Thave just seen our General Rickotts alive and well. All will be happy to know this fact. He joins McDowell's division, The Guneral Ricketts killed at Williamaburg isa rebol. Additional Details of the Battle, Wacnixeton, May 7, 1862, The four o'clock boat from Fortrees Monroe brought no authoatic wews frou Williamedurg The ourvesooudenta ute probably wit Savery ing for the last twelve months, can nd no other line on hich to fight. General Woodbury is @ graduate of West Poiet, was a major of engineers in the regular army when the war broke out, and superintended the construction of some of the most important of the works around Washington PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. The cavalry started in pursuit of the enemy this morning, and were followed by the light artillery. It cent sight to see squadron afier squadron of cavairy galloping over the plain and pressing forward with ardor in the pursuit. This afternoon some firing was heard in the direction of Williamsburg, and it is supposed that the enemy’s rear guard made a stand there, in order tocover the retreat of his main body. It isstated that in the engagement which ensued we captured several hundred prisoners. Lieuteuant James visited Yorktown this morniug, and found a number of letters there from different parts of the South, some extracts from which J enclose. SOUTURNN HOMNAST VS. SOUTHERN COCRAGR. ‘The following is am extract from a rebel letter found at Yorktown:—To Lieut. Sheppard, from his father. Bow!- ing Green, Monday, 24th. * * * “I was very sorry to learn from your letter that you had not re-eniisted. ‘To leave the service at such a time will tarnish your fair fame. Tbope your heart will fail you if you leave your country in this her hour of sore need. As to the justice of subjecting volunteers to draft, it does seein hard: but it is best for the defence of the country. In the Caro- line companies they have all re-enlisted, married men and ail, There are so few men left here that Caroline could not furnish one-third of ber quota without the re- enlistment of het volunteers. J begin to fear that even the troops now in service are not sufficiently drilled to stand before the hetter disciplined Yankee troops. It mustbe either lack of discipline or lack of courage. It ts evident that in all the late engagem:nts our soldiers did not stand their ground long, or that they had cowardly commanders. ‘Ab, me, we have boasted too much of Southern pluck. Since the battle of Manassas we have becn growing more arrogant and relf-sufficicnt, but we have now a terrible awakening from our delucions.”” which is distant from telegraphic communication, It will be seme time before a correct list of the casualties can be forwarded. Reported Retreat of the Rebels Across the Chickahominy. Fortress Moxnor, May 7, 1862. Arumor brought by mail by boat from Yorktown, stated that the enemy have erogsed the Chickabomioy, and destroyed the bridges in their rear. Genera) McClellan is still pursuing. Effect of the News of the Victory in Washington. Wasuisatom, May 7, 1862. ‘The result, thus far, of the operations on the peninsula and on the Rappahannock has demonstrated the wisdom of the plan of Gen. McClellan, which was approved by the President, but opposed by other members of the Cabinet. It is now apparent that if General McUlellan had been allowed to carry out bis plan without inter- ruption here, he would long ago have defeated the tebel army of the East, occupied Richmond, and brought the war virtually to an end. His success a, Williamsburg, after a brilliant and hard fought battle, with only a portion of his army at hand, has deeply mortified these who were yesterday howling against him, and actually encouraging rebel sympathizers with pre- dictions of his overwhelming defeat. ‘The news from Yorktown to-day has staggered the most violent of the haters of Genera] McClellan and the administration, and has occasioned the wildest delight among the friends of the President and ‘‘Littio Mac,” as General McClellan is styled. ‘The city is filled with rejoicing. The victory at Wil- Hamsburg is regarded univorsally as the boginning of the close of the war. ‘The ultra abolition faction are much chagrined, after ‘all their cries of ‘On to Richmond.” They don’t want the war ended just yet. They cursed General McClellan for not going on to Richmond when the roads wore im- passable; they curse him now for going on too fast to suit their purposes. Their disappointment is manifested in the bitterness of their denunciations. Camp Near Yorxtows, May 5, 1862, ‘THE WILITARY GOVERNOR OY YORKTOWN. The announcement in my ‘etter of yesterday, tha. General Fritz John Porter bad been appointed Military Governor of Yorktown proves to have been premature, The appointment has been conferred on Genera! Vao Alen, the newly made Brigadier General, and late in com mand of the Van Alen cavalry. He is said to bo a man thoroughly competent for the place. Intelligence of his appointment to the position has caused a pleasant revi val of feeling among the regiments of General Porter's division, who now hope to bo speedily ordered to take the position in advance, whieh they have held with such distinguished honor to themselves since leaving the banks of the Potomac, For the present, however, they remain in the camps they have occupied since our arrival here, but it will not be a much longer sojourn as they are now under orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. Seeing other divisions going away, which they havo been doing aly day, with faces toward Richmond, and hearing the roar of artillery in tho distance, makes them slightly uneasy in camp, and impatient to participate in the conflict with the enemy known to be going on near Williamsburg. ‘The leading tokens of activity to-day have been in prepar, ing rationsagainst the future march, despatchiug the sick to Cheeseman’s Landing, to be sent away to thogeneral hospitals, and playing enlivening airs by the bands, which’ now that the order, in force ever since coming here, pro- hibiting playing, has been rescinded, give full vent to their playing propensities and patriotism xs expressed through the inspiriting medium of brass and wind Instru- ments. This lively music makes slight amends for th® dullness engendered by drenching rain clouds and depart” ed divisions. IMPROVING THR APPEARANCE OF TEE TOWN. Sketch of Williamsburg. Williamsburg is @ city of Virginia, and was at one time the capital of the State, It is now the capital of the county of James City. It is situated at about ten miles from Yorktown, sixty miles from Richmond in a southeast direction, and about sixty-eight miles northwest of Norfolk, on a level plain between the James and York rivers, and atan equal distance of six miles from each. It is the oldest incorporated town in the State, and was and still is interesting in its historic associations. It was the seat of the royal government previous to the Revolution, and was afterwards the capital of the State until 1799. William and Mary College, founded at this place in 1692, is the oldest literary institution in North America, ex- cepting Harvard University, and was, previous to the rebellion, ina very flourishing condition. The library con- tained about 6,000 volumes, and the students in attend. ance generally numbered from one hundred to one hundred andfifty. Williamsburg is also the seat of the Fastern Lunatic Asylum, which at one time stood deservedly high for its neatness, order and comfortable accommo- dations. It had, iu 1860, about two hundred patients, and a handsome edifice, with all the modern improve. ments in arrangement. The townat that time contained Unree churches—Episcopalian, Baptist and Methodist. The descriptions of Williamsburg published over one hundred years ago resemble it im many respects at the present time. Many of the old buildings are standing; but now these monuments of the past bid fair to be all swept away by the storm of war. To write the history of Williamsburg 4s to write the history of early Virginia, ‘This place was the scene of several of the Revolutionary contests. Two minor actions were fought here; but al} these will be forgotten in view of the present events of which it isthe theatre. It was first settled im 1632, and ments, or information of any kind which might benefit the enemy, if I toll you some of the doings of our small feet bere, in which the Marblebead bas been by 00 ‘means the least useful. This is because what wo have thus far done is quite as well known by the rebels, and better than ourselves. What may be done hereafter Is, of course, quite another thing. We were the first vessel that came here a month ago, followed by the Wachusett and others, until gow we have seven or eight inall, screw and side-wheel gunboats. I imagine that the whole country bas been quite as much surprised at fiuding Yorktown so serious an obsta- cle to our victorious arms as we were when, on opening fire for the first time, we found ourselves obliged to fall back out of range of remarkably long range riled guns with which they opened on us. We were completely at a stand still; and, although the very exuberant imagina- tion of some letter writer on board the Yankee would make it appear tha’ great things had been accomplished, nothing had really been done offensive op our part in the daytime until the side-wheel gunboats arrived aud tried the virtue of their long range gunsat a safe distance. The exploit referred to, in which we are said to baye partici. pated under the name of the“Marble Heart,’ wasnothing more than the throwing ashore, in the woods opposite us, of sone twenty-five or thirty shells, under the mis taken idea that somebody might be building a battery” ‘There was none though. No boats went asbore and no houses were burned, and, after having fouled our pro. puller with « hawser, the Yankee left and we have seen nothing of ber since. SHELLING THES RERELS AT NiotT. But, though the elaborate fortifications and numerous guns at Yorktown forbid our near approach m broad day, we Lave more than made the unt square by frequent night sttacks, Ha diy a night passes without one or the other of the gunboats going up to within short range and throwing éleven-inch and rifled shell into the midst of their camp, and {nail this the Marblehead has borae a most distm guished part. We have gone nearer and much oftener than any of the others, and we have the singular honor of being the only one whom they have complimented vy avswering the fire on those cccasio: ‘There is something unvsuali ‘ing in these mid- ‘excursions. However delizhtful moonlit evenings ave been to us under other circumstances ashore, ie goddeve of night is not welcomed here. chor is got up as quietly a8 vosnibl ignalize our every move- yy necessary are extin- your machinery, thly and still that we can hardly ‘ong in the dark, silently and sure shores hardy to be seen, and nothing d soundings inthe hands of our in- Je-dus within striking distance of the id, perceive # ax death but the com’ W Lights ago we did some most exculient work. A Ge'ting up to within about a mile of the batteries w opened fire, slowly steaming along and as jeliberately firing, is was ao dark nothing could be seen with certainty. At our fifth shot the rebels, secming to think patience no longer a virtue, suddeniy opened on us with rifled shell. Only two of them passed over our deck, without, however, doing any damage; but the natural conseqrence was that the Marblehead {nstinctively got closer, and the last shot wo fired, dark as it was, we could see them working their uBR Ve were not more than three ships’ length from their water battery. und directly between it and the Glouce: ter Point batteries, half # mile distant on the other side. ‘They had not imagined such a bold push on our part, aad before they could depress their g ficiently our eleven inch shell at point blank tore into their midst, muking a large break plainly visible next morning ‘The Chocura, which left Boston the same time as our- selves, lies near us, not having yet exchanged shots with the enemy One ot the ‘institutions’ of our vessel is our pilot, Captain Dave Corson, from Staten Island. He is the best pilot on York river, and I verily bel.ove could take us cy anywhere with bis eyes shut. He is the life of the ship from quarter deck to forevastle, and not the least of his accomplishments ‘s he knows the exact locality of the best York river oyster beds. His last achievements was the capture of a deserter from our camp a few evcnings go, who was at- tempting to cross the river t theenemy ip a smali ** dug out.” He was returned, and has been probably sho by this time. The rebels Ke up ® continuous can- nopade upon our lines from Yorktown aud Gloucester 3 _- THE WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST. Capture of Two Thousand Rebels by Gee meral Pope. Caio, May 6, 1862. The steamer Ella, from Pittsburg Landing last night, arrived this afternoon. General Pope, by placing a battery of artillery inthe open (ield near Farmingham, in sight of the rebel reg! ments, succeeded in luring them on to take the battery, and took the whole force, numbering 2,000, prisoners. Deserters report . dissatisfaction in the rebed army, both among the officers and mea. General Beauregard had mado a speech to the troops, saying that he would make a desperate stand and force the Union army to retreat, and appealed to them to stand by him. Orders had been issued to the Union troops to march Sunday night, but they were prevented by the condition of the roads, which the heavy rains rendered impassa- bie. ' Cano, May 7, 1862. By an arrival from Fort Henry we learp that it is prebable that less than two hundred of the Nebraska cavalry were captured in the recent skirmish with the rebels who were under Clay instead of Jeff. Thomp- son as at first reported. ‘The affair occurred twelve miles west of Hinman, on the oppusite side of the river from Fort Henry, and a strong force has been sent in pursuit of the rebels. ‘Tho rumor of the evacuation of Corinth and {ts occu pation by