The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-24
TRIPLE SH EE T .
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The latest news received at the War Department
from General McClellan's headquarters. near
Bottoms Bridge, report preparations for grand
attack actively going on.
Our correspondence from the.peninsula, which
we publish to-day, is dated at White House, Bal
tmore Cross Roads, and Tunstall's station, as late
as Thursday, the ed. The operations of the
advance of General McClellan's army at that time
front is now within five miles of Richmond, to
which point the rebels have fallen back and show
Ing but feeble resistance. The greatest consterna
ton and distress exist in Richmond. The citizens
are leaving in large numbers. The rebel troopsare
said to be utterly dissatisfied with their leaders and
quite demeralzed. The men drawn from the cotton
States declare that If ordered to abandon Rich
mond they will burn it down, while the soldiers
belonging to Virginia protest that il Richmond is
to be evacuated they will not leave the State for
any point farther South. If this state of affairs
be true, the army may be well said to be demo-
rallied. Some gentlemen who fed from Peters
burg describe the condition of things there az
fearful They state that the sufferings of the peo-
pie are almost beyond endurance. The scarcity
Of provisions was so great that everything was
seized for the army, and even the soldiers
have been on half rations for . week past,
with no prospect Of even this supply
continuing for any great length Of time.
The work Of CONSUMPTION was progressing, and
the roads to Richmond were thronged with un-
armed men, old and young, being driven along
under strongly armed guards. These gentlemen
represent that no people in modern times have
suffered more than the people Of Virginia are now
suffering, every household being in fear of an ap.
preaching famine. They also state that General
Beauregard arrived at Richmond on Tuesday
at least that it was so announced and
understood at Petersburg on Wednesday morning.
In addition to these statements the extracts which
we give to-day from the Richmond papers will
throw much light on the state Of things in vir-
ginia They lay great stress on the impregnability
of the fort at Drurys Bluff and the distractions in
the James river, concluding that Richmond cannot
be taken by water. The course Of JEFF. Davis in
proclaiming fasts and prayers is severely COM
mented upon. The Richmond Examiner says, for
example:-"when we find the President standing
miracle to save the country, instead Of mounting
his horse and putting forth every power Of the
government to defeat the enemy, the effect is
depressing in the extreme"
The minute history of the battle Of Williamsburg,
following hard upon the evacuation Of Yorktown,
which we give in our columns to-day, with accom-
panying maps and diagrams, will no doubt be pc
rused with the interest 1t merits, and win remain
on record as an evidence of the hardest fighting
and the most splendid personal valor which modern
rlilitary history furnishes. Out Of the "nettlc
General Mcclellan, by his timely movement in the
front, literally plucked "thc flower safety A
day Of desperate fighting reduced the strength
of our men. To combat the enemy on
ErOunu cut UP rs Datuc Helu was,
deep with mud, and strewn with fallen
trees, In the face, too, Of an incessant rain
storm, was almost more than fresh troops could
accomplish but when Gen. Mcclellan brought the
reinforccments the fortunes Of the day speed
lily changed, and thus conflict which threatened
70 prove at least temporary repulse was con-
yerted into glorious victory.
The report Of the evacuation Of Fort Wright, on
Che Mississippi river appears to have been prema.
ture, for at one o'clock on Wednesday morning
our mortar boