Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-22
Advance of McClelIan's Army-Ssenes.
and Incidents ON the MARCH, Z
Special Correspondence of then. Y. post.l )
TwBxrY HITLEs ER6I RICHMoEb. +


TwBNTY Mules BR6I RICHMoEb. ! Fl
ST an May II, 1869. I'll
Ally quarters last night were With Gener-
n Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, at .Pros5
pect lHtll near the point where t he rai!road /
crosses Black Greek, and three miles from
the crossing of the Pamunkey river. Cen |
eral StOneman has occupiedythe advance |
position since the departure from York |
town. The country from this place to the
Chick ahOmihy has been cleared of the reb, |
els, and retired to parts unknown, We |
have not yet followed them to their boast I
ed line on the Chickahominy. 4
Yesterday General StonemRn, accom-
panied by some companies of cavalry, \
made reconnaissance towards the river at
a point between the railroad liue and near
ly to Bottoms Bridge, finding the snemy's
guns in position and some infantry to sup
port them. He afterwRrd proceeded in
force to take the battery, but the enemy
hastily rctreated after throwing few
shells. ~
During yesterday little affair happened
which casts n stigma upOn the character
of an officer not heretofore considered
wholly above suspicion. While Major Law
renee Williams, of the Sixth United States
cavalry was riding in advance, he was no.
ttced acting in asuspicious manner, aud at
Il later hour Nu adjutant came riding up
from the rebels with u note, requesting the
Major to advance his pickets certain dis
lance, AS they were falling back. The reb-
ell adjutant WAS placed under guard, and
the Major arrested and sent to General
McClellan's headquarters for trial. This
is, in short, the best phase of the case
while reports make it much worse.
FIFTEEN MILES TO RICHMOND.
A reconnaissance was made to-day five
miles further towards Richmond, leaving
but fifteen miles of woodland and steam
between our forces and the rebel capital.
1t is probable that the army win immedi-
ateiy break camp and follow -four dcs-
patches to-day confirm this subpositior
General Mcclellan was within fifteen miles
of Richmond yesterdny.-EDs.l
coNFIDENCE RESTORED.
Tho white population in the vicinity
New Kent Court House arc regaining con-
tidence and returning to their homes, find
ing that peaceable citizens are secure in
the presence OF our forces. Many of them
converse freely upon the war, but express
the hope that "Confederate notes will never
be below fifty per cent. discount"-from
which remark it is to be inferred that their
secessiOnist pr0clivities are not yet erHdi-
Gated. In fact, peace is expected as soon
as We occupy Richmond
Thetarmers are making preparations to
plant and SOW the same as ever, and it will
be highly necessary, for tue country is
drAtued of everything eatable, or that will
feed horse flesh. Not a pig, COW, horse,
mule, or sheep, or poultry of any kind, has
been saved from the ravages of the Con-
Tolerate government and their army.
PRICES.
/
The stories of high prices are in some
instances not applicable to this country,
but in others they are applicable in the ex-
tremc. Salt IS sixty dollars per sack, and
noConfedernte notes are taken in payment.
Groceries of all kinds are extremely high /;
boots are twenty-five aud fifty dollars per
pair, aud few are to be had. Corn and
wheat, however, are no higher than in
New York. Bacon is from forty TO fifty
cents per pound.
i THE BLACKS. -s-Fs.
1t is curious to witness the dress and
''hxing-up" of the negro men and women
preparatory to departing with us. The
women put on their gaudy dresses and are
as independent as possible. The account
given by the Virginians, who own hnn-
dreds OF slaves, is, that they cannot now
be made to work ut oil. The owners them.
selves look upon slavery rs having received
its death-bloW in the State, and should the
war continue, they expect that Congress
Will pass general emancipation law, as in
the District of Columbia.
SENTIMENTS OF THE PLANTERS.
There is a growing feeling of security
among the planters us they become ac-
qnainted with our army, and but for the
petty depredhtions of a few lawless SOL
diers u very favorable Impression of the
northern people would be left upon the
minds of those who have been taught to
hate them. A member of the Virginia
Legislature, E. T. Lacy, who lives here.
tells me that the Legislature will have no
members from the counties north of Rich.
nOnd, and that quorum will hardly be
present from other parts of the State. He
thinks that Virginia is virtually gone, and
believes that the Confederate Government
have removed everything from Richmond,
and intend to give up the city without fir
ing gun; and that the only defence the
rebel army is making now is to enable it
to. get safely across the river, and not let
US press TOO closely upon its retreat
The people are loud and bitter in their
curses of the rebel leaders aud of South
Carolina and Mas sachusetts. "IE" said
Mr.. Lacy, tive could push South Carolina
and Massachusetts ont to sea, and let the
hot-heads eat one another up, it would be
a blessing to the country" The New
England soldiers are not at all liked in
Virginia; they fight too we'll.
THE OouSTRX.
The country along the Pamuukey is fer
tile, and has fine mansions, but in the in
terror, through the entire peninsula, the
land wears desolate aud unfruitful as
pect. Ten miles below, near the Chicka-
hominy, saw free negro colony, CON
tanning population of about three hun
dred persons. Tho only rebels seen iu
this vicinity yesterday were struggling SOL
diers dsserteEs aud others. to the number
OF about hundred, who bad hidden and
were awaiting the approach of our army.
They report that there is no rebel army