The New York herald., 1862-05-28
Our Special Army Correspondence.

BILE for its infracton. G. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major General
Our Special Army Correspondence.
BOAR SWAMP, WEST OF THE CmcKAHoMINY,l
May %, 1862 !
Another rubcon is passed. General Koye's two div-
sions to-day crossed the Chckahominy river the
bridges built yesterday, and encamped three miles
to the capital Of the sacred SOIL which sup
pose may bc called the sacred city. Thus we arc still in
tho advance and gallant leader s We believe tho first
General to pass with army this historic stream
Before the march OF the army, Colonel Russell with
tho Massachusetts SEVENTH Colonel Noe with the Penn.
syvania Twenty-third and Colonel Gregg, with the
Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, made thorough
and admirable reconnaissance about four miles
out on tho Richmond road. Two miles from
camp they found the snemy's pickets, who fred
with more intention than effect and then sought or
place nearer to the heart OF rcbeldom. Still men
pushed close to their heels, and few mics further
upon body of tho enemys infantry, about five
hundred strong, with cavalry tho OF Iongsreets
division This body of the enemy equally dsoc sed
t. show close acquaintance and all that desired
to know was now known, the party returned Coona's
Gregg, Russell and nellie, who have reconnotered this
road three successive days. have done it with the
greatest caution skill and success and almost without
loss. THIS is light praise the rebels have vory
evidently expected that would stumble upon them Al
every step, by ones blundsr and retro suddenly
vii loss OF fifty or moro men, as we have already
done tco often.
On the hithor or Richmond sido Of tho Chcxahominy
finer features in landscape &C., that noticed between
that river and the pamurkey.
Five miles beyond present position is tho place
known the Seven ncs, whore there is an open rlan
Of considerable extent on which, IL trust what many
say, the enemy may meet us. II is seven miles thence
to Richmond. But the opinion gains ground in tho army
from the ntsnnal repetition OF what is told by
bands and pri oncrs that the Gcmy win not aud indeed
cannot, fight us. contraband, who was teamster in
tho Fourth Texas regncn and drove several loads or
sick to Richmond, in answer to the question to whe-
thor many wore sick gave the popular answer, 'rhou
wuIrRuoUsE. Va. May %, 1882.
The Impending Bah;s-Stormy YEA her-Condii.n ofthe
Roa,ls-Tss CoasnsndrDl, zesl Of Our Army Officers
A Dssperat, C,nfic! An.icipatsd-Jeg. Dseis in Me
Ficld-Richmoad 10 be Ms "Lra Di.ch"-NcCleIa,,s
Sraie,y AMI Trc.cs-Tae SPIRIT Of Cur 7roors-
Whieleuss Landio9-R3ei Pri,oners, &c, dc.
The great battle has MT 20. comm,nscd. 1t cannot
bo long delayed. The weather which has bscn very
wet several days past has hnderoi tia transporta
ton OF supplies, owing 10 the hsavy condition Of the
roads. Yesterday tho woithsr caired up til, sun sono
bright throughout the day. and genial westerly breeze
his driod up the roads, that twenty hours
passes transportation OF supplies from this point to tho
Grand Army will bs greatly facilitated and i'm.
proved. Tho railroad from this point (Pamun.
key river) to tn, Chick ih,miny, distance
OF twelve milss, has bcea put in Complete
repair, and to-day the hrs, supply train, consisting
# Gftecu heavily aien with provisions and forage
supplies loft this place. The train accompanied By
large body OF troops guard. The opening othe rail
roai enables to send by that channel army sup
plies TO within miles OF our maia boty leaving the
latter distance only to be travcrssd by army wagons
Our engineers for several days pst havo bosn ind.s-
triogsly at work In repairing the partially destroyed
railroad bridge tho Chcklaomny, and tho work
has been prosecuted with such untirng zeal--
thanks General Woodbury. Of the Engineer brigade
morning tho work will have been completed,
and the trains enabled to cross that slroam
| emphaticaly assert that no army in the
world has accomplished like OF work In a smi-
lar period Of tina that By III, united Efforts OF our
ard Engineers Department under General
Van yiet Lea,cnant Cooacl Ing Ills and General Wood
bury. There has been unity OF purpose and action
displayed united personal and physical sacrccs made
by our executive officers, surpassed seldom IL
ever equallcd. Officers and havo toi.od night ana
day. fair weather and foul that aggurs well for our s
cess In future movements.