the federals, is reported by every arrival o deserters. There is no doubt that Beauregard, whilé ho.ding his forces in line of battle, is gradually falling back on Grand Junction. “The opinion gaing’ ground that there will be no geueral engagement between the two armios at their present position, Cincnesart, May 7, 1862, Captain Hazlett, of the Sect Ohio, has ar. rived here on sick leave. Neither himself, Cap tain McKinney nor Lieutonant Dyal were taken prisoners at Pulaski, as reported from Louisville yesterday. Captain Hazlett regrets the report ef bir taking a parole. NEWS FROM GENERAL BANKS’ ARMY Skirmish and Ight of Ashoy’s Reber Cavalry, &e. New Manker, Va., May 7, 1862. Yesterday afternoon a detachment of the Fifth New York cavairy made @ recouncissance tcwards Har rissonburg, when ve miles this side thoy encounteree upwards of two bnndred ot Ashby’s cavalry. They charged upon them aud pursued them within two miler of wwn, Ten rebels wore killed and ix taken prisoners Our logs was one killed anda battalion adjutant taken pri soner. Tho work on our side was done with the sabre and,was avery gallant aftur, An officer from Mount Jackson this morving saysthe guard at the bridge near the town reports that the gua villa cavalry attempted last night to burn the bridge but were repulsed. There is no official confirmation yet Nothing but small rebel pickets are seen in the neigh borhood of the Columbian bridge in the valley, ‘The weather is cool and pleasant. The sick areim proving. INTERESTING FROM FREDERICKSBURG. [From the Richmond (Va.) Fxaminer, May 24 ‘We learn from Fredericksburg that the enemy haw made a formal demand for, and taken possession of the railroad depot and the public stores, which wer deserted by our troops without being destroyed. Fiv gunboats and twenty-two barges have come up thr river aud anchored at the wharf. Tho barges ar said to be common cunai boats, It ie thonght that th purpose of the enemy is to construct a bridge over whic! to pass his army across the Rappahanncek. The tug e ‘ow, light draught, dirty looking things, bearing tw three small gang each. They are altogether wooden ‘anda good battery of field artillery might have sunk th whole concern, barges and all. the estimated population before the rebellion was about fifteen bzndred. The county of James City contains one hundred and eighty-four square miles, and is bounded on the morthesst by the York river, on the south by the James river, and en the west by the Chickahominy river. The surface of the country is un- dulating. ‘This county is one of the eight original shires into which Virginia was divided in 1634. ‘The popula- tion of the county is about four thousand, of whom near- ly one-half are slaves. Adjoining this county is that of Warwick, which contains about fifty square miles, and ig situated on a peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and the mouth of the James river, the latter of which washes its western border. The surface of the country is shght- ly diversified and the soil is alluvial. Oysters and fire. wood (oak and pine) are important articles of export, ‘The capital is Warwick, and the population at last re- turns was fifteen nundred and forty-six, of which nine hundred and five were slaves. For the last few months the negroes have been busily employed in fortifying Wil- lamsburg as a rallying point for the rebels in the event of the fall of Yerktown. It was expected they would have madaa greater stand there than they have, and it would now appear that they are becoming demoralized. MOVEMENTS BEFORE THE BATTLE. Our Special Army Correspondence. Came Wivrtetp Scerr, Brrors Yorktown, May 4, 1862. ‘The Army of the Potomac 1s jubilant to-night, Sume of the divisions have moved on beyond Yorktown. Others remain here, but will move on immediately. Inall tho camps the bands of music are pouring forth delicious melody. This isthe first time for three weeks that the bands have been allowed to play. During all that time, while the preparations for the siege were going on, the plans of General McClellan required that no noises of any kind should be heard in our camps, and that no fires should be lighted at night. CAUSE OF THE EVACUATION. The events of this day have been various and im- portant, You have already been apprised of the main facts of the evacuation of Yorktown. Tho causes of the evacuation were the fall of New Orleans, the reported retreat of Beauregard from Corinth, but more than-all the magnitude and completeness of the plans of General McClellan for the siege itself, From de- serters and other sources of information the rebe} yeaders at Yorktown knew precisely the extent and pro- gress of the works of General