New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-24
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
G.uerriIias on the PeDinsula-PFespect Of
q nm Advance.

an Advance.
FoKrRrss MONROE May %, 1862.
Since the affair between our gunboas and the
Rebel batteries, on the 18th, on the headwaers OF
the James River, matters in that direction have re-
NAMED quiet. Flag Officer Godsborough is in that
vicinity, has held conference with Gen. Mcclellan,
and we may assume, without transcendng the pre-.
cribed limits, that the Rebel army has not yet with
drawn inland far enough to get completely out Of
the way OF the combined attacks Of the army and
navy.
Since our army moved up, the Pennsua has be-
come infested by guerras bands Of land pirate',
who kill plumber and render it unsafe to travel from
Yorktown by the main routes without an escort.
The strangest and worst feature of this sapguinary
and inhuman business is, as am reliably assured,
that these bands comprised largely, and some
times almost wholly, Of negroes. A sergeant Of the
9Th Pennsylvania Cavalry was shot by them few
days since. 1t would seem that this is not the only
description of BLOODY business carried on. resident
of the Peninsula, who WAS here yesterday, stated
that the negroes had become very troublesome
that "they were first required 10 dig their own
graves aud were then put iuto them" While this,
no doubt, strongly colors the picture, il unqucsfon.
SOME of the owners are mercilessly retsliating on
their slaves for reiusing 10 work. For the protec-
ton of all who have 10 travel between Yorktown
and Williamsburg, the 5th PeDDsy lyanis Cavalry
guard the route and net as escorts.
The tactics recommended by Gov. Letcber rela-
tive to the guerrilla system would TO have been
adopted by the Rebels in that region II will Ger.
tanly provoke terrible retaliation. Already the BAL
bariries Of the Rebels in bayoneing and pouring
volleys into our wounded 10 cutting oil their fingers
dragging them over roads and through mud where
sound men would not go; the variety Of barbarites
which have marked the Peninsula Campaign, have
aroused the spnt Of revenge Ia some OF our men 10
DEGREE fearful to contemplate. Tie desire for
quarter and the disposition 10 give it 10 growing less
every day.
We share the qualification which the whole coun-
try experience ia the fact that the Army Of the Po-
tomac has approached - near Richmond-i should
say rather tie scouts and advance force, The main
body of the army being some distance behind.
Since the battle OF Williamsburg, sixteen days ago,
the army has advanced about forty milee. IL can
scarcely be said TO have been pursuit. For that
length Of time the enemy have been engaged at the
chosen point where they halted in str-Dg thenDg the
Notifications previously begun 10 oppoee our further
progrees Thus far, from Williamsburg, the pro-
gres, Of the Army Of the Potomac has been unop-
pored.
We must infer, therefore, that its progress has
been either very Glow, or that of the eneIny-and
that, too, when the roads were worst-was very
rapid since they took less than twv, and We sixteen
DAYS 10 accomplish the distance II they were not
then, they probably now are ready for Va. IL war
the opinion Of the General in advance expressed ten
days ago, that 10000 men might have marched into
Richmond almost unopposed hid the enemy been
followed up from Williamsburg with anything like
the CELEBRITY and skill that mari ed the retreat. La
the nature OF the case, Gen. Mcclellan will be some
what delayed yet in entering Richmond While the
DISPATCHES from the front are very gratifying, the
country should not be led to take too much for
granted. 1t is the opinion Of those latest from the
front that unless for some extraordinary reason,
Johnson should again retire, great battle must be
fought before our army enters Richmond.
We may conclude from the former prudence OF
Gen. Mcclellan. and from the moving up OF the
siege guHs from Yorktown, that ho viii not fight it
before bis preparations, IRON which he allows moth
ing to divert him. arc complete. In view oi the pos
si6lity that Johnston may fall back again, the sug
gestion may be permitted that II would be- well TO
prepare to make the next pursuit as vigorous tie
retrest-thus avoiding the necessity Of the repeated
preparations for a battle, and thereby preventing
the repeated successful resort by the enemy to tho
tactics-as advantageous TO them exhaus,iDg to
to us-of Withdrawing just rs We are ready 10 light.