The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-06 00:00:00

was beat, but the alarm was spread in whispered
tones, and in a few moments long lines of thousands
of bayonets were glistening in the early morning
moonbeams. It was expected a sortie would be
made by the enemy at daybreak upol the guns
planted during the night; but as the n orning ad-
vanced, with no visible preparation by the enemy
for sueh an event, the troops were finally dismissed
and retired to their quarters.

The fire of the siege batteries had began to be
more regular and heavy. The Federals had
planted two very heavy siege guns and opened on
the right wing of the Confederate lines. At night
a sortie in force was made, with the object of
spiking those guns, but it failed. The heavy work
at the Confederate guns was being done by negroes.
The continuous fire of the Federal guns had caused
the besieged to relinquish an attempt to throw up
a line of intrenchments in front of their centre for-
tification. Up to the 18th nothing of importance
bad occurred. The Confederates' right flank from
Yorktown to the Warwick River, and along the
river to the James, had been greatly strengthened.
New earthworks had been thrown up and guns
mounted upon the parapets. The banks in front of
the earthworks were lined with rifle-pits, Paine
de Joinville had pronounced the Confederate posi-
tion to be much stronger than that of Sebastopol.
A body of troops under General Smith marched on
the night of the 16th. The result is stated as fol-
lows

" A number of regiments, under General Smith,
proceeded last night to attack a battery and in-
trenched position on the enemy's left, under cover
of some of our field guns. The troops marched to
the Warwick River, which, from the representa-
tions of a scout, was fordable for infantry, with a
good bed for the wheels of artillery. Our forces
arrived at the river late at night, and commenced
crossing at a point where the rebels have cunstructed
a dam, under a tremendous fire from the heavy guns
and musketry of the enemy. There were but two
feet of water at the time in this portion of the river.
After the infantry had crossed the rebels turned on
the water from the dam, swelling the stream so that
it was three feet higher than before, making the
depth of water at the crossing five feet; Of course
it was impossible for the artillery to follow—so they
took positions in the woods to protect the storming
party. The troops attacked the enemy's intrench•
ments, when some sharp fighting took place
on both sides. The enemy had an imposing
force to meet our men, with guns of large calibre,
well protected in embrasures. Our force with-
drew and recrossed the river. Here it was that
we lost the most of our men. The great depth
of water compelled the soldiers to hold their
muskets up at arms' length, to prevent them from
getting wet. The large body of troops crossing the
river in this way afforded the rebels a splendid op-
portunity to pick them off, and volley after volley
was poured in upon them. The cannonading from
our side was terrible, and caused great slaughter
among the rebels. Our forces kept their positions
on this side of the river all night, driving the enemy
from their entrenchments. Late this morning our
firing ceased, and the regiments engaged in the ac-
tion returned to their camps. Our loss in killed
and wounded was about 100, that of the enemy
more than 300, their forces having been exposed
fora short time to the range of our batteries."

The weather was fine, and the water over the
swamps was fast drying up. The Federal riflemen
were doing considerable execution on the gunners.
From General Banks's command the following
despatches had been received :
" To THE HON. E. M, STANTON, SECRETARY AT
WAR.

" NEWMARKET, April 19.

" I have been to the bridges on the south fork of
the Shenandoah, in the Massanutten Valley, with
a force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, to pro-
tect the two important bridges that cross the rivers.
We were within sight of Duray at the south
bridge. A sharp skirmish occurred with the rebels,
in which they lost several men taken prisoners.
Their object was the destruction of the bridges.
" One of the prisoners left the camp on the bank
of the Rappahannock on Tuesday morning. There
were no fortifications up to that time.
" Other reports indicate a stronger force at Gor-
donsville, and a contest there—the whole resulting
in a belief that they are concentrating at York-
town. I believe Jackson left this valley yesterday.
He is reported to have left Harrisburg yesterday
for Gordonsville, by the mountain road. He en-
camped last night at M'Gangeytown,ll miles from
Harrisburg.
" N. P. BANKS, Major-General Commanding."