The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-03 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, SAT URD .4, y

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

The select committee appointed by the Senate to
investigate the circumstances attending the surren-
der of Pensacola Navy-yard, the abandonment of
the Norfolk Navy-yard, and the Harper's Ferry
Armouty, had made their report. The following are
the conclusions of the committee

" 1. The Administration of Buchanan was guilty
of negligence, in not taking extraordinary care, and
employing every possible means to protect and de-
fend this yard, after indications of danger had ma-
nifested themselves.
" 2. The Administration of Mr. Lincoln cannot
be held blameless for suffering 37 days to elapse
after be came into power before making a move-
ment for the defence of the yard.
" 3. Capt. M'Couley was highly censurable for ne-
glecting to send the Merrimac from the yard, as he
was ordered, and also for scuttling the ships and
preparing to abandon the yard before any attack
was made or seriously threatened, when he should
have defended it and the property intrusted to him,
repelling force by force, as he was instructed to do,
if the occasion should present itself.
"4. Capt. Paulding was censurable for neglecting
to consult with Capts. M'Cauley and Prendergast,
while he was at the yard on April 17th, in regard
to the course to be pursued in the event of an attack
upon the yard on the 20th, ordering the property to
be burnt and the yard abandoned before taking pro-
per means to satisfy himself that any necessity for
such measures existed.

" Capt. Prendergast, in command of the Cumber-
land, the flagship of the home squadron, made no
suggestions as to the measures proper to be adopted,
and seems to have taken no part in the transaction
except to move his ship as he was directed."
The progress of the siege of Yorktown is thus
officially reported :
" To THE HON. E. M. STANTON; SECRETARY OF

WAR.

"Near Yorktown, Thursday, April 17,

" During Tue§day and Wednesday the gunboats
amused themselves by shelling the woods below
Glocester. One of them approached within two
miles of Yorktown yesterday morning, when the
rebels opened from a new battery concealed in the
woods. The boat having obtained the position of
their guns returned to her position without receiv-
ing any damage.

" The firing to-day was renewed at long intervals.
" The rebels yesterday morning, with 1,000 men,
commenced to strengthen a battery located about
three miles to the left of Yorktown, when a battery
was brought to bear, causing them to beat a hasty
retreat. The rebels opened with their heavy guns,
when a second battery was brought forward. A
brisk fire was now kept up for about four hours,
during which three of the enemy's guns were dis-
mounted, when both parties ceased for a while, but
firing was resumed on our part late in the after-
noon and continued till daylight this morning,
effectually preventing the rebels from repairing the
damages they had sustained.

" The loss of the enemy must have been consider-
able, as the firing of our artillery was very accurate.
" Our loss was Sergeant Baker, 2d Michigan,
killed ; and F. Page, Company H, 3d Michigan
Regiment, both feet slid off ; also four horses,
which were killed.

" Yesterday Richard Painter, of Berdan's Sharp-
shooters, was probably fatally shot while on picket.
" Other engagements took place yesterday further
to the left, and near James River, in which our
troops showed very great gallantry. The results
have not yet been fully ascertained.
" WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, APRIL 17.
" The following despatches were received to-day
at the War Department from General M'Clellan :
" ' Head-quarters of the Army of the Potomac,
April 18.
. . _

"" At about one half hour after midnight the
enemy attacked Smith's position and attempted to
carry his guns. Smith repulsed them handsomely
and took some prisoners. I have no details. Will
forward them as soon as my aide return. The
firing was very heavy, All is now quiet.
" A later Despatch.—My position, occupied yes-
terday by Smith, was intrenched last night, so that
we have been able to prevent the enemy from work-
ing to-day, and kept his guns silent. Same result
at the batteries at Hyam's Mills.'
" Friday, April 18.
" The following is issued by the War Department
to-day

" ' Yorktown was shelled by our gunboats and
some of our barges to-day without effect. There
has been a good deal of firing from the Yorktown
land batteries.'

co px.

" The following was received at 6 50 this evening :
" Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, April 18.
" An official report has been received at head-
quarters, giving a list of the killed and wounded in
the engagement between the 3d Vermont Regiment
and the enemy on Wednesday, mention of which
was made yesterday. The information, as far as
received, puts the killed at 32, and the wounded at
90 ; 10 of the latter will probably prove fatal. The
conduct of the Vermont troops on the occasion is
spoken of in the highest terms, earning for the
Green Mountain boys laurels only to be won by the
brave. They drove a superior number of the enemy
from their fortified position, but were forced to
relinquish it on the rebels being reinforced. The
loss of the enemy in this engagement must have
been heavy, as the well directed fire of our artillery
moved them down in numbers. Yesterday after-
noon, while Lieut. 0. B. Wagner, of the Topogra-
phical Engineers, in company with a squad of men,
was making a survey of the enemy's works, a shell
stratk the table on which lay the papers, and in-
stantly exploding the left arm of the lieutenant was
shattered, and was afterwards amputated. He is
comfortable this morning, and no fears are enter-
tained as to his recovery. James Luther, jun., of
Bristol, belonging to the 2d Rhode Island Regi-
ment, was probably fatally injured. David Pain-
ter, of Berdan's Sharpshooters, mentioned yester-
day, is dead. About 1 o'clock this morning the
enemy, in force, attempted to cross the dam in
front of our lines, evidently with the view of
capturing a battery of our artillery which had
given them considerable trouble during the last few
days. On the rebels making their appearance
they were opened on by a well• directed fire from a'
body of infantry acting as a reserve to the pickets,
forcing them to beat a retreat, leaving the dead
and wounded on the dam, which they succeeded is
in recovering before daylight. Both parties then
opened with artillery, which has continued at in-
tervals up to the present time. None of our men
were killed.'

A correspondent of the New York Times ob-
tained on the 12th a good observation of the Can-
federate position :
" They seem to be wonderfully strong. The walls
are high and thick, surrounded by a moat, and
having sally-ports and draws. It seemed impos-
sible that any army could carry the fortifications
by assault. They must be reduced by siege guns and
mortars—making them, by the flight of hot shot and
shells over the ramparts,too hot to hold their defen-
ders. There are the usual defences of masked bat-
teries and rifle pits outside of the works. Heavy
18 or 24-pound columbiads, placed en barbette, com-
mand the river and shore approach, while a water
battery can rake the waters in any direction. York-
town stands on a bluff 30 or 40 feet high, appa-
rently. Glocester Point, opposite, is about on the
same level. It has lately been crowned with strong
earthworks, and has on the beach, immediately
opposite the Yorktown wharf, a beautifully con-
structed water battery, with seven embrasures.
The river just here is only about three-quarters of
a mile wide. Glocester was the first place seized by
General Washington in his celebrated siege and
capture of the British army at Yorktown in the
It volution. It was also a part of General M.Clel-
lan's plan to have seized it also; but the re-
markable change of the limits of his depart-
ment, and the diversion of the troops to another
field, after he went forth to consummate his
campaign, is said here to have thwarted his
purpose. With our glasses from the Farmholt-
house we could easily trace the old earthworks
built by the British, now covered with the smooth,
green sod. We could see the soldiers and the con-
abands lazily lounging on the sandbags of the

water battery, or loitering on the wharf, gazing
down the river at four of the gunboats, lying like
black watchdogs below. There were two schooners
at the wharf, that had apparently just been dis-
charged, whether of men or food we could not tell.
There were in all 25 schooners and other water craft
in sight, the majority of which had no doubt been
used to bring reinforcements of rebels to Yorktown."

A letter dated Fortress Monroe, April 16, states
that the Confederates had been actively engaged
building large fortifications on the Glocester side of
York River, about two miles from Yorktown, and
within sight of the Federal gunboats, but at such a
distance that they could not be interrupted. On the
15th, however, a 100 pounder Parrott was brought to
bear upon the working parties with success. The
Confederate guns on the Yorktown side of the river
were fifty in number, bearing on the bar. Skir-
mishing was constantly going on in front of the
city, and the Federal riflemen were doing consider-
able execution. Sorties were frequent.
The following is Beauregard's request to bury
the dead to Gen. Grant :

" Headquarters, Department of Alissistipi,i,
Monterey, April 8, 1862.

" Sir,—At the close of the conflict yesterday, my
forces being exhausted by the extraordinary length
of the time during which they were engaged with
yours on that and the preceding day, and it being
apparent that you had received, and were still re-
ceiving, reinforcements, I felt it my duty to withdraw
my troops from the immediate scene of the conflict.
Under these circumstances, in accordance with the
usages of war, I shall transmit this under a flag of
truce, to ask permission to send a mounted party to
the battle field of Shiloah, for the purpose of giving
decent interment to my dead. Certain gentlemen
wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity to
remove the remains of their sons and friends, I must
request for them the privilege of accompanying
the burial party; and in this connection I deem it
proper to say I am asking what I have extended to
your own countrymen under similar circumstances.
"Respectfully, General, your obedient servant,
"P. G. T. BEAUREGARD, General Commanding,
GENERAL GRANT'S REPLY.
" Head Quarters, Army in Field,
Pittsburgh, April 9.
"Sir,--Your despatch of yesterday is just re-
ceived. Owing to the warmth of the weather, I
deemed it advisable to have all the dead of both
parties buried immediately. Heavy details were
made for this purpose, and it is now accom-
plished. There cannot, therefore, be any necessity of
admitting within our lines the parties you desired
to send on the ground asked. I shall always be
glad to extend any courtesy consistent with duty,
and especially so when dictated by humanity.—l
am, General, respectfully, your obedient servant,
"To Major-General U. S. Grant, Commanding
United States Forces, Pittsburgh Landing."
" U. S. GRANT, Major-General Commanding.
"General P. G. T. Beauregard, Commanding
Confederate Army on Mississippi, Mon-
terey, Tenn."
REPORT OP GENERAL SHERMAN.

