New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-22
From Heintxelnan's Divisisn Health ana
Csmfsrs Of tho Treeps-Aetivity Of Pre-
passsiss-Auaek o. tho Rebel In
tr<neh ments.


grsu upr Special Cou,s spona,ni.
Ho,rIriIs oy Gns. JA.Dos'. Bmo.ps
On the yorktown Road. April lb--Noon-
| have little if uythpg, Of belligerent or OK
citing character to chronicle to-day; although as
write, hear tho booulof cannon and the sound Of
shot and shell away to tho left, in explanation Of
which mn told that I" our boys" are amusing them
selves ct the expense Of the Rebels. Should tho
cannonadiug continue, and the affair prove Of i'm
porabee, intend 10 ride TO the scene Of action and
append NY observations ~ postscript OF more mo-
ment than this letter At headquarters this morning
Il mean ihoso Of Gen. Heinizeman TO which ! am
repcrorslly attached found things quiet enough;
quics and sunny, almor lazy. The General, by-the-
BY has pitched bis tent not far from the site occupied
by Lafayette, at the time when the name Of York
town first became historic at tho corner of large
feld-a fine battle-ground il the Rebels would only
come out Of their intrenchments and make fair
fight Of il. That, however, Of course they won't
do; their policy throughout the war has been 10
select strong position and leave the onus Of attack
TO US, and results have justified it. Here they oe-
cupy one which We, certainly not going to walk
into in q day or two. Those in the rear Of US,
whether on the Yorktown or Warwick road, though
ably constructed could not have been held against
our force; nor the Rebels could hardly 10 better
placed, and, we suppose, will make this upper por-
ton Of the peninsula the scene Of the crownng
fight Of the war.
We have spent the last two days in preparation.
The fine weather. write on perfect June day,
with cloudless blue sky overhead, and the hot
noontide sun rendering the shade and scent OF the
adjacent pines doubly grateful, with dusty roads and
pertpring men aud horses perceptble from the door
of nv ten,-has Witnessed our wholesome tranhorm-
a,on from huge army Of drenched, shiverng and
falf,tarved soldiers into AS enormous a corp Of
CHEEKY laborers. Whatever may be the results Of
this war, il will leave ths part Of the Old Dominion
in better travelling condition than any known to the
present or past generation. Rdiag out yesterday TO
Ship Point, in company with my present host, DIR.
j. A. Skilton lof the s1th New-Yorkl, l had an
opportunity Of witnessing how the Yankee Mars acts
AZ pioneer to the god Termnus-who, if my
mythology is not at fault, presiiss over roads and
their belongings.
From here 10 tie Point is about six miles In a
.outh-essery direction, buti~e made about fourteen
of il, by striking or to the lett, just beyond the
abandoned Rebel camp to be used as hospital, un-
der charge Of DIR. Gunn Of Michigan regiment, the
construction OF Ri4lCu L hhNt COUultHntu
letter. IL comprises at least hundred huts, forming
regular streets or avenues all Of them weatherproof
and accommodated with chimneys many possessing
hunks or berths like those on shipbosrd. The work
of tho soldiers and negroes, it contrasts curiousy
with the ordinary diapdsted dwellings of tie poor
whites Of the vicinity; aud no camp built by our
men, except that at Newport News, put up by the
I'd New.York (tbe Troy Regiment), can compare
with il for beauty and convenience. Ths is true,
too with respect to the Rebel quarters in general.
Every eligible portion of this Peninsea seems to
have been dotted with them; the field near which
write. skirted on three sides by the woods on the
fourth by tho high road exhibits marks Of recent
epcampment--of tents, not houses therefore easily
renewable. 1t ia matter Of some surprise that the
Rebels did not fire their abandoned hus; by emitting
to do %, they have left us more hospital accomuo'
ds,ion than, hope, will be needed.
Al along our route we passed marching and labor
inc soldiers. Go where you will upon this Peninsula,
you fnd them. i can hardly convey to you the i'm
preston Of number-Of the enormous extent Of our
srny-whieh this produces There are camps every
VeMh