There Il no possibility Of doubt tha. our army il 10
be desperately confronted by tho enemy This is the
positive assurance OF rebel refugees ad prisoners
Gently brought within our lines. Richmond - 10
bs Tho Z" last ditChN Jci. PAWS IL 10 lea,i
the army IL person, and, to hts own words,
he viii : mako Tho streets OF Richmond food with
human soro bo orc he will surrender. VIII he redeem
p!cdgcy We shall SEQ. AS to numerical siren
obe asmy no doubt eNc.is oars but In point discip
inc AMI determination o purpose the Union army
surpassed General McCeilans strategy this lar has
boon careful aud well cons dere Hs las positively 10.
fused b in;imiaei or forced ahea by his
aud lIo ION .oasors le has studied the health
and discipline If his men, with OF bringing them
10 con rs possible, rather thaa % hastily
follow tho rctreang fce reserving hs strength tho
nal and decisive blow lie has felt his way The very
door OF the rebel capital conducting bs march IN
tcfly style, and with but small miriay. He has
hlhed In his movements thD cpolness aud sagaey OF
reyesod sc IT, aud when tho battle shall have
mcnccd no VIII SHOW TO mo country the tactics OF Ma
| poaon. His generals have confidence in him; his
mca have rosi us regard fOs his iatharly for
their interests and under HIN hoy anticipate no defeat.
The Tt OF troops may be judged by tho courage of
the forh regiment o Michigan voniocrs In the bril-.
liant affair the west side u tno Chckahoniny day be-
lrc yesterday az INST body OF ths rebels four times
their number, in which our mca confronted aud deao
n orco four times as largo Tho bold Michigan
boys gave tbs enemy forataste Of what they may
pet IN the inn on ling contest, aiordlng III. world sub
snal proof thrt the sturdy hard.ns,cd farmers aud
mechanics of the North and West when me,amorphosed
consolidated into grand army cannot b excse
b. rcts nal courage and ntclis ,nco, by any nation
tie OF tho earth. they viii totch the world that
the astcd cvnry of ths south waxcd Eat the labor
o tue slave, il but myth and empty boast, sounding
bass and tin<ng symbal. which lisspa into empty
air when conrasted and confronted by laborioas and
i thrifty people.
canno close this letter without say 4 a word about
this pace Less than ~e weeks ago this place was only
i known the residence aud mainapth farm of Colonel
Loo The visit 81 army hsrc aud the establishment
4 of tho grand depot OF the Army OF the Potomac has
changed IT, as u by magic, into temporary village.
From the railroad brlge, along the bank of tho Ia
munkoy river, and mile south, the river Is thickiy
studded with craft dischargng all kips Of army stores
Temporary wharvss bean constructed by nooring
canal boats atcray side by side, with tho river bank
that vessels discharge their cargoss without trans
shipment iightoring. Hundreds Of contraband nc
groes assist in the dschgingo OF vessels and tho daily
busy remind 10 ciby OF the busy s,ason at
tho large cities tho margin OF the Father OF Waters.
The rebel prisoners captured by the Fourth Michigan
regiment in the affair day before yesterday arrived
to-day from the front under strong guard Of
cavalry They rough looxing, uniaollgen Of
customers, socest TO the crc They shabby dressed
In negro cloth uniforms, and II would puzzle body In
the attempt 10 imagine that they were body OF soldiers.
They rcpresent saverai OF the rebel States and enjoy the
eognomens OF Tgors, y "Guerilasp y ers
Lincoln liaters, Yankee Extingushers" &C., al tef
nitm. Thor military bolts appear more fsroccus than
thar The devils well treated. we'll fed