New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-07
FRON GENERAL MCLELLANS Ahai,
A Severe Battle at Williamsburg,
THE ENEMY III STRONG FORCE.
TWO RED0UETS TAKEN BY GEN. HANCOCK.
BRILLIANT BAYONET CHARGE;
BRILLIANT BAYONET CHARGE
)Nt HUNDRED AND FIFTY PRISONERS TAKEN
OUR LOSS CONSIDERABLE.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.
Splendid Behavior of Our Troops

wIsnIyGToS, Tuesday, May c, 1862
The following wac lead to the House OF Repre-
sentatives to-day:
Blvor,o BrYons wnIrAssBrRe Re. May s-lor. m
| To The Hon. T.. NJ. STANTON Secretary Of Var
SIR: After arranging for movements up York
River, was urgently sent for here. find General
Joe Johnston in front Of me in strong force, probably
greater good deal than my own.
General Hancock has taken two redoubts, and re-
pulsed Earleys Rebel brigade by real charge with
tie bayonet, taking one colonel and hundred and
fifty prisoners. and killing hi least two coloDels and
many pryates. His conduct was Brilliant in the ex-
treme.
do not know our exact loss but fear that Gen.
Hooker has lcst considerably on our left.
learn from the prisoners taken that the Rebels
intend dispu'ing every step to Richmond.
sball run the risk Of at least holding them in
check here, while resume the original plan.
Ny entire force is undoubtedly considerably infe-
rior TO that of the Rebels, who will fight we-but
will do all can with the force at my disposal.
@. D. MCCLELLAN. Major General Commanding q
Official dispatches received here indicate thst the
enemy are il large force and strongly intrenched
near Williamsburg, and that they intend to dispute
at that point TIE further passage Of our army.
There had been some brisk fighting, in which Cen.
Hancock had taken two redoubts and repulsed
Earlys Rebel Brigade by brii<,nt bsyonet charge.
In this engagement Gen. IIsncock's forces are said
to have killed two Rebel colones two lieute nant-
colones and captured colonel and 80 prisoners.
Gen. Mcclellan highly compliments Gen. Han
cocks conduct.
At the time Of the sending Of the dispatches our
loss not known, but it was supposed to be con-
siderable in proportion TO the extent Of the engage
nent, as the fighting was very severe
| BALTIsoKK, Tuesday, May G, 1921.
Among the prisoners taken at Yorktown iS the
Chief Of Engineers Of Gen. Johnston's staff, who
states that the whole Rebel army at Yorktown
amounted to 5000 men. lie gives most deploia-
BILE account Of the condition of the army, and says
that they will be unable to make stand anywhere
this side of Richmond The retreat commenced
before daylight Saturday morning, and he doubts
not that the advance twenty miles distant at the
time the last gun was fired from Yorktown.
On Saturday morning Gen. Mcclellan signaled the
five gunboats lying below Yorktown the fact Of the
evacuation with instructions 10 proceed up the river
to West Point, and remove all the distractions in
their way. Quite "a feet Of steamers and vessels
loaded with troops were discovered in the distance,
and pursuit was commenced, resulting in the cap
ture of some Of them while others run ashore
and fred by those ON board, who escaped to the
woods.
It is said that by o'clock in the afternoon, the
gInboais had reached West Point at the head OF
navigation, nearly 30 miles above Yorktown, fire.
quently sholing parties Of the enemy, who were
discovered ying along the shore, and nanlng that
portion of tho retreaiing army that were moving
toward Wes. Point to take the railroad to Richmond.
Immediately in the wake Of the gunboa,s followed
long line Of river steamers loaded with troops car
rying Gen. Frankn's Division, with from fifteen TO
twenty thousand men. There troops reached York
town during the afternoon and were stopped thore to
wait intelligence from the gunboats. 1t is proposed
to land them at West Point if the report of the gun
boats is favorable
| The following is taken from Tie AAhrtcois
| special Fortress Monroe letter:
The French war steamer Gassendi came down
from Yorktown about ) o'clock, bringing the French
Minister, also Capt. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy. We learn that up to O'Clock the steamers
with Gen. Franklins Division lad not gone beyond
Yorktown, waiting TO hear from above.
One Of the gInLoats which went up York River
on Sunday morning has returned. She reports that
she found tie river unobstruc.ed lat our guuboats
had reached West Point, and that force had been
landed and bridge on the road to Richmond de
stroyed.
Several Rebel transports were overtaken going up
the river, some of which were run aslore-thoie on
board etcaping-and were burned while others bad
been captured. Tho latest reports sag that Gen.
Mcclellan is with the advance of the army, and
supposed TO he before Williamsburg, in which drcc-
ton there has been Drisk cannonading all day.
Yesterday afternoon, o schooner came down the
James River from Richmond, aud, when near New
rolt News, she was ashore on the south side Of
the river. Her singular movements attracted con-
siderable attention The men were observed to i'm
medialey take TO their boas, and pull for Newport
Newf. On arriving, they announced they had In
tenionaly run her eshore for the purpose of reach.
ing our lines and that she contained 90 tuns Of coal
for the Merrimac.
Several boats were Immediately manned, and
started out for the purpose Of endeavorng to tow her
off but finding this to be impossible, they set her on
fire, and she burned to the waters edge. The Mer.
rimac was in sight at the time but did not venture
TO save the vessel. The crew were taken to head
quarters, and they gave dePlorabo account Of al.
fairs in Richmond.
The Rebel troops regarded all further a'temP's to