McClellan. They remained in their works until they became satisfied that it was impossible to defend them, and then abandoned them Our works were almost completed, our last guns and mortars placed in position on Saturday night, or before daylight on Sunday morning. It was the intention of the Commander-in-Chief to have devoted this day to rest—, est which the soldiers have well deserved, for they e worked both night and day fer twenty days past—and to have opened our batteries on Monday morning. The terrific fire which would have bees rained upon York- town can be ed from the fact that from a single battery we could have thrown forty thirteen-inch sholls every hour, or six hundred shells per day, The order for the evacuation reached General Johnston on Wednes- day of last week, and he immediately prepared to exe- cute it The troops began to move off on Wednesday night, taking with them what guns and ammunition they could, The work of evacuation continued from that time till last night. On Saturday and last night they kept up an incessant but harmless cannonade, in order to divert our attention from their real design. GREAT STRENGTH OF THR REERL WORKS. ‘The strength and extent of the rebel works is even greater than has been represented. If the rebels had had courage enough to have fought us, we should have beaten them, and taken Yorktown im forty-eight hours But the cannonading on both sides would have been ter: rifle and attended with a frightful loss of life, ‘Their line of forte, extending entirely across the penin- sul, from the York to the James river, is pronounced by our officers to be even more elaborate and quite as strong as the works for toe defence of Centreville, and even almost to rival some of those in front of Washington. The walls of the forts are thirty feet high, and the ditches around them are so wide as to preelude all possibility on our part of crossing them without tremendous loss, OUR PREPARATIONS FOR THE SIEGE. 4B this connection, justice ought to be done to the Vol- wntoor Engineer brigade, under General Daniel P. Wood, bury, and to all our soldiers for the work they performed in preparing for the siege. Their labors have been truly herculean, and will remain for the wonder and admiration of posterity. Besides our batteries, roads cut for miles through forests, or built for miles over swamps, marshes ses, and round ravines, and built so well that ery, heavy siege guns, mortars, ammunition of all kinds have been transported them nd parallels constructod across the whole peninsula, one line after another; th which constitinte @ part of their labors, have goue win the groat victory at Yorktown, Foray Imoet @ Vioodiess one, The arwy which has ap Yorktows, while they have hpen fortify. althorg ject of a second seige. Future travellers, curious to see ‘This afternoon I visited Yorktown a second time ana spent several hours there. The place is garrisoned by the Forty-fourth New York regiment. Under the regime of the newly appointed Military Governor it is beginning to put on a neat, smart and business like appearance, indications of its occupancy by troops and officers of the Union army, who are not jong in giving @ place the imprint of their intelligence and quiet Susiness apti- tude. A thorough police system bas been sstablished, the principal buildings pnt in cleanly condition, and on fires made of the filth and rubbish left by the rebels. Already the army post office and telegraph office and express office are there, and commissary store houses line the docks, which present ago head and business like aspect from the gunboats, transporte and barges stationed at the wharves and in the river. And thus it{will be till another change in the war pro- gramme calls for removal elsewhere, when the town will resume its pristine dulness and stupidity prier to the war. But it will be more miserable, from being the sub the monumental remains of rebel labor and folly, will visit it, and they only. MORE INFERNAL MACHINES AND RELICS, Afew more of the rebel infernal machinos were dis- covered to-day. Rebel prisoners were set at work hunt- ing for them and digging them up. It ts now believed they have nearly all been brought to light, and as no casualties occurred t6-day from their ox- plosion, it is to be hoped that sad chapter is at an end. Rebel relic hunting continues the mania. I looked through a good many of the barracks and tents, and found all sorts of men, including two or three Congressmen, anxiously looking up mementoes of the place to take away with them. I was particularly struck with the interior appointments of @ tent. There werea fine wardrobe, washstand, bowl and pitcner, dressing table and mirror, colognes, pomades, and