New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-15
Tho situation i'm Virginia.
From Our Special Correspondent.
FoRrRks MONROE, OLD PoIyr Coppogr

FoSTRkss MONROE, oLp foiSr SoSpokr'f
Having Just returned from the advance position
occupied by our army on the Peninsula, an intelli-
gent description of the present Situation may not
prove unacceptable to tue readers Of The TRIBUNE
and the public generally. am strongly prompted
at tie outset TO expose the onesidcd, exaggerated
not to say positively false accounts which, for va
rety of motives have been spread before the public
concerning the operations Of the army which, as
they have returned in The papers, have astonis5ed
and amused both officer and soldier, quite
as much as their exposure would the public. Tie
task of making heroes of men least entitled to the
distinction while real heroes have but scanty JUS
tice done them or are overlooked altogether,
generally belongs to that cass of writer's whose
tenure as followers Of the army rests on some such
ral and questionable specially. This sort of thing
ia however less matter Of surprise than announce
ments-may be from high if not headquarters
which, for example, represent q days hard
ourselves and generalship go bad as to
send chill through the army-a DAY, re-
deemed only by gallant action, in defiance
of orders to iall back, and without the supports
many times prayed for, and as many times denied
as a day of success " ut all points, a day really
supposed TO expect "suceess at all points. and it
seems TO be the business Of the telegraph to crafty
il, This much without reference to q hundred aud
more incidents and scenes that never happened, aud
fictitious ocourences the reading OF which affords n-
fue diversion, and illustrates the imaginative turn
of the human rlind in the tragic surroundings OF Il
great army.
But to the present situation:
Johnston aud Magruder, with about 3j,OJO men,
commenced leaving Fort Magruder on Monday even-
ing the 9TH. in less than one hour alter the sup
polts had reached Gen. Hancock, and without which
he made his gallant charge-supports which
General, Sumner and Keyes denied him all day and
which Gen. Mcclellan, at the instance OF Gen.
Smith ordered up Immediately Oh arriving and per-
ceiying the advantage of Gen. Hancock position.
The swarming on the let oil ,ien. omith "noie
diyieion where he had vainly ATTEMPTED TO place it
and other supports, taught tue Rebel Generals that
they must either leave or be bagged, for there
IL nothing truer than, had the policy of Gen. Smith
early in the day, and all day, prevailed, Johnston,
Maeruder and the rest of them wOuld have been
taken, or they would have saved Themselves by q
more precipi'ate and dissstrous retreat than that
which they made that night. That the army rested
two days instead OF pursuing the demorallzed fugi
tves with the exception OF a force OF cavalry and
some artillery, under Gen. Stonemanl may perhaps
seem 4 little strange. But the men could not 90
ahead without ra,ons nor the animals without for
age. These had TO be waited for. Ii Gen. Mcclellan
il, not compctely cssiul be can charge very much
~ IN. Ouartermas,er and Commissary Departments.
Having rested at and around Williamsburg two
days, the army marched two days, eleven miles O
dsy and then rested two days more The Quarter
master and Comnis.ary Departments were again at
fault Yesterday (llondayl the order was out TO
move this morning, and IL is probable that there
will not be another halt before coming up with the
enemy.
Gen. Stoneman is abou, fifteen miles ahead Of
Gen Smiths Division, which Is the head OF the
Of he
eny under FLOYD the thief whore force consists often
reomens of infantry, and considerable artillery and
co oSoIrv. Gen. Stopenan rode back TO Gen. McClel.
Isins Headquarters yesterday He is Of opinion that
had the Rebels been vigorously pursued their army
would have been broken up, the leaders taken prs
oners and that Richmond would have been ours
With scarcely struggle. The servant OF Gen. John-
.ton has been captured by Gen. Stcnemaus scouts.
lie had come down from Richmond for the Generals
Lagg.oe and fell into tho hands Of our scouts VINO
have pushed very near Richmond. lie states that
the citv is full Of people IN the greatest
alarm The Union army is hourly looked for,
thongh the sternest determination to oppose
II, progress is pretended. Railroad communication
will the south had been suspended, by TIE seizure
of all the cars as they arrived, so Us TO retain us
many as possible in Richmond The fear was that
should ears be allowed TO go South thsy would not
RETURN The great body Of Jo9nstoh's army had
Kent ON 10 Richmond the roads Ill the neghbo.hood
of ibe c,y being choked by the exhausted, demoral
iled. discouraged mass. Ii was the Intention Of
Johnston to make a stiff fight at Chiekahominy, and
NJ the breastworks ten miles this rlde Of Richmond
Oar delay was being Improved to iortiy 10th places.
The appearance of our gunboats on the head waters
of the lame, River had increased the panic, and
.Lalls thrown five miles and bursting within few
miles OF Richmond had Increased the previous con-
Cen. smiths diyision, the head OF the army, when
bo started to-day, was within about 81 mile, OF
Richmond. Today's march will diminish the dis
tance ten or twelve miles. Tomorrow, 1t was ex-
pected the rear Of the enemy VIII be come up Win,
When, it ia expected lighting will take place
Several of our glnboats have gone MP the Pamnn.
kew River and gained a position 10 alord valuable
with the army. They are stu The dread
of tLe Rebels who are thus thwarted IN their en-
deayors 10 get ont Of their way IL is iSht to state
here that the country Is indebted to President n-
coa for this who on his arrival af Fortress Monroe,
gave the order that secured us the James River.
The Caena had been aground, but was OIL again.
The reoort prevailed that she had sunk the James
town. Patrick Henry aud 1eazer, and silenced two
batteries, thus cleaning out the nyer.
As our army goes forward our transportation goes
II, the York River. To-day the cling of supplies
wss moved up from Ethan, six miles above West
Point thirteen miles further, at Cqnberland, thus
materially reducing the land carriage Of supplies.
IL ID not improbable that further halt may take
place, though 1t was intended that Oh moving this
morning the whole force shouiu nave hve dhys ra-
tions.
At Williamsburg we have about 1000 prisoners,
taken at the battle on the 9th and since. The nun.
Der is being increased hourly. Our loss in killed
and wounded at tie battle Of Williamsburg Is be-
lieyed to have been hitherto stated too low. ~
probably not less than 500, mostly IN hookers .
division. This morning Gen. Ssmners alvison 10.
moved up from York River, and all sIong 'nu go
ward RiehmoSd. The spirits and health Of the sTuy
are good. There is unmistakable confidence IN zen;
Mcclellan. Il 10 sale " say that 1t has increased