Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-05-07
YORKTOWN EVACUATED.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
Doro,. NJ IN

OF THE PoToMAC, May 4-l0 A. n.
4 This morning, at o'clock, your correspon
dent entered the enemy's works, which the
t rear of their army deserted four hours be-
/ fore. Everything was found 70 be in utteI
confusion, as though they left in great haste
| About seventy pieces of heavy artillery have
been left in their works after having been
/ spiked, together with large amount of am
munition, medical stores, camp equlpage,
tents, and private property of their officers.
4 negro who was left in the town, states
/ that the rebels threw a large amount OF ord
nance stores into the river, TO prevent It's
falling into our hands.
| Several deserters have succeeded in run.
ming into our lines. One of them very in
telligent man, originally from New York,
who has been counected with the rebel ord
nance department ever since the works at
Yorktown have been constructed, states that
the rebels evacuated owing to the near ap,
proach of our parallels, covering the i'm
mense seige works of our men-that they
feared the success OF the Union gunboats in
the James and York rivers, by means of
which their communication with the outer
world would be cut off.
The order was given to evacuate by Gen.
johnson on Thursday, to commence the fol
lowing y orning, which was accordingly done.
Gen. Magruder is.said to have most strenuous
ly opposed the measure, stating that if they
could not whip the federals here, there was
no other place in Virginia where they could
that he swore IN the presence OF his men,
who vociferously cheered him, losing all con-
troll of himself.
Gen. Robert f. Lee rebel commander in
chief, arrived at Yorktown on Wednesday,
arI 81 10 cf
al Mcclellan, when he is supposed to have
recommended the abandonment of the works,
deeming them untenable.
The deserters all agree in stating that their
troops were very much demoralized and dis
heartened when the order to evacuate was
made public, as they all anticipated having
an engagement at that point. They also
agree that the rebels had one hundred thou
sand men on the peninsula together with
four hundred pieces of field artillery.
From the best information received they
have fallen back to Chickahominy creek, be-
yond Williamsburg, where it is expected they
will make stand
Immediately on the facts of the evacuation
becoming known, the troops were ordered IN.
der arms, and are now in motion from the
right and left wings Of the army.
A large force, under command of General
Stoneman, consisting of cavalry, artillery and
infantry, are in the advance, and will proba-
bly, come up to the rear of the enemy before
night if they remain near Williamsburg.
The gunbOats have passed above Yorktown
and are now shelling the shore on their way
up. Following them is a large steamer and
vessel loaded with troops, who will effect a
landing.
Magruder swore he was "not afraid of
Mcclellan, if Lee was" and that if he could
not successfully fight him there he could no.
where.
Only one man was left in Yorktown, and
he was a negro.
Gen. Jameson and Col Samuel Black were
the first to enter the main works. The only
causalty that occurred was the killing of two
men and the wounding of three by the ex
plosion of concealed she'll within the enc
mys works. The following are their names
They belonged to Company A, 10th New
York: Killed-George Mcfarland, Michael
NJ Dermott. Wounded-Se Sergeant JAS Smith,
Frederick Steick, and Lawrence Burns.
The works are very extensive, and show
that they were designed by scientific engi
neers.
WASHINGTON. Nay 5.
The following has been received at the War
department.
HEADqUARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
May 10 O'Clock. A. ~
10 Hon. Ed,ojt1 u Stanton, SecrctayyoC Uar:
We have the enenry's ramparts, their guns.
ammunition. camp equipage, etc, and hold
the entire line Of his works, which the engi-
neers report as being very strong.
| had thrown all my cavalry and horse ar
tillery in pursuit, supported by infantry. |
move Gen. Franklin's division and as much
more as | can by water up to West Point to-
day. No time shall be lost Our gunboats
have gone up York river.
| omitted to state that Gloucester is also in
our possession. l shall pursue the enemy to
the wall.
g. B. MCCLELLAN,
Maior