Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-06
LATEST NEWS
BY TIE NAILS.


344 - Fro0 Washisetsn. sas'
WAsHrxrox, Nay 1.
Ssvssal desertsrs have coma iato our lines. On
states that the rebels evacuated owing to the nea
appRyach Of our parallels; that they feared tn
success Of our Goabeau in the Ierk 49, yass
Rivers, which would cut of heir communicstons
Gen. Johnston gave the order 70 svacss o.
thursday, to commence On the following morning
which ~as done. IaSruder 10 said 70 have stfen
uousiy oppsosd the SvNesatioa, 0ytn3 thea, II
they couldn't whip the Fedsrsis here, thsy
couldn't any whore in Virginia.
Gen. Lee, the rebel Co0nasdG-in Chief, aF
rived at orktown on Wednesday. He examined
AcClellan's works minutely, after which it 10 sup
posed be recommende~ the eyseaxss0n, dsemiaa
his 1sshs asssn.bls. - ~.
Deeerters agree that their troops were much de-
noralized and dsheartensd when the 0 der u
svacu .te was given. - all IN icipated fight.
Tho rebels had lOO. 900 men on the Peninsula
that the rebels have fallen b / to Chickahomny
Creek, beyond Williamsburg, where II 10 expect.
ed they will make . stasd.
Gen. Stoneman commands large force Of cav
airy and artillsry and 10 pursuiDg the enemy, and
will probably come up with their rsar before
night, If they remain near Williamsburg.
The gunboats have passed Yorktowo. and AZ
now shsliing the shores on the wy up the river
Following them are . number Of vessels loaded
with troops to effect q lending.
An official report, just received, says that the
enemy lett u guns 10 tho wsrks 1t Gloucester
Point. Guns and ordnance stores were also reft.
Another deserter, just como in. reports that
after eonsultation With prominent on :ials, al
agreed TO the evacuation except Magruder.
1t is certain that the rebels received reinforce
ments on Thursday by steamer from Richmond
but they did not disspbsrk.
Gen. Joe Johnston's baggage has just been
captured.
b. B. Lathrop. telegraph operator, has beer
mortaiiy wounded by tho explosion OF > torpedo.
Especial Dispateh to the Chicago Timse.]
The Sabbath quiet Of to-day was broken by
the startling report, received through Official
s0urcs about two O'Clock, Of the evacuation 0i
YMktown BY the grand rebel army during the
light.
At; arst it vas dlsoelisved by many, for IN.
utmost confidence seemed to be felt every ere
that the great battle of tho rebellion would b
taught at that pl &c, a0d the fate Of The rebel
army of the Potomac be there decided.
The news spread with the greatest rapidity
and when it became known that il vas > genuine
run-ths rebels LEAVING everything untouched
the rejoicing WAS very great.
VI course there is all manner Of speculation ~
to the probable cause Of the evacuation.
The general opinion seems to Re that it 10 ths
temporary defence of Richmond and . speedy
abandonment OF Virginia BY tho rebel govern
ment, should its army be so fortunate as to eluds
Mcclellan, who pushes them to the wall, which j.
now matter OF great doubt.
Others intimate sudden offensive policy and q
dash on Washington but this is generally regard.
ed as absurd. They would not only have on,
armies this side Of Richmend 10 contend with
but the natural de'ences of the Rappahannock, te
say nothing of being taken in the rear BY Nc
Clellan. thus cutting of their lrovisions, trans.
portation and final retreat. Aside from al this,
the deienees on the other side Of the river ~
mi ghtier barriers. So the whole speculation oi
to-day resolves itself into an abandonment Of
Virginia by the rebels.
There is no dsguisiog the fact that the oppo-
nents Of Mcclellan loudly boast that be is again
defeated; but the radical elements meet with lit
tle sympathy in any such view Of the case !,
10 fully understood here, that tomorrow the siege
was TO have commenced.