The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-25
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.
Situation of Affairs, and the
Prospect of the Battle.

real plan OF attack is l am not permitted to
state, but it is believed in camp that we
are to get to the rear of the enemy, and by
cutting off his retreat, prevent his escape
or the removal of any OF the guns. Of
course, nothing of definite nature is known
in regard to intended movements, and we
must wait with patience till the blow is
struck.
GENERAL FITZ JOHN PORTER
General Porter is in command of the ad-
vance guard of the enemy, and has the
whole direction of affairs. Mcclellan has
his headquarters three miles in our rear,
and General Sedgwick is with him in COM
mand of the reserves General Porter, who
has the keenness of a hawk, is never at
rest. He trusts nobody's eyes or impress
sions but his own, and exposes himself in
the most dangerous places while superin~
tending the preparations for the siege.
While accommodating the rebel works a
aids, and more than one shell has burst be-
fore, over or behind him. He was three
times up in balloon yesterday, once from
a poin. near York river, carefully recon-
noitering the position of the rebels. Gen.
Mcclellan made his whole sojourn 10 camp
with General Porter, and has confded to
him the excavation of his plans.
DEFIANT NOTES.
Not the least remarkable among the in-
cidents of the siege is the defiance cast back
and forth by the opposing armies in the
stirring notes of the military bands. In
the soft twilight of these lovely spring days,
the bands of the rebels sauciiy play the air
of "DXie," and the lines are so close to-
gether that the music is distinctly heard in
our our camp, while we send back the go.
rious strains of the "Star Spangled Ban-
ner," and drown the cheers Of the enemy
with shouts that find ringing echo in the
woods. Our troops are eager to set upon
the enemy and are full of confidence and
enthusiasm.
THE REBEL FORCE.
AS nearly as we can ascertain the force
of the enemy around Yorktown is from
thirty to tbirty-fve thousand men. Of
this number five or six thousand are station
ed in the earthworks directly in front of our
lines, and the remainder are scattered over
space of six miles in and around the city.
THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE.
The county hereabouts is almost level
plain, skirted by heavy forests, but sparse
ly inhabited. 1t produces large quantities
of corn aud wheat, some tobacco, and an
abundance of peaches, but other fruits are
scarce. The wood is chiefly hard pine, and
large proportion of the forest is swampy,
but when cleared up and drained the land
dries, and makes an excellent wheat re.
gion.
The people are mostly large land owners,
and apparently wealthy, possessing fine
mansions and beautiful sites and grounds.
On the James river the dwellings have been
burned for distance of several miles but
on the York river, and in the immediate vi
cinity OF our camp, they are still standing,
hastily forsaken by their owners, without
an attempt to remove any other property
than private papers. In many instances an
abundance of provisions and live stock have
been found upon these deserted premises
Occasionally a negro is left behind, and still
more rarely few whites of the poorer
classes. These latter are all arrant seces.
slonists.
AFFAIRS ON THE PENINSULA ON THURSDAY,
THE 10TH.
Correspondence CT the Baltimore American.
Parties who came in from the army this
morning report no especial change in the
attitude of affairs. Continual diminishing
is going on, and brilliant little affair &C.
Cured yesterday morning in which Grifin's
Battery participated with marked effect,
killing and wounding twenty-seven of the
rebels.
We have good accounts of the efficiency
CT Berdan's Sharpshooters. They hold ad-
vanced positions under the rebel batteries,
from which they constantly harrass the en-
envy. A head above the parapet becomes
the instant mark of half dozen rifles,
which, from thousand yards distance,
rarely fail TO hit their mark. The rebels
keep well under cover, and content them.
selves with shouting abuse to cur men, a
sort OF encounter in which they are winning
distinguished honors One Sharpshooter,
belonging to the California Regiment, has
almost wholly prevented the rebels from
using large gun in an important position.
From weIl-selected rife pit be keeps q
constant aim upon the gun, aud hardly an
attempt has been made for two days to fire
it without the rebels paying for their te-
merity by the loss OF one or more men. His
companions steal out to him with bis meals.
and he has thus been of important service.
The rebels are making the most desperate
cxertors to render their position secure.
One OF toe expedients has been to dam the
Warwick river, thus flooding the ground in
front of their lett, and embarrassing the adj
vance OF cur forces.
A correspondent OF the New York Post,
who is with the army before Yorktown, says
it is reported that Cobb and Floyd are in
yorktown. He adds:
Their works are strong and it will be a
hot, earre:t ard bloody fight. The rebels
have some thirty thousand and sre adding
to it every day. A deserter yesterday said
they had seventy-6ve thousand between here
and Richmond, and they were all coming
here, but the place is so small that the more
in it, the more killed end the more prisons
ers.
While coming home from scout this at.
ternoon We called ct house and found q
couple OF ladies, quite young, and one as