The New York herald., 1862-08-20
HovIMEITs on THE PENINSULA
Grand March OF McClellan's
Army.
The Troops Arrive in Safety
at Yorktown.
DETAILS OF THE ExPEDITION,
-, &ess Ass

FoR1Rs@ MexRos, August IT. l662.
great number Of steamships. steamboats, and
schooners are in this haror loaded with disabled
soldiers and ccmnssary stores; also camp squipage,
tents, &s, from Harrson's Landing, and apparently
awaiting orders
The Harrison's Isading mas boats made their regular
triss up 70 yesterday, whsn shcy hauled on
Nothing has been heard from General lfcCaeans army
today but last evening they successfully crossing
the Chckahominy route 10 williamsburg, where his ad-
had arrived and last night their baggage train was
passng through YORKTOWN towards Fortress Monroe.
The March or MCClellan's Army.
OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
HxADoUAKzxas, ARny on rm PoroxAcl
August II, 1852. I
| 1A< Arsy Ready TO Aarch-TAe Plans Of Karh--7Ae
FEELING Of s Toops7hs Slayt-Tns Arrival at Charles
Guy Court House-Ssetch Of The Ptace.-We Pas On
The koch-TAe Deserted Look Of Uss Country Sultsing
Bridge We Oros ne RirU and Push O,roa,d-Fb,cl
Pyocoedix0s-TAs Conotands ~ Tyeuble--Aryest of
Rsbel--At YarhtO'ca, de-, de- 44
| BY Wednesday night all requisite arrangements
completed and tho army ready to march 1t short notice
at any time. Nearly all the sick had embarked,
and the rest could be disposed Of In hours time In
the afternoon became known that Gen. Mcclellan had
gone down the river for purpose connected with the
anxiously expected movement, and 1t reported and
generally believed that his return marching orders
would be issued and the line Of mach 70 taken would
be indicated and the suspense relieved The uncertainty
which existed as to destination annoying
70 US who had to make the Journey might be In the
dark, not knowing what enemies TO meet or
what battles had TO be fought before sxtrcsted
from unpleasant situation. The weather continued 10
be quite cool ana comfortable, and much better for
marching than any which had prevailed three
weeks previously.
Thursday morning pleasant and comfortable, and
nothing Of particular interest trarsped through the
until IN the afternoon, when Gen. Mcclellan returned and
was soon ru,nored about that the long looked time
had arrived and that the army would commence moving
in few hours and that its dsstnaton 10 be Will
bansbrE In the FIRST instance II was believed that
the AMY would move BY three roads, In order get
through move rapidly and to Be better prepared meet
attack which the rebels should see t 70 make upon
onr columns. BY some the general plans intended
70 b. pursued lad become known (as events provsd)
probably - not having been deemed necessary TO main
tain such perfect sscresy in regard to them ~ had
hitherto been done.
AZ about six O'Clock In the evening orders were issued
10 the regiments and batteries comprising General Por
ters corps TO prepare 70 move immediately These or
ders were receivods with cheers by the soldiers who
were roced at the termination OF their suspense and
the prospect o. change OF locality Many Of them also
believed until the very last that it bs advance
towards Richmond, to cooperate with General Pope In
the reduction Of the rcbcl capital They could not and
would not bobsye that after so many sacracss and the
expenditure II 80 many lives, and mroh time labor
and money the campaign to be abandoned ana the
peninsula allowed 70 RELAPSE 70 rebel rule again They
could not realize tbs fact that the proud Army Of the
Potomac, which three months before CON n,enced its
,,arrhv M h,Uh and
with full ranks and joyous hearts, wipe out the damn
ing record Of Bull run and Balls Bluff was now, with
decimatsd and dishcartcned spirits about TO re
trace its steps and return without having accomplished
its purpose true that the army had fought well
and stood by their General through good report and evil
report-thsy had al Yorktown Williamsburg Fair Oaks
Hanover Court House. Gaines Mills White Oak swamp
and Malvern HIN snshrined their names with halo
Of glory by their danntless courage and gallant
bravery 50 iearisssy displayed often against superior
and sometimes overwhelming numbers; and now. that
All WAS 70 be abandoned aud rcrssrade movement was
10 be made they utterly refused credit Soon all was
hustle and excitement in the camps; the tents were
struck and the wagons packed very rapidly. So
perfectly had everything been prepared that II took but
comparatively short time 10 have everything In readi
BY nine o'clock most.of she regiments were al
ready and waiting for marching orders, and By ten all
tho preparations made. The division Of Genera
Sykes, which TO lead the advance, commenced its
march at about that hour This was followed by Gen.
snrelps and Gen. Mccail's divisions.
II wA nearly three O'Clock Friday morning before
al fairly started on the march. >The sight
mantle interesting the long files OF soldiers moved
the inrcnchmsnts ~ the front into the Charles
City road their bayonets glittering the moonlight as
ihcy moved silently along. Suppressed congratulations
exchanged that we wore AZ length actually leaving
the contracted limos within which for than six
weeks the army had lived and suffered dscomforts which
must render tho recollection OF the place anything
hut pleasant or satisfactory wcwoccedcd slowly alons
and soon the signs VI approaching day sreakcd the hor
zon and IN the light Of early dawn we bid q last
farewell 70 the scene Of our recent unccm-
heahful, and the men generally cheerful and
good aatued Tho incidents and description OF the scenes
ooaneotod with the beginning Of marches and movements
O. large armies have become SO familiar to The public that
will NOT annoy the readers OF tho HIIfD with ropeti-
tcn q the more tnan thrice told tale II s sufficient 10
say that al ast wo were fairly Started Journey
and prepared 10 meet whatever loruUe adventures
In store for rs. We reached Charles City Court
House at about eight NJ This s about Ave miles from
Harrsons landing and from u road loads TO Bafrctts
ferry, on the Chicsahomny river, where empss
into the James: 10 this Toint days march was
tended 10 reach, and " said 70 DO twelve miles dis
tant but my subsequent oxIerIoncs would nd.
cate thai II was nearer aItecn.
The Charles City Court House, which n the seat OF gov
vepersbls looking oe story brick building, with two
wings Tho main building used "a court house, and
tho wings contain The jury rooms, &c. Adjoining the
Court House is another smaller budng which contained
tne vnrOE county UCes ana wnerc kept the public
records OF tho county. These buildings have for
no past been used M sort OF headquarters Tor or
Our cavalry regiments duty Ia that vicinity. Tho re
cords aud public documents which kept in these
buildings extended back for nearly two hundred years
and must have been OF very great importance to
the Inhabitants aud property owners OF the county.
Ii1se had been puled ~ pieces ana scattered
al about the buildings and Tho adjoining grounds Great
confusion must arise from hs wantun destruction OF
valuable papers and litigation in the future be largely
increased thereby by such conduct friends and foes are
injured ndscrminatey and without any accompanying
iurv Hcra
also tire county Jail, which had time 10 sxanne
and these, with threc other buildings appear 70
constitute the CITY don't take much to make city 10
the south Tho dwelling houses appeared TO have been
generally deserted by their inhabitants.
Leaving this place We moved forward stll slowly and
cautiously, II thought that beyond here mls&
possibly meet with some trouble from the enemy. Pre-
vios cavalry reconnaissance had ehown rebel force
between u and The chickshominy rvcr but yet there