The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-05-14

Majos General Uommanoing.
rEs EArfLB OF WEST POINT
[Speo al Correspondence OF Ma New York Hersl II
BhIoK HousE PoIsr.
Near West Point, Va May ?, 1852.
With my eyes full OF burnt powder, and Iny
ears filled with the ringing OF musxetry an6
the screacl ipg OF bomb shells, sit down TO
endeavor to give you an account " hight that
has ragged here since ten O'Clock :his morning,
and which 10 still continuing, although just
nov heard the cry that the rebels were re-.
treating. ........
roe i~st Of this division OF the grand srmy
Of the Potomac arrived here yesterday after
noon. under command OF Gen Franklin, and
by dark m oss OF the troops were landed on
beautiful plain, width II surrounded on three
SIDES by der 80 woods and on the fourth by the
river, ON the south side OF the Pamunkey
river, and about half milo southwark from
West Point The reason why We landed
mere is obvious Had we landed on the other
side Of the river-West Potnt-whera 1t was
at first inten dsd We should land. we should
between rs and the rebels, and would have
had considerable tronble 70 re- CHI them sas all
the bridges have been destroyed. Our gun.
boats have taken ondispntsd possession son 81 OF
at the appearance Of our forces. and the
American a lg OF our UGion now floats from
one of the most prominent buildings In The
vii age. / have yst to see white man
am.ng the original inhs bitants Of this place
Immediately on the landing OF our forces
from the transports ptcksts we're thrown ont
10 the edges Of the surrounding wood, and
our tents were pitched on tho banks OF the
river, and up TO that time not one Of the chi.
Vallejo sons Of the sunny South had m ade his
appearance, and our msn became anxious to
know why they had been broug ut r. q coun.
try where there was NO foe. Ab0nt dusk q
part Of the division OF General Sedgwtck,
ander the command OF General Dana, arFived.
in transports nom yorktown and remained
in the centre OF the river. while some OF
the rivers Pamnnkey and Aataponi r: nap-
ture q portion OF tie Isbel mosquito 1eet,
which were brought into use for carrying our
men from the transports TO the shore, az the
river here IL too shallow for vease 10 brewing
over six feet OF water
During the night some OF the rebl picksts
made q softie on one OF our advanced yidetteo
and ahot him through the heart. The news
light shis morning he plain, which sakss In
about thousand acres Of ground, running
southwest from the York rtvsr. presented q
scene such a. have never oeforo Va eseed
Long lines Of man ex tended from loft TO right
across the centre OF the field, and squads OF
skirmishers stood viking, In 6am outline,
their forms against the heavy woods and uu.
70 N on every side except that bounded by
the river. Here the men stood tor sometime
ready to march at moment . notice; but NO
foe appeared, and the men were permitted to
return 70 tnelr camps IoE toe purpose OF gel-
ti1 their breakfast. and, perhaps, some sleep
A strong picket, composea Of the New York
SD, 0o b and 98th Pennsylvania troops, were
left at the edges Of the woods TO keep sharp
lookout for the enemy, who were now oelisv.
About this time one Of our gunboaN cls.
covered . regiment or two Of the sneWy on
the west aide Of the river, who a. >rsed in
great GO nfosion attsf Aaving reeetisS &oue
half dczsn Of our heavy shells In their Deits'.
This was comm untcated 70 Gen. Siocul1. VI
immedi ately made strenuOus efforts t. E5t tas
brigade OF Gen. Dana on shore, 40. We
misss b. able 70 give the S, enemy warm re-
Dana was indefhtigsble In his labors to Get
the trooIs or the transports, aud tb roueh bis
exertions most OF the men and horses were
OF the boats by mae O'CLOCK, and prepara.
tons were being made 70 breakfast the men
Of this brig ade. when the order was given for
the sixteen IN, Thirty first and Thirty second
n York. ana the Ninety. nth and N nety six "a
woods and drive cRsoms Of the rebel SCOUTS
who were firing occasional shots at our pick
cts. and were Supposed TO be strongly sup.
ported by force concealed In the woods
Ths superstition proved correct, for lc sooner
woods taau they were fecei9s d with volley
of ma,ketry from the rebels who were hid
don IN the 0spae underground, Cur men
when the enemy rs,rsAte.s further INTO tas
woods. with the 39d hsw York Close At their
hselE: but they were too swifs. footed for our
boys-beinS more protec Cd and they soon
lett the SD ST. Juggling in the mud
While this sceno had been going On on the
right centre another was transpirtng on the
centre where the Ninety. nth Pennsylvania
had entered the Woods In : few me ents
after they entered they found themselves In q
dense sw amp, and In their sGrusgles 70 gst
across became separated from each other
One Of the comp&nies managed to ret 70 the
other side, and was cltnhiIg the bank on the
opposite sioe when they deserted 8 perty Of
soldiers lying In ambueh. "WbS comes
thsrsl" cTted me party In aNbush. "CStspda."
Vas the answer. Who are Won - vaa tSs
nsxs Interrogation. "A company Of tbs
Nine y-0fth PonpaylvaniAus.N No sooner
Was she answer returned than the party.
whom The c4ptain had mistaken for come 81
hls own regiment. opposed terrible Il . upon
our Wsn. VINO returned tAe llre and thsn 70.
1urced 70 our reserves. IN this aH4ir Capt
1eAtease, OF company d, WAS sho: sAreush
the shouldsr. bus not daaSHoualy WOVpcsd,
and one or two prtvatee, Who's names am
- YET 4naole 70 lealn, WorO killed ana caY.
iied % the 0e1d ~ th6lB fston1s, NAo, hoants
l1esy gait The ground IpyepGe4 the al %
3 Vii sie Ssi. So 1 vci,. Was Ne ea'ss
8Bt pov - ecnAl hacan> conceal AArossh.
uut the Ices, and lto0 Gsof1 Qna1toe Of the
woods Zane the sharp Cyac1s ~ m 1sbeyy. I
tried lor . tine - - ohoQattoo4 .but afs1g
uAvsvoltne from one y Mas - AnOtAor oo0e
4lty tunes, for the porposo Of seeing how
mattsre were gole0, took my sta14 on tAe
tight, AID calmly awaited the coming eVeuts
T03 ahafp rOeoYto came hoAloI and nearer.