The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-05
ten DAYS Later
FROM THE SEAT OF war.

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The clipper ship Lotus. Leckie, arrived en- the Slst
of May, after a long passage Of 20 days. bringing a
small Eastern mail and the newspaper expresses.
From our San Francisco files We extract and con-
dense the following summary Of Geographic news:
YORKTOWN EVACUATED BY THE REBELS.
WASHINGTON, May 4-Yorktown was evacuated
last night. and we now occupy the enemy's works.
They left a large amount of camp equipage and guns.
The following has just been received by the War
Department:
HEADQrARrERs Army OF THE PoIoxAc, May 4.
To Hon. E. W. Stanton, Secretary Of Uar-SR:
We have taken transports, guns, ammunition and
camp e~quipage, and we hold the entire rebel works,
which our engineers report TO be very strong. | have
thrown all my cavalry and horse artillery in pursuit,
supported by the Infantry. l have sent Frahklin's
Division and as much more as can be transported by
water, to West Point to-day. The ~gunboa,s have
gone up the York river to Gloucester, which is also
in our possession. l shall push the enemy to the
walL-MCCLELLAN.
From army correspondents we have the following:
We entered the enemy's works at 8 o'clock this morn
ing, Sunday which they had deserted four hours
before. Everything was found in utter confusion.
About so pieces of artillery were left spiked. A large
amount of medical stores, ammunition, camp equip
age, tents and private property of officers were left.
Several deserters came into our lines, and one states
that the rebels evacuated owing to the near approach
of our parallels, and that they feared the success of
our gOnboats In the York anu the james rivers.
Gen. johnson gave orders TO evacuate on Thursday,
and Magruder is said to have strenuously opposed the
evacuation, saying, If they could not whip the F'der-
ais here, they could not anywhere in Virginia.
Deserters all agree that their troops were much
demoralized and disheartened when the order to
evacuate was given, as all anticipated n fight. The
rebels had LOG, 600 men on the Peninsula. and 400
pieces of artillery. 1t IS believed they have fallen
back behind Williamsburg. where they are expected
to make a stand. Gen. Stoneham. commanding n
large force of cavalry and artillery. is in full pursuit
of the enemy, and will probably come up with their
rear before night, if they remain near Williamsburg.
The gunboats have passed Yorktown, and are now
Smelling the shores. Following them are a number
of vessels loaded with troops. to effect a landing.
Official reports just received say the enemy have
left IL guns in the works. The Gloucester Point
ordnance store was also left.
All manner of speculations are rife rs to the prob
able cause Of the evacuation of Yorktown. The
general opinion seems to be the temporary defense of
Richmond, and the speedy abandonment of Virginia
by the rebel government, should its army be so fortu-
nate as TO elude Mcclellan, which is now n matter of
great doubt. Others intimate n sudden offensive
strategy and dash on Washington. This is regarded
as absurd.
A dispatch from Yorktown to the Times has the
following The retreat OF the rebels appears TO have
been precipitate. They commenced dismounting and
carrying their guns to Williamsburg four days ago.
Wagons have been engaged transporting ammunition
and provisions for n week past. $500 sick were sent
to Richmond ten days since. The rebel soldiers had
negroes working on the entertainments till 2o'clock
on Saturday morning, when the rear guard was
ordered to stop work and take up the march for
Williamsburg. 10000 rebels were sent from Winn's
Mill to reinforce the army sent from Richmond to
oppose McDowell's advance. The rebel troops
particularly those under Magruder-have mutinied
on several occasions within the last two weeks. 5000
of his men threaten to lay down their arms, unless
they receive food and clothing. A number of mines
had been prepared for our troops, by placing Prussian
shells under the ground in the roadway and entrance
to the fort. No whites were to be found, and only a
few negro women.
The BATTLE AT WILLIAMSBURG.
A battle was fought on Monday. May 5, at this
village. located n few miles inland from Yorktown.
The rebels were retreating from Yorktown towards
Richmond and were being pursued by the Union
army under Gen. Mcclellan.
The following is an account of the battle. The
battle on Monday was a warmly contested engage
ment. The approaches to the earthworks were
through ravines and swamps, while the rain fell in
torrents throughout the day. The men had also
been lying on their arms all the previous night, and
we're soaked, and the rain chilled them with cold.
The battle ragged from early morning until three
O'Clock in the afternoon. when Mcclellan arrived
with fresh troops and relieved HoOker's division,
who were nearly PROSTATE with fatigue. The Sd
Regiment Of Sickles' brigade had its ranks terribly
thinned by the enemy's batteries. They are repre-
scented as having fous ht with such bravery that not
less than 200 of them were killed and wounded.
After the arrival of Mcclellan, the enemy were
hercely charged on by Hancock's brigade. and were
driven within their works before ~nightfall with a
heavy loss. Nearly 700 of their dead were left on
the 9elu, Win MANI WOunleu, though most u me
latter were carried into Williamsburg. Our loss was
nearly 500 killed and 700 wounded.
During the night, the enemy fed in great confusion,
and when next morning Williamsburg was occupied
by the Federals, not one opponent was to be seen.
The roads in the vicinity were strewed with arms
and accOutrcments.
YORKTOWN, May THE latest intelligence from
the field of battle Is, that Mcclellan came up with
the Rebels eight miles beyo.d Williamsburg. After
a severe skirmish with their rear guard he put them
10 flight across the Chickahominy, the bridges across
which they had burned.
We have received a large additional number of
deserters, who had nothing TO eat for forty eight
hours but a few hard biscuit. When brought in
they fell down exhausted.
Heavy cannonading was heard at an early hour
this morning by boats coming down the river. The
result is not known.
There is no doubt that the whole Rebel army is in
a state of disorganization, under the pursuit of
Mcclellan. and fleeing with great precipitation with
out the intention Of making "A stand anywhere. Un-
less they reach Richmond by boats via the James
river, they will certainly be intercepted by the forces
landed at West Point. Not less than fifty steamers
are engaged transporting the balance of our army to
that point
On Monday last the enemy took one Pennsylvania
battery, having first killed all the horses. The bat
terry having but a small infantry support, was over
powered and compelled TO surrender before the close
of the day. The battery was, with one of the enemy's,
recaptured-
The rebels burned their gunboats on York river
Yesterday morning. We have taken many prisoners.
Two companies of the Sth Illinois cavalry are report
ed captured by the enemy. Gen. Mcclellan was
struck by n fragment of shell, but was not injured.
The roads are in a bal condition, which greatly i'm
peies our advance.
NEw YORK. May "a telegram from Gen. Marcy,
Of General McClelan's staff. says that the forces
engaged at Williamsburg were 80, 900 Fede: ais and
$1,000 rebels. Gen. Joe Johnston led the latter in
person. They have lost several of their best officers.
Our men fought valantly, and used the bayonet
freely.
The following account Of Gen. Hancock's bayonet
charge is published in the Herald to-day There
Was scarcely a hundred yards between the rebels and