The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-10

raj Dana arrived in transports from York
town and remained IN the centre Of the river, whie
some Of draugh gunboats trip mp the rivers
Pamuuksy and Mataponsy 70 capture portion Of the
rebel mosquito nest, which were brought into use for
carrying from the transports 10 the shore a.
the river here 10 too shallow for vessels drawing over
six feet OF water.
Daring the night some o. the rebel pickets made .
sorte on one Of advanced videties and shot him
through the heart The news soon spread through the
camp, and By daylight this morning tho plain which
takes In about thousand acres OF ground, running
southwest from the York river presented scsne such
- have nevcr before Witnessed. long lines Of mon
extended from left 70 right the centre Of the
field, and squads Of skirmishsrs stood mark
ing, In dim outline, thcir forms against the
heavy woods aud underbrush, which presents
an unbroken front to every side except that bound
cd by the river Here the men stood for some time
re.dv 70 march at moments notice; but no foe ap-
pearsd. ana Ne were permitted to return 70 their
camps for the pursQ Of getting their breakfast and.
perhaps, somo slsep strong picket. com osed u tho
Now York Thirty second, Ninaty and Ninstysxth
pennsylvania troops left At the sdgcs OF the woods
10 keep sharp lookout for the enemy, who were
believed 10 be in close proximity TO our limos.
About this lime one Of our gunboats discovered . .
regiment or two or tho enemy the Yves. side
Of the river, who dispersed in great confusion az.
tor having received some half dozen or our heavy
sholls in thoir midst. This was communicated 70
General Siocum, who Immediately made strenuous
efforts 10 get the brigade Of General Dana on shore
that we might be able 70 give the enemy recep-
ton should he mako his appearance: General Dana was
indoagablc labors got the troops on the trans
ports and through his sxersicns most n the moe and
horscs were on The boats by o'clock and prepare
tions were being made 70 breakfast the Of this bril-
gaae whom the order given for The Sixteenth. Thr
ty.ns and Thirty second New York. and the Ninety.
nth and Ninety sixth PsDnsy regiments 70 advance
INTO the woods and drive or Of the rebel
who were firing occasional shots At pcxets and were
supposed to be strongly supported BY force concealed
the woods This superstition proved correct. for no
had our men made advance into the woods
they were received with voley Of musketry from the
rebels who were hidden In the dense underground Our
msp or sssed on and gave them volley after which the
enemy rstreatsd further into the woods with the Thirty
second Nav York their heels; but they too
swift footed for boys-being more pfotected-and
they soon left Thirty struggling in the mud
while this scene had been going tho right
centre another ranspirng tho centre where the
Ninety NTH Pennsylvania regiment had entered tho
woods In few after they they found
themselves In dense swamp, and in their struggles
10 get across became separated from zach other.
One OF the companies managed TO get to the other
side. and was climbing tho bank the opposite
sido when thoy deserted party Of soldiers ly-
ns in ambush. "Who comes therer' cried tho
marty in ambush. "Friends," the answer
.what are your" the next Interrogation "a CON-
uauv or the Ninety h rennsylvanians" No sooner was
this answer returned than the party whom the captain
had mistaken for Of his own regiment. opened
terrible hre upon our mon, who returned the IRE
then returned reserves In this AFFAIR Captain
~A~Axh
bot not dangerously wounded and two priyates
hose names am rs yet unable learn wore killed and
carried of the Geld by their friends, who before they
quit tho ground revengsd tho fall OF brave comrades
by giving the enemy few well directed volleys
But now tho action became more general throughout
tho lines and from every quarter OF the woods
sharp crack Of musketry. tried for . time 70 b.
ubiquitous but after travelling from point another
some ATTY times for the purpose Of seeing how matters
were going took my stand the right, and calmly
awaited the coming events The sharp reports came
nearer and and At length bali lodged tree
my side was about 10 move from my dangerous
quarters whsa my attention was attracted TO
that portisn Of the woods whsre the Thirty nrst
and Thirty second New York State Militia
had entered. Four men were carrying the body OF .
man which, upon inquiry, understood to be that Of
Capt Young OF Company G, Of the Thirty second regi-
ment who was shot the throat. and died instantly
The deh had now going for three here with
out intermssion and number Of men killed and
wounded. A. this juncturs our men Withdrawn
from wood, where they evidently getting the
worst or It, the Second United States artillery under
Capt. Arnold, was ordered into position the right,
and Capt Porters First Massachusetts, battery took up
position upon tho left and in few minutes the shell
were flying through the air the rate Of about
minute. This soon compelled the rebels 70 mako
few less thick than upon the ground they
were then occupying. But there evidently is
no rost for the wicked, for had the rebels
moved their forces upon left, than gunboais
which up to that time had been unable to have hand
IN the Affair." opened their batteries upon the foe with
much effect that when commenced 10 write they had
completely driven the enemy out of sight and hearing
am inclined to think that this upon our left was
an expensive TO the rebels who, this reaches
the readers OF the HERALD will have learned that
our gunboats 10 Of the safest places that can
be found. As the guns Of Captain Porter
mcnccd 10 Gre among them, accompanied by those
from the river, the rebels undertook 10 Of
their batteries which they had got into position The
New Jersey regiment received orders charge upon this
battery and at they WENT with cheers that made the
very forests ring but the rebels again too fleet
footed Before the Jersey boys got through the woods
the enemy had made tall travelling, and GOT Of sigh,
In tho woods
Everybody has done well, and the troops have acted
nobly Thoy have been under arms all day thus far
and standing tho broing without anything what
ever 70 eat except that which they may have had in
thsr haversacks have yet 10 hear Of complain,
from any quarter The idea OF having opportunity
have Sight with the rebels to have absorbed all
their other faculties. ass8 tsE.
More troops constantly arriving, and just Capt.
saundes company Of Massachusetts, sharpshoosrs pass
by me their road TO the front. These tho men
who able teach the rebels that parties can lay
concealed In the woods. M
except tho occasional discharge OF muskst IL seams 70
be far OF towards Williamsburg. think we have rot
into their rear and, ~ have intend hating them
for few hours until General Mcclellan come M 10
carry them back to thsr deserted quarters u York
town. saGr