" Head•quarters Fifth Division, April 1.

" Sir,—With the cavalry placed at my command,
the two brigades of my fatigued troops, I went this
morning out on the Corinth road. The abandoned
camps of the enemy lined the road with hospital
flags for their protection. At all of these we found
more or less wounded and dead. At the forks of
the road I found the head of General Wood's divi-
sion. At that point, I ordered cavalry to examine
both roads, and found the enemy's cavalry. Colonel
Dickey, of the Illinois cavalry, asked for reinforce-
ments. I ordered General Wood to advance the
head of his column cautiously on the left hand road
while I conducted the head of the third brigade of
the fifth division up the right hand road. About
half a mile from the forks was a clear field, through
which the road passed, and immediately beyond it
a spade of 200 yards of fallen timber; and beyond
thct an extensive camp of the enemy's cavalry could
be seen. After a reconnoissance, I ordered that two
advance companies of the Ohio 77th, Colonel Ailde-
brand, to deploy as skirmishers, and the regiment
itself to move forward into line within intervals of
100 yards. In this order I advanced cautiously
until the skirmishers were engaged. Taking it for
granted that this disposition would clear the camp,
I held Colonel Dickey's 40th Illinois cavalry ready
to charge. The enemy's cavalry came down boldly
to the charge, breaking through the line of skir-
mishers, when the regiment of infantry, without
cause, broke, threw away their guns, and fled. The
ground was admirably adapted to a defence of in-
fantry against cavalry, it being miry and covered
with fallen timber. As the regiment of infantry
broke, Col. Dickey's cavalry began to charge with
their carbines, and fell into disorder. I instantly
sent orders to the rear for the brigade to form in line
of battle, which was promptly executed. The broken
infantry and cavalry rallied on this line, and as the
enemy's cavalry came up to it, our cavalry is turn
charged and drove them from the line. I then ad-
vanced the entire brigade upon the same ground,
and sent Col.'Dickey's cavalry a mile further on
the road. On examining the ground which had been
occipied by the 77th Ohio, we found 15 dead and
25 wounded. I sent for waggons, and had all the
wounded carried back to the camp, and the dead
buried. I also ordered the whole camp to be de-
stroyed. Here we found much ammunition for field-
pieces, which was destroyed; also two caissons, and
a general hospital, with about 230 Confederates
wounded, and about 50 of our own troops. Not
having the means of bringing them off, Col. Dickey,
by order, took a surrend( r, signed by the medical
director Lyle, and all the attending surgeons, and a
pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of
war, and also another pledge that our wounded
would be carefully attended to, and surrendered to
us to-morrow, as soon as ambulances could go out.
I enclose the within document, and request you to
cause to be sent our waggons or ambulances for the
wounded of ours to-morrow; also, that waggons
be sent out to bring in the many tents belonging to
us which are pitched all along the road for miles.
I did not destroy them, as 1 knew the enemy would
not move them. The roads are very bad, and are
strewn with abandoned waggons, ambulances, and
limber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded in carrying
off the guns, but has crippled his batteries by
abandoning the hind limber-boxes of at least 20
guns. lam satisfied that the enemy's infantry and
cavalry passed Lick-creek this morning, travelling
all night, and that he left behind all his cavalry,
which has protected his retreat. But the signs of
confusion and disorder mark the whole road. The
check sustained by us at the fallen timbers delayed
our advance, and night came upon us before the
wounded were provided for and the dead buried,
and our troops being fogged out by their three days
hard fighting, exposure, and privation, I ordered
them back to camp, where all now are.
" I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
"Brigadier-General W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Division.
"To Maj.-Gen. Grant, Commanding Army in Field."

" REPORT OF LIEUTENANT GIVIN.

