Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-07
LATEST NEWS.
By TBLEGRAPH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
From Gen. McCleIIan'S Army.
THE REBELS STRONGLY EATRENCHEO AT
WILLIAMSBURG.
Hard Fighting Along the Lines.
THE ENEMY REFUSED AT ALL
POINTS.
$50 Prisoners Captured.
$50 Prisoners Captured.
Mo Clellan Takes Command IN
Person.

Nc Clellan Takes Command IN
Person.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-Oficial dispatches
received here indicate thai the enemy are in
large force and strongly entrenched near Will
lamsburg, and are intending to dispute at
that point the further passage of our army.
There had been some brisk fighting, in which
Gen. Hancock had taken two redoubs and re.
pulsed Early's rebel brigade by brilliant bay
Onet charge In this engagement Gen. Han.
cocks force is said to have killed two rebel
colonies, two lieutenant colonels and captured
one colonel and one hundred and fifty prison
ers. Gen. Mcclellan highly compliments
Gen. lIancock's conduct At the time of
sending off the dispatches our loss was not
known, but was supposed to be considerablein
proportion to the extent of the engagement,
as the fighting was quite severe.
GEN. MC'CLELLAN's REPORT.
BIvoUAc IN FRONT WILLIAMSBURG, May
6, 10 p. M-Hon. E. ". Stanton, Secretary of
WGr-Arranging for movement up York
river, was urgently sent for here. find
Joe Johnston in front OF me in strong force,
probably greater, good deal, than my own.
Gen Hancock has taken two redoubs and re.
pulsed Early's brigade by real charge with
the bay0net taking one hundred and fifty pri-
soners, killing at least, two colonies and many
prvates. His conduct was brilliant in the ex.
IRENE. l do not know the exact loss, but
fear Gen. Hooker has lost considerably on our
left. learn from the prisoners that they in
tend disputing every step to Richmond 1
shall run the risk of at least holding them in
check here. while resume the original plan.
My entire force is undoubtedly considerably
inferior to that of the rebels, who will fight
well; but will do all can with the force at
my disposal. G. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major General.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.
ADVANCE NEAR WILLIAMSBURG, Monday
Evening, May SO the associated Press =
When my dispatch was sent last evening, the
indications were that troops would occupy
Williamsburg without much opposition. The
first indications Of the enemy's rear guard
being reinforced, was the fact OF theirpressng
our lines about o'clock in the morning
Il
Sufficient reintorcements had arrived during
the night to enable our generals to act either
on the defensive or offensive. About o'clock
the enemy opened on our troops posted on the
left, composed OF Gen. Hooker's division and
other troops of Gen. IIeintzemans division.
The action in this vicinity was very heavy at
times The loss in killed aud wounded is rot
known, but is supposed to be considerable on
both sides.
The enemy was repulsed at all points. Gen.
Peets brigade, stationed to the right of Gen.
Rockers, soon after became engaged Here
the firing was very heavy for about two
hours, during which they handsomely repuls.
ed the enemy in making a charge Our loss
here was about so killed and rs wounded.
A brilliant victory was achieved about five
O'Clock in the afternoon by Gen. Bancock's
brigade, assisted by Kennedys and Wheeler's
batteries They had been ordered to the right
to feel the enemy, and, if possible, to turn
their left wing. Here they were met by Gen.
Early's brigade, consisting OF the 9th North
Carolina and 24Ih and 38th Virginia reg.
ments, with squad of cavalry, who ad-
vanced in line OF battle. Our troops, who
heavy fire on them, and advanced steadily to
within two hundred yards, when Gen. Han.
cock ordered a charge with the bayonet
which was executed with the greatest cOur.
age. The enemy's line broke. They became
panic stricken and fled leaving their dead
and wounded behind.
The rebels lost upwards of eighty dead and
forty wounded. We also took nearly two hun
dred of them prisoners. Among their killed
and wounded was the colonel and lieutenant
colonel of the fifth North Carolina regiment.
Our loss was seventeen killed and about forty
wounded. Among the enemy'S dead were the
bodies of the lieutenant colonel and major of
the twenty fourth Virginia regiment togeth.
err with several other officers. Their dead
were buried by our troops and their wounded
cared tor.
The conduct of Gen. Hancock and his brig
ade on this occasion hive excited universal adj.
miration. A standard of cOlOrS belonging to
cavalry engaged was captured and is now on
its way to Washington When the news OF
Gen. Hancock's success became known
shout went up from tens of thousands OF
Union thIOatS that made the country resound
for miles around.
Gen Hancock remained during the night in
the two works of the enemy. Gen, Mcclellan
and staff arrived on the field at O'clock and
Immediately rode to the front, where the gem
erals presence among the troops was most
ioyiuIly hailed. He Immediately assumed
command in person. The rain has poured in
torrents all day. The troops suffer much from
exposure, but none complain. From informa
zion received from the pr soners taken, the
enemy will make a decisive stand at Williams
burg. r .inforcements have been arriving all
day, and Gen. j. E. Johnston is in command
Jeh Davis was at Richmond at last ac'
counts The enemy's works are very form
idable and extend across the peninsula, THIS
side of Williamsburg.
TUESDAY MoRNiNG, May 6.-This is
beautiful May morning. The operations OIL
today are not yet known. The whole army
is in good spirits
JEPF TMOMPSON'S MAKAUDEAs IN
EENTUCKY.