Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-02
OUR ARMY BEfOaE YORKTOWN.
TCorrespondence Of theNY Evening Post

NEAR YORKTowN, Va April 2s.-By an order
issued to-day by General Mcclellan General Fiji
John Porter is assigned to the direction of the
siege Of Yorktown. General Porter has In fart
had amos; the entire direction of the siege since
is commencement, and is now simply invested
ofcially with tie powers that he previously exer-
cised In saying this am confident that none of
b-s fTleDds will think less Of the honor which his
appointment at this time confere upon him
have before said that Gen. Porter was an I'M
tiTiHg, interchangeable General, and was never at
T"sr; and also that Gen. Mcclellan appeared TO
have the utmost confidence In him. and 10 con hde
to him his pans and rely upon his jude mept I
also stated that Gen. Porter had practically the
direction Of the seige. And am more than ever
satisfied that the siege will have glorious and
successful termination. Ever since the Generals
hrst esCeHs:oo on Sunday, the 7th inst the very
next day after he arrived here, be has had per-
feet kHc Wedge OF the defences, strength and ap-
breaches 10 the enemys fCrtfcations He saw
at glance the enemy's strong and weak points
and has governed himself accordingly, a. tie
enemy will soon enough learn, without informa-
tiOn from correspondents.
General Porter is a native Of New HAMPSHIRE
IN rty-nine years OF age. He has resided princi-
Tally In New YORK city. He was graduated at
West Point In 1871; was brevetted second Lien
tenant Of artillery In 1885, became First Lieutenant
IN ISL; was brevttted Captain for gallant and
meritorious conduct In the battle Of Mo'ino del
Rsy, September, {, 1917, and brevetted Major for
gallant conduct in the bsttle Of ChspuItepec 13rb
p,cmber. 1917. lie was wounded at the CAP
tGre OF the city Of Mexico. Since 1919 he has been
th0r
cuShly is he qualified for the direction of an ar
tllsry siege al this time.
As usual, have to report few shells from the
rebels thrown at our pickets, and other random
shots; resulting In no loss our side Our gun
boats alone have replied 10 the enemy,s hre To-
day, dropping few shells into their works by
way of diversion.
The rebels evidently discovered sometbino n.u
this morning, which somewhat surprise d them
and drsw their FIRE quite sharply for few min
utss. IL wes the digging Of a trench within
about twelve hundred yards Of their chief strong
hold, acToss an open space which stretched from
the vicinity Of Wormley's Greek to York river
and commanding fair view Of their works in
their entire length. This trench was dug during
INJURY from sharp artillery shots the explosion
Ct -EeI!s
The number Of prisoners and deserter. from
zoe rehts has been quite large, but ! am not per.
"ittSd 10 give en- otncial list, so withhold any
particulars merely saying that they have al been
sent northward.
correspondence OF the PbiIadelbhia Inquirer I
CASE WINFIELD SCOTT, near Yorktown Va
ATri Sn-Secesh Is evidently ANNOYED al the
loose manner in which the Yankees are burrov-
ing IL front Of their works. In one place ype
have parallel about six hundred Yards from one
If their works Our sharpshooters keep their
men from working upon 10 In he day time but
IN the night pop, pop gces the rides upon both
sides Yesterday afternoon they thought they
bad found body of men Al work In the edge Of
the woods, and thew accordingly kent sytng
thirty two pound columbiad. Nearly every one
81 the shells exploded. They were the old ones
from tn" Norfolk Navy Yard, and have the long
fl'fs- Most Of their shells passed over the woods
having been fred at too great an elevation.
The Possession Of piece Of woods, from which
''Ee have driver their pckets, gives us nne view
If an CnCambmtnt near Ihe Yorktown road
about three quarters Of q mile from Yorktown
u Is light in the rear Of one Of the stronp est
works. which has been constructed to prevent an
advance by the Hampton road. The Rebel. can.
with the aid OF glass, be seen In large numbers
IRE barracks are OF wood and large force have
nH doubt wintefed there
Monday morning, about O'Clock, q Popular
briEa advanced beyond our rife pits the enc
my appearing In force below the dam This
brigade was sent out 10 watch their movement.
About 10 o'clock heavy musketry firing CON-
InsBoed and lasted about one hour
About IL o'cloC the enemy sent up their mis-
oTabiy constructed and ill-shaped balloon IL was
NJ about one minute, and then went down Quick
A bout ten minutes afterwards IL sgain appeared
sad stayed up another minute. The shape Of this
hsilccn 10 not unlike 70 two Sibley tents sswed
tcgGther at tie bu,s, being pointed at each end.
- l. like everything else manufactured II the
South IN It's infancy.
Tbe object Of this recon noisssnce was for the
PuFpose Of destroying lot Of low bushes and
brush, ss the enemy had been In the habit of
crawling up on their hands and knees ard rop-
ping on our piekets The expedition was sue
o-ssful he brush aud trees were removed, and
now { ur ric T. to watch without fear or favor.