The New York herald., 1862-04-15
SKIRMISHNG ALL ALONG The LINES.
Interesting Details from Our Cores
p0ndents in the Field.
Immense Strength OF the
Rebel Defepces,
de-, &C.,
Our Army Correspondence.

tHe AH0ck-Frtsk Ae0S th< Army
Easse Of Our Pickets-fA< Rebel Gunoo@ Tsase-Pcpu-
tarsfy Of General kcClsllan ,cA HIS Qcers-ReinJorce.
n'e'sts for the Enemy, &C.. DC.
There has been no change in our positien snce INV
last Il continued 70 rain hard all day yesterday
and last night, and one can form no conception
Of the depth Of the mud, unless they chanced 70
visit Virginia during the latter part Of the win
ter The experience Of the army thus far on the "sa
cred so' has been anything but pleasant In The
meantime We amuse ourselves by watching the enemy
and lodging their Shells which they throw every time
they can see sman group. Our men not permitted
70 return the fire. The rebels have wasted large
quantity Of ammunition upon u.s. and thus far with little
damage II we remain much longer in this mud hole
we shall lose more from disease than we would by
sorming their batteries At the point Of the bayone
Every day men discover new batteries, but what
number Of guns they have cannot ascertain with
certainty. We have counted thirteen batteries on the
river, besides some they said to have back Of
these, and they undoubtedly havo large force defend
them prisoner taken yesterday says that fourteen
rebels were killed by shell from one Of guns on
Saturday and could distinctly see them carrying of
men on stretchers during the engagement.
Our men impatient To be at them, and can hardly
be restrained edN
We received yesterday the first instalmen Of fresh
beef consisting Of one hundred head Of splendid cattle
and more are on the way.
Lieutenant Samuel J. Smith, Adjutant Of the Second
Rhode Island regiment has been attached the staff Of
our General as chief commssary, which will insure our
being well provided with provisions in future.
Several Southern gentry have in and taken the
oath Of allegiance, and requested General place
safeguard" their property, which was being ap
proprated by troops. believe their request has
been granted in every instance, although think the
loyalty Of some Of them is very questionable One Of
them has i've in the rebel army He tells the same
old story Of being Union man. and that his sons were
forced into the army.
Our pickets extend down as far as the James river
near the residence Of man by the Of Young His
residence the probable headquarters OF one of the
rebel generals, rebel flag flying there when our
forces advanced and quantity Of empty bottles were
lying about loose, which is sure sign He was very
wealthy, and his grounds laid out with much TASTE
He was the owner Of hundred negroes and also OF
Youngs mill !" which surrounded by fortifea.iops
and which we captured.
The rebels came down with steamboat to tho wharf
near his residence and took him away with all his effects
The rebel Gunboat Teazer keeps constant watch on
our movements, moving backward and forward in the
James river, the mouth Of the Warwick Whenever
she catches glimpse Of pickets she runs up and
sautes them with few shells. She il small boat and
carries only one gun that we can discover Il would
be well for some Of gunbOats to teach her better
manners.
EeHr O'CLOCK p NJ
messenger has just arrived from Nswport's News
with the HERALD containing the account Of our glorious
victory at Ptsburg and the surrender of Island No TO-
The spread like wldfre, and every one was eager
to copy but there only enough to supply
few Of the officers. ..........
Whoever was fortunate enough to secure one was
obliged 10 read aloud to crowd Of delighted listeners
and the rejoicing was kept till late hour Of the night
The officers under General Mcclellan from the highest
10 the lowest love and respect him. and will follow him.
whether 10 the cannon's mouth in leaving the ma
naRement and command Of the army to the abolition
generals who instead Of taking the field and fighting the
battles Of the Union in person, have remained vaanty
at homs crtcsng the actions Of those who have staked
their lives and fortunes in defence Of the constitution and
the Union.
AS be ascertaned the force opposed 10 M
at this point 43 0C0 and they being constantly rein.
forced General Peck discovered the camp fires of eight
regiments on our left last night and we can hear
them cheer upon the arrival Of every new regiment
In CAMP, BEFORE THE INTRENCHMENrs AT
YORKTOWN, Va, April II, 1862 !
An Aerial Voyage Extroordinary-The Couse of the Bal.
loo~-H Drifts 7ocards the Enemy's Lines-Pnilous Po-
suion Of General PorterHs Coolness and Prssence of
Nnd-Ropidlys Of HIS Descemt-ieconnoissanc bv Gem
raj Jamesop-An Internal kachine-7Ae Enemy Busy on
Their In,renchments- for the Troops, dc. dc.
The exciting event Of the day has been balloon recon
by General Fz John Porter On scale of rather
larger magnitude than was intended. Al i've O'Clock
in the morning General Porter took his place in Professor
Lowes balloon He supposed the number Of ropes
were attached 10 it, whereas there only one and
burned by vtriol used in generating gas Taking his
seat in the car, unaccompanied by any one, the
rope was let out 70 nearly ts full Length
the length is about nine hundred yards
when suddenly snap went the and up went the bal
loon. This was unexpected part Of the programme
The men below looked up with astonishment, and the
General looked down with equal bowilderment
"Open the valve" shouted one Of the men below
''Pll manage IT," responded tho General.
Upwsnt the balloon, higher, higher. rose with great
rapdity; it's huge form lessened il wildly mounted
into the regions Of the upper air. became speck in
the sky The wind was taking it in the direction Of the
enemy's territory. BY this time every staG officer and
hundreds Of others were looking at the moving speck
impossible 10 describe the anxiety felt and expressed
for the fate OF him. the central object Of thought in that
far away moving spsck, every moment becoming less
visible II is TO our direction; the counts
nances OF our men brighten with hope. II passes over
heads. Soon 1t begins to descend but with randi
ty that arouses renewed apprehension. Quickly squad
Of cavalry led by Captain Locke Lieutenant Mcuade of
tho Generals STAFF. plunge spurs into their horses and
dash away in the direction Of the descending balloon
The rest Of the story is % received IL from
the Generals own lips. While the rope WINS
being played out he adjusted his glass in
readiness for his proposed Of the enemy,s terri
tory sudden bound Of the balloon told him in a mo-
ment that the rope bad given way. Flo dropped his
glass, heard the call, "Open the valve,n made tho
response given above, and set about looking for thu
valve. He was sensible Of being GIghty he General
loves pun as well as the next one) but was not at ali
nervous He saw the wind had taken him over the
line Of the rebel intrcnchments. Having no wish N
drop in among them he let the valve take caro- OF itself
and proceeded 10 take advantage Of his position 70 note
the aspect Of rebel objects below. Crowds Of soldiers
rushed from the woods and ho heard their shouts dis
tncty' Luckily he was above the reach Of tAeir bul
so he was not afraid this score The map Of tho
country wac distinctly discernabe. He SOW YORK