"United States' gunboat Tyler, Pittsburgh,
Tennessee, April 8.

" Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that the
enemy attacked our lines on our left, the morning
of the 6th, at half-past 6 o'clock, and by his over-
whelming numbers forced our men to fall back in
some confusion. At 9 25, finding that the rebels
were still driving our left wing back, [ steamed up
to a point one mile above Pittsburgh, taking a good
position to support our troops. At quarter past 10
the Lexington, Lieutenant-Commanding Shirk,
joined me, having c me up from Crump's Landing.
After a short time she returned for the purpose of
supporting the command of Gen. Wallace, which
occupied that point. Not having received any in-
structions from the Commanding General in regard
to the service to be rendered by the gunboats, I
awaited them patiently, although for an hour or
more shot and shell were falling all around us.
Feeling that, could some system of cor/munication
be established, the Tyler would be of great advan-
tage to our left wing, at 1 25 p.m. I sent an officer
requesting that I might be allowed to open on the
woods in the direction of the batteries and advanc-
ing forces of the rebels. General llueibut, who
°remanded our left, sent me word to do so, giving
me directions how to fire, that I might do it with
no damage to our troops, expressing himself grate-

ful for this offer of support, and saying that with-
out reinforcements he would not be able to main-
tain the position he then occupied for on hour.
Therefore, at 2 50, I opened fire in the line
directed with good effect, silencing their bat-
teries on our left. At 350 I ceased firing, and
dropping down opposite the landing at Pittsburgh,
sent Mr. Peters, gunner, on shore to communicate
with General Grant for further instructions. His
response was to use my own judgment in the mat-
ter. At 4 p.m., the Lexington, Lieutenant-Com-
manding Shirk, having arrived from Crump's Land-
ing, the Tyler, in company with the Lexington,
took position three-quarters of a mile above Pitts-
burgh, end opened a heavy fire in the direction of
the rebel batteries on their right, the missiles of
which were falling all around us. We silenced
them in 35 minutes. At 5.35, the rebels having
succeeded in gaining a position on the left of our
line, an eighth of a mile above the landing at Pitts-
burgh, and half a mile from the river, both vessels
opened a heavy and well-directed fire on them, and
in a short time, in conjunction with our artillery on
shore, succeeded in silencing their artillery,
driving faun back in confusion. At six
p.m. the Tyler opened deliberate fire in
the direction of the rebels' right wing, throw-
ing five and ten second shells, and at 6 25
ceased firing. At 9 p.m. the Tyler again opened
fire by direction of General Nelson, who greatly
distinguished himself in yesterday's engagement,
throwing five, ten, and fifteen second shells, and an
occasional sharpnel shell from the howitzer, at in-
tervals of ten minutes, in the direction of the rebel
right wing until 1 a.m. At this juneture the
Lexingen relieved us, and continued the fire at in-
tervals of fifteen minutes until 5 a.m., when, our
land forces having attacked the enemy, forcing
them gradually back, it made it dangerous for the
gunboats to fire. At 7 I received a communication
from General Grant
,which prevented the gun-
boats from taking an active part during the rest
of the day. Lieutenant-Commanding Shirk de-
serves the greatest praise for the efficient man-
ner in which the battery of the Lexington was
served. At 5.35 p.m. the enemy were forced
to retreat in haste, having contested every inch
of ground with great stubbornness throughout
the entire day. The officers and men of this
vessel displayed their usual gallantry and en-
thusiasm during the entire day and night. Your
' old wooden boats,' I feel confident, rendered invalu-
able service on the 6th inst. to the land forces.
Gunner Herman Peters deserves great credit for the
prompt and courageous manner in which he tra-
versed our lines, conveying communications from
this vessel to the commanding Generals. The re-
bels had a force of 100,000 men ; A. S. Johnston
killed—body found on the field; Beauregard,
Hardee, Bragg, and Polk being their command-
ing Generals. Governor Johnson, Provisional
Governor of Kentucky, is a prisoner in our hands,
mortally wounded. Loss severe on both sides
—ours probably 10,000. The rebels suffered a
much greater one; I think this has been a crushing
blow to the rebellion. I am happy to state no
casualties occurred on either of the gunboats, The
Tyler expended 188 shells, four solid shots, two
stand of grape, and six shrapnel. Enclosed 1 send
you the report of Lieutenant-Commanding Shirk.
" Your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM GWIN, Lieutenant-Commanding Divi-

sion of Gunboats on the Tennessee River.

"To Flag-officer A. H. Foote, commanding
Naval Forces on Western Waters."
LIEUTENANT SHIRK'S REPORT.

" United States gunboat Lexington, Pitts-
burgh, Tennessee, April 8.

"Sir,--On the morning of the 6th inst., while
lying at Crump's Landing,' I heard severe can-
nonading in the direction of Pittsburgh. I got under
way, and stood up the river to communicate with
Lieutenant-Commanding Gwin, of the Tyler. Upon
my reaching this place I found that an attack had
been made upon our army by the rebels in force.
I returned to Crump's Landing, to support the
division under the command of General L. Wallace,
when I found that his division had proceeded to
join the main force, back to Pittsburgh Landing. I
then steamed back to this place, and no instructions
reaching the gunboats from the commanding-gene-
ral on shore, we were forced to remain inactive
hearers of the desperate fight until, the left wing
of our forces having been forced back and com-
pletely turned, and the rebels getting so near the
river that the missiles from their batteries fell thick
and fast round us, we were enabled to use our great
guns with such effect that the fire of the enemy was
silenced in 30 minutes. This was between 4 10
and 440 p.m. Again, at 535 the enemy having
gained a position on the left of our; lines, within
an eighth of a mile of the landing and of the
transports, we again with the Tyler opened fire
upon them, silencing the enemy, and, as I hearfrom
many officers on the field, totally demoralising his
forces, and driving them from their position in a
perfect rout in the space of ten minutes. The firing
on the part of the land forces then ceased.
At eight o'clock I went down to Crump's Landing,
and finding that everything was quiet there, re-
turned to this place. At 1 o'clock a.m. on the 7th,
I relieved the Tyler, Lieutenant Commanding Gwin
in a position immediately above the landing, and
fired, until daylight, a shell every 15 minutes into
the enemy's camp. Yesterday at daylight the fight
commenced between the two parties on shore, and
c)ntinued until 5 o'clock p.m., when the enemy left
in a hurried retreat. The gunboats occupying a
position on the left of our lines, and not being al-
lowed to fire, he spent the morning and a part of
the afternoon in the acts of mercy, picking up the
wounded who had found their way to the river,
and conveying them to the hospital boats. I must
say that the gallantry and good conduct of the offi-
cers and men whom I had the honour to command,
as displayed upon this occasion, and often before,
are beyond all praise.—l have the honour to be,
Sir, your most obedient servant,

" JAMES W. SHlRK,Lieutenant Commanding.

" To Flag-officer A. H. Foote, United States
Navy, commanding United States naval forces on
Western Waters, Cairo, Illinois."
From Port Royal we have advices to the 14th
ult., which contain the following particulars of the
fall of Port Pulaski :

" On the morning of the 10th the preparatians
for the bombardment of the fort, under Brigadier-
General Gilmore, were completed, and a communi-
cation, under a flag of truce, was forwarded to Col.
Olmstead, the commander of Pulaski, demanding
the unconditional surrender of the fort. To this
Col. Olmstead replied in a very gentlemanly and
witty note, stating that he was placed there 'to
defend, not to surrender, the fort.' Upon receipt of
this, at 52 minutes past 7 a.m. of the 10th, the
batteries on Tybee opened fire. After firing a few
rounds from the several batteries a chance shot
carried away the halliards on Pulaski, End
the Confederate flag kissed mother earth.'
At this point cur fire slackened, our people
not knowing but that the occupants of
the fort were tiring of their sport., and had con-
eluded to succumb. Presently, instead of the white
flag, the stars and bars were once more seen waiving
from a temporary flagstaff on the parapet. The
batteries on Tybee recommenced with redoubled
vigour, and the firing continued without cessation
during the remainder of the day. Towards night,
General Gilmore, being satisfied (from the effects of
the Parrott guns and James projectiles during the
day) of the practicability of breaching the walls,
again slackened the firing, in order to make ar-
rangements for the planting of more guns at the
Goat Point butteries, that point being nearest to
Pulaski-1,685 yards. From sunset till 12 mid-
night there was no firing heard. From then until
daylight an occasional shot was fired, and on the
morning of the 11th two small breaches were visible
to us at the distance of two miles, on the south-
east face of the fort. By 12 noon these, under the
heavy and well-directed firing from the Goat Point
batterie3 had assumed most wonderful proportions,
and at 18 minutes past 2 p.m. the rebel flag was
hauled down, and a white flag displayed. A boat
was then sent to Pulaski, and a surrender of the
fort was made. Colonel Olmstead stated that it
was impossible to hold out any longer, as the rifle
shots were fast working their way into the maga=
zines, and a goodly number of his guns were dis-
abled, and he was therefore compelled to comply