Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-07
From Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, Nays.
Our gun.boats, on their way to West Point.
captured, or destroyed, many rebel transports.
report was current Of The capture OF : large
number Of prisoners, and landed at W est Point
The railroad bridge across the road leading
from West Point to Richmond have been des-
troyed.
BALrrAoRx, May 8.
The Fortress Monroe letter Of the American,
dated the 5th inst says that Gen. McCiellsns
advance is beyond Williamsburg
The following 10 taken from the Anerieas's
special Fortress Monroe letter:
The French steamer Massendi came down from
Yorktown, bringing the French Minister and Capt.
Fox. Asst Secretary Of the Navy. We learn that.
up TO 10 o'clock, the steamers with Gen. Fesnk-
Inns division had not gone beyond Yorktown.
They were waiting to hear from above. One OF
the unb0ats which went up 0rk river IN Sun
day morning has returned. She reports that she
found the river unobstructed; that our gunboats
had reached West Point, and that force had
been landed and . bridge on the road to Rich
mond destroyed. Several rebel transports were
o'ertaken going up the river. several OF which
were run asl ore and burned, those board cscap-
ing. whils others were captured.
The latest advices state til at Gen. Mcclellan Is
with the advance, and is supposed to be efore
iliansburg, IN which direction there has been
brisk cannonading all day yesterday.
This r u. q schooner came down the James river
from Richmond, and when near Newport News
Her singular movements attracted considerable
attention The men were seen 10 take to their
boats and pull for Newport News. They said
they had intentionally run her ashore for tho pui
pose of reaching our lines, and that she contained
90 tons Of coal for the Merrlmac. Several boats
were Immediately manned and started for the
purpose of endeavoring to tow her of, but finding
this TO be impossible, they set her On fire and sho
burnt to the waters edge. The Merrimac was in
sight at tho time, but did not venture TO save the
vessel The crew were t'kcn 10 headquarters, ana
they gave deplorable account Of affairs in Rich
mond. The rebel troops regarded all further at
tempt. to sustain the re ,ellion sheer folly.
Among the prisoners taken at Yorktown is the
Chief OF Engineers of Gen. Johnson's staff, VINO
states that the whole rebel army at Yorktown
amounted to $1,000 men.
He gives . IN st depiorab,e account of the con-
dition OF the army, and says they viii! be unable
to make a stand anywhere this side Of Richmond.
Their retreat commenced before daylight on
Saturday morning, and he doubts that the ad-
vance was 20 miles distant at the time the las t
gun was fred from Yorktown.
On Saturday morning Gsneral Mcclellan sig
nailed five gun-boats lying before Yorktown to
proceed up the rivor to West Point, and remove
all the distractions in their wy.
Quite feet of steamers and vessels loaded with
troops were discerned, and pursuit commenced,
resulting in the capture Of some Of them, whilst
others were sent ash ore and burned by those on
board, v ho escapei to the woods.
1t i. said that by o'clock in tho afternoon the
gun-boats had reached West PoiH', the head of
navigation, nearly 80 miles above Yorktown, fre-
q 'enily shelling parties of tie enemy who were
flying along the Shore nd aanking that portion
of the rerreating enemy who we're flying to-
wards West Point to take the railroad to Rich
mond.