last, and not least, a box of huge capsules, showing that its late occu- pant was both aman of taste and aman of the world. But thjs was a rarity in the tent line. Most give evidence of want of luxurious abettors to comfort, and fur- nish proof abundant that the flowers of Southern chivalry, if they bloomed and flourished at all, did so amid worse surroundings than the “greasy mechanics” of our own army, and stooped to the vulgarity of eating and drinking that must have been exceedingly repugnant to their msthetical and highly appreciative tastes. The guns on the earthworks remain as we found them, and neither have the maga- zines been opened nor the trains of powder underlying the passages through the intrenchments been disturbed, It ts understood that theguns and all will be thoroughly overhauled to-morrow. Guards aro kept about all the wells in the town, the water in them, en examination, proving to be poisoned. APPEARANCE OF GLOUCESTER, A few minutes in Gloucester Point, my first and only visit there, served all purpose of seeing the place ‘and satisfying curiosity. It is @ counterpart of York- town ona smaller scale. The Enfans Perdus regiment, Col. Comfort, are oceupying it ARRIVAL OF DESRRTERS, Hosts of deserters came in to-day to Gen McClellan's headquarters, which have not been moved They are mostly stragglers from the rebel rear guard, who availed themselves of the opportunity of coming over to our 8 Like tormer deserters, they all are unsparing in their anathemas of the rebei leaders, and repeat the allegations that most of the rebel army would come over to the Union side if they could. Among the desorters were the husbands—Mr. Farnholt and Mr. Davis—oi two women living near here. It is in front of the former's house that our heavy siege guns were plante and played such havoe with the rebels. Both say they were impressed into the servies. Both own fine farms, and there is but little doubt of the cor- reetners of their story. Farnholt made his escape several days ago, Ho was with the rebel forces on the James rivor side, and made bis way home under diMeul- ties somewhat similar to those experienced by our prisovers escaping after the Bull run battle. He several times narrowly escaped arrest and being shot. 10 THR ADVANCE Our division wea called out this morning and put in readiness to move. Tho men responded with alacrity to the long roll, although the rain came down in deluging torrents, as it continues to do still at nearly midnight, as Tam closing this letter. ‘The order to move was counter- Manded and we now move at daylight. The boysare Judilant, because they expect some lively work, and a speedy march to the rebel capital. This division is ready to do its share in the coming work, OPERATIONS OF THE GUNBOATS. Our Naval Correspondence, Unerren States Steamer Mareieneap, Youre River, Tangs and THRBR-QU«RTER Mites BeLow None May 2, 1862. OVERATIONS IN THR DAYTIME. L presume I shait not be eonsidei disobeying the order recently read on board all vessels in the service which forbide each and every one conoected with the service to give publicity to any plans, proposed move Point, at intervals of two or three minutes, al: last night and ‘The protection aifurded by the enemy to fogitiv negroes {s said to de playing havoc with slave propert: in the neighborhood of Fredericksburg. The slaves an army by hundred ei tions, and it is said ti s scarcely aslavebolder it tt Fredericksburg who has not lost one or more of hi Regroes, NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONRCE, ADVANCE OF THE GUN BOATS. Ar Ancuor orr York Town, May 4, 1862 . The rebels evacuated Yorktown inahurry. We} discovered it this morning, and the whole fleet got under weigh. The Marblehead fired the last shot from the gun boats yesterday morning, under the impression that something of this kind was going on, but no one supposed it would occur sv soon. ‘Unrrzp States Steamer Sreprixa Stoves, Back Crunk, Va., May 2, 1862. Last evening the Stepping Stones was sent to this place with a load of hay, for te such and similas useful, if not very exalted purposes isshe now being put. Her tight draught of water and ample deck room adapt her admi- tably for carrying military stores, fodder aad srdnance through the shoal waters of the numerous cree’.s and in- lots with which this part of the country is Intersected Back creek lies between the Paquosin amd cho York rivers, and the head of it approaches clone to Wormsley’s creck. From where we lay at present the mast: of our gunboats would be plainly visible but for tne mtervening trees. The’ smoke of their eannonade, which is acw going on, may be scen occasionally curling upwards from among the branches and foliage. MIDNIGRT CANNONADING. Last night I was awakened, about midn‘ght, by afa rious cannonade. Some of the guns sounded very Joud and the whistle of shot and shell could be dist inctiy heard. These sounds were intermiugied by the more subdued reports of more distant guns, which seemed to indicate that the affair, whatever it was, extended for a considerable distance along the line. Two guns, firing very rapidly, in particular, made so loud a noise that the steamer vibrated from the concussion, and the sash win- dows in her actually rattled in their frames. The shriek- ing of the shells, as they hurtled through the air, was correspondingly loud. I was informed by an army officer this morning tbat these two guos belong to a Union bat- tery not very far from this place, and that they are our The Merrimac Out Again—Arrivai of 6 Norwegian War Vessel. Foxrxrss Moxros, May 7, 1862, The Merrimac came out to-day, but did nothing. The Norwegian corvette Nepion arrived this morning and the commander visited General Wool. Salutes wer exchanged. OUR PRISONERS IN RICHMOND. Our Fortress Monroe Correspondcnee Fortress Moxror, May 6, 1862. wldventures on Board a Flag of Truce Boat—Jef. Davis NavaljPoice—Non Arrival of Union Prisoners—Th Yorktown and Jamestown Gone to Norfol: to Rejoin th Merrimac, dc. On the 2é inst. Genora! Wool received information fron the rebel General Huger, commanding the Departmento Norfolk, that on Monday, the Sth in: 490 release: Union prisoners would come down the James river fron Richmond. Accordingly Genera) Wooi despatched a fla of truco boat yesterday, to wake the expected prisoner aboard and bring thom to Old Point. Captain Jame Millward, Jr., Harbor Master, went in charge of the fix of truce,on board of the East river boat New Haven Captain David Lamphan, which had just come into th Reads laden with army stores for General McClellan Captain William Jay and Lieutenant Septimus Carncross hundred-pounder rifled Parrotis. I was also informed | of General Wool’ , Accom| jed the fing of truce that most of tho rebel shells were fred from Glouces: | The New Haven proceeded up the James river, aud cam ter Point, Ie wag Apparat ttre trem ane | tan anchorage opposite Day's Point. She had bow Yircction of the sound, and the lapse of | there scarcely an hour, before viltainous looking tug time bofore the report from the gua and the explosion of the shells, indicating that the jatter wore being pro- pelied from the directian of where we lay, ‘The firing continued at intervais during the raet of the night, and is going on at the present writing (midday). Occasionally we seea shell bursting high in the air over York river, above and beyond the trees which intercept our view of that stream. DEXOLATE APPEARANCE OY TI'® COUNTRY. ‘The entrance to the creek is somewhat intricate, and it abounds in flats. The shores, though partaking of the general level appearance of this part of Virginia, ‘s not unpicturesque. We are in view of severai farms containing scanty orchards of apples, peaches, cherries, &c., now io full blossom. In regard to grain and green erops, however, the whole district presents a universal scene of desolation. Not a quarter of an acre of land bas been turned up by the plough, oor are tacre any other indications of husbandry to be -cen. On aii sider the und is trodden down by the hoof of o-ses and the foot of men, rendering it aeurly . ard .s if 1: were frozen. Numbers of young peach irecs hare boen de- stroyed in this manner. Nor is the total annihilation of tho crops for the cur- rent year the only calamity that bas befailen the owners of the soil. All their poultry das been swept away by the rebels; and you cap scarcely see a pig on any ef the farms, A few meagre cows and half starved calves are all that exist of the bueolic species. Nearly all the houses have been emptied of the inhabitanis—the mea having either joined the rebel army con amore, or been impressed into it, and the women and chilaren havi: fled in terror, ineited thereto by the bugaboo stories tol them by the rebels about the ferocity of the Yankees, who seem to be rogarded by the ignorant protty much in the same manner as the Waldenses of the fourteenth century were by the creda lous Italians of the ‘orthodox’? faith, who were led to acquiesce in their persecution for the very oppo- site reason that they were covered all over their bodies with long hair, like wild beasts, The negroes have been ta-ght that if the Yankees once get hold of them they will ship them to Cuba and sell them to defray the ox- penses ef the war, I was told that by an ancient darkey @ little while ago. It is by stories like these the pour @reatures are induced to follow their masters avd work in the trenches, though, should they refuse, it cannot be doubted that more coercive measures would be resorted boat, carrying on hor bow an eighty-pound Dahigren gu made her appearance, haying s whito flag hoisted on he fore, and run alongside of our flagboat. Her dee swarmed with men, anda more villainous crew of cut: throats it was never my luck to beliold. The fonder imagination of Marryatt, and other ‘sen tate writers,” eouid not conjure up more ferocious aud blood thirst vil'ains than manned the rebel craft, purporting to b one of Jeff. Davis’ polico boat. ‘Among the whole of that crowd I could cee but onema in apiform. He was an ciderly looking peracnage, clad it agray coat, slouched hat and India rubber i The only insignia ot officer were a pair of greasy red cat tain’s shoulder strans. As 001 the rebel craft wa made fast to our boat, tho captain Just described said ¢ Captain Millward, he boat,”a the same time pointing to a dress, sporting a glazed cap, but reeling un of bad whiskey, ‘The captain asked why wi which a id requi ed considerable exer to arti Captain Millward informed bim in @ fev words of the message seut by General Huger, aud th rebels were evidently satisiied. The crew, however dressed in every tmaginable fashion—civilian, hab soldier and sailor, some of them wearing fez caps, am rusty cutiasees, revolvers “boarders,” ready to spring ov board of our vessel ame to demolish everythi.g coming within their grasp, Th commissioned officer waseeemingly as deat as an adder and had to havo the couversation between Captain Mill ward and the drupk:n captain of the rebol craft inter Aftor a little more parley ing noved of aud steored towards New, on her way towards w of the rebel 8 inven, was power to make the rebel ateamers York town and Jamestown not a glimmering of # light to be scen—on their way 6 Norfolk, probebly, to join the Merrimac on another tora, to to insure compliance, To sum up the whole | @n Hampton Roads, tale of ruin, when the rebellion bas been subdued, Yesterday was a docidedly disagreeable day, rainy the unfortunate ple, who have been riven | misty, withai very chilly, Tow: mernt by foar or destitution to leave their homes, | however, the wind veered around, and the day broke it great splendor. The suo is shining very brilliantly, am up to this moment (ten o'clock A. MM.) no rebel fm of truce having om board the released prisouers be will have to commence lie over again, when, as they have been deprived of everything, their cup of misery will be full to overflowing. Heavy wiil be the retribution to the leaders of this wieked rebellion, who | appeared. bave caused such wide-spread ruin. ‘At half-past eleven o'clock Captain Millward decided & I went on shorethis mornin, .n company with Engi- | run to New) News and telegraph to General Wool fo neer Young, and visited ane of farm houses still in. | orders. ‘afew minutes after an answer was reovived & return to the fort, where we arrived at one o'clock, with out having accomplished our mission. Destruction habited, It is asmailframe building. We found in ite middle aged woman, who gave her name as Stroud, and four young children—two boys and two girls. The place presented the appearence of the most squalid poverty, although the woman has afew doliars in gold, for rebels have carried of everything they could lay their hands om. Even her turkey, though setting at the time, did not escape, but eggs and all were taken away. The woman std ber husband, William Stroud, had been in. | sharoy into the rebel army; that be is a Union man, ut did net vote for President, mor either way on the secession question, because, had he done so, he must have gone for the Union, which would have made him « marked man. He further stated that his crops were just coming up, when they were all trampled down and destroyed by the revel soldiery, who kept him in ¢on- stant fear during their stay. From where we lay the earthworks built by the rebels are visible at about a hundred yards distance respectit ly: and another is said to be beyond, at a bend in the cree Grain Elevator at Da venport, Iowa. Davenrort, lowa, May 7, 1962. ‘The grain elevator in this city belonging to Townsene & Co. , of Boston, was destroyed by Ore last night. Los $15,000, Eight thousand bushels of grain were destroy ed, The grain was insured for $7,000. New Havey, May 7, 1862. of the Legisiature organized thie fore choice of Hon. Hiram Goodwin A or has just reached us that Burnside has taken Noriolk in tho rear, and that thirty thousand revel troops, sent fom Yorktown to rejatorce the army there, arrived a day after the affair, The vote for #)eaker wa cau, 165; Aiea Hyde, democrat, 40