The New York herald., 1862-04-12


boxes. Cofeo was in fair demand. cargo Of Rio was
sold at 1oc. Frsights dull but unchanged and
gagemenls moderate.
Yorktown In Our Two Great Wars for tho
Union-The Siege OF I7sl aud Ahe siege
or 1869.
Our intelligeps readers Will appreciate the
interesting illustrative map and the accompa-
nying historical account, which we spread be-
fore them this morning, Of the memorable and
eventful siege of Yorktown, 1881, the crowning
achievement of our first great war for the
Union. We reproduce these precious souvenirs
because Of the singularly beautiful application
which they suggest in regard to our siege of
Yorktown of ls62;'in this our second great aud
triumphant war for the Union.
In the first instance, the object of the war
was the establishment of Che independent ma
tionality Of the Union against powerful Euro
pean enemy; in the second instance, our object
is the maintenance of the integrity of the
hopeless, and yet the most formidable, domestic
rebellion in the records of any nation on the
great wars, after FIVE years Of gloomy
and doubtful struggle against superior num-
bers, resources and facilities for war, by land
and sea- the final issue was decided In favor of
the Union in the successful siege of Yorktown;
in the present war, with all the advantages of
superior numbers and warlike means and re-
sources, and after numerous train Of brilliant
victories, by land and water, who can doubt
the issue Of the second siege Of Yorktown?
Surely it will virtually end the war. as did the
first siege in favor Of the Union
But, in view Of the grand results depending
upon the siege of Yorktown Of 1881, how insig-
nifcant appear the contending forces of that
day, compared with those now gathered around
that famous locality. The army surrendered
ny Lord CORVALLIS amounted to 1000 men,
the combined forces besieging him consisted
of 1000 French troops $500 American CONT
nentals, and $500 militia. amounting in all to
10000 men. The killed, wounded and missing
of the British, during the hot work of close
siege Of nineteen days, from the lst to the 10th
October inclusive, we're some 552 men; of the
allies, about 800. The artillery employed in
the defences Of Lord CORVALLIS hardly
amounted to fifty pieces, and these were
chiefly six-pounders. and the artillery invest
ing him was largely composed Of six-pounders.
Now, with General McClelans approach TO
the work Of besieging Yorktown, instead of a
resisting force Of seven thousand, he finds him
self in front Of an enemy numbering perhaps
one hundred thousand men: and, instead Of a
little circle Of defensive works embracing forty
or fifty guns Of the smallest calibres, he finds
himself confronted by a yawning labyrinth of
earthworks, extending across FIVE or six miles,
from river to river, and armed with perhaps
not less than FIVE hundred heavy cannon in
Guiding numerous l00-pounders and long range
riaed pieces. And yet we are satisfied that
Washington, in moving upon Yorktown from
the north and west, in conjunction with a
French feet and army from the east, command
ing both rivers and the peninsula confident, as
he had every reason to be, Of a complete
success, was not more confident than
General Mcclellan may justly feel of repeating
the decisive victory of Washington. That he
will do it we feel entirely assured and if he
should do it within washingtons limit of nine
teen days, or within period twice as long, the
country will appreciate the crowning glory of
this achievement.
The siege Of Yorktown, 17sl, resulted in the
independence and organization Of the American
Union, with Its three millions Of population;
the siege Of 1862 will re-establish and per-
petuate this Union, starting afresh with thirty
millions Of people, and going on in its rein
yigorated prosperity until It shall culminate
ia a population of two or three hundred mill
lions, the central and ruling nation of the
globe. But dropping ou parallel between
Yorktown Of the last and Yorktown Of the pre-
sent century, under siege, the question still
recurs, What will be the immediate results, in a