The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-09
The Army Before Yorktown
THE FORTIFICATIONS AND FORCE
OF THE ENEMY.
PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE
The Development Of McClel-
lans Skill and Ingenuity.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Evening Fost.

Correspondence of the N. Y. Evening Fost
In CAMP NEAR YORKTOWN, VA,
April %, 1927
A visit to the extreme left of our lines on
the shores of the James River, yesterday,
nut nae in possession of some facts cOncern-
ing the Notifications of the enemy. Com
mencing upon the shore of the York River,
opposite Gloucester Point, the rebel earth-
WORKS extend down the river for distance
of nearly half a mile; then, turning at right
angles, extend another half mile and connect
with new line ofworks in the rear. Ano
Their line, nearly straight, extends in a
southwesterly direction across the Peninsu.
la to James River. After leaving the prin-
cipal work at Yorktown, which is mounted
with nearly one hundred heavy guns, the
rebel line is principally composed of simple
breastworks, which have been thrown up to
a height of tour or five feet ard armed with
pieces of small callbre.
For the first half mile there are several
heavy pieces, and for the next half mile
none at all, the works being protected by
rifle pits and bodies of infantry, with low,
swampy land outside, which will prevent
approach. Afterwards the works, guns,
and rife pits occur at intervals. When
within three miles of James River the
works are dug along the bank of creek,
across which the rebels have constructed
dams, raising ponds of various depths and
widths, with esrthworks at the dams and
rife pits between. At the mouth of the
creek the works are somewhat stronger and
extend up the river short distance.
THE REBEL FORCE.
Of course our force occupies the centre
line, and meets the enemy face to face in
frequent skirmishes. The rebels are in
force at all points near their guns, or at
least have the power to concentrate con-
siderable number of troops at any time on
short notice. They also have supply of
movable artillery, which they transfer rap.
idly from one point to another, as occasion
requires. Their principal force of men and
guns occupies point just outside of their
heaviest works, and, from the increase in
the number of tents and the camp fires, it is
Judged that heavy reinforcements must have
been received during the past week. I do
not, however share in the belief that there
is any thing like hundred thousand men
in the vicinity. doubt even whether they
have half that number.
In artillery the enemy must be deficient,
for their guns are scarcely half as many as
ours. At the batteries we have thus far
engaged, or where skirmish has occurred,
this supposed deficiency in artillery and the
superiority of our numbers, as we'll as the
courage OF our men give US decided ad-
vantage. Our sharpshooters follow the
retreating fee up to the very edge of his
works and maintain the position, picking
off their gunners at every attempt to load
or fire their pieces. In this way the slaugh
ter of the rebels has been terrible, for there
is no disputing the fact when men are plain
ly seen to tumble over at their posts. The
aim of our rifemen has been unerriig.
The rebels are probably deficient ia sharp
shooters, as our gunners continue their
work unmolested; not one of them having
been killed by riAe-ball as yet, although
their daring conduct has exposed them to
the severest fire.
PROSPECTUS.
1t is matter of considerable speculation
why they should suffer works to have been
thrown up right under their eyes. and why
they maintain such profound silence At
few points they have replied sharply for a
few minutes and then abandoned it. At no
point have we allowed them to construct a
new fortifcation, and have even grown sau.
cy and overbearing in our treatment of the
rascals. We have crowded them up until
they cannot work their guns, and tainted
them in every possible manner.
While we can give no indications of what
our preparations are, it is sufficient to say
that those OF us here on the grounds, and in
close daily observation of the works are sur
prised both at the developments of General
McClellan's and General F. j. POrter's
ingenuity and skill in taking advantage of
natural positions, and the rapidity with
which the work advances. Have patience;
the men in command and their means are
equal to the occasion, and whether the reb
els make stubborn resistance and fight
bloody fight, or evacuate after few rounds,
the army Of the Potomac is ready.
PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE.
There is no change to report in the pros
gress OF the siege. Two contrabands passed
the enemyS SuaTu III d Ooat uurluS tue
darkness and rain of last evening. and, came
to our lines. One of them is boy of six
teen and unusually keen. The other is about
tbirty.fve years old, and shrewd. These
negroes state that General Magruder is at
Lees Mill, about four miles in front of the
James River, and twelve miles from Will
llamsburgh. The rebels have good road
along the line of their ratification from
Yorktown to Lees Mill. There are no
Notifications in the rear of the first rebel.
line, but guns are moved from point to
point as circumstances require.
The contrabands also state General 10.
seph Johnston commands at orktowp; that
Davis is at Richmond, and, in the language
of the contrabands, "a heap O. scared" as
are all the rebels at Yorktown and that
many negroes are at work on earthworks
and working guns in the forts.
INCIDENTS OF THE SEIGE.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 26.
CAPTURING A GUN.
There is an old chap in the Berdan Sharp.
shooters, known as "old Seth" He is quite
character, and is crack shot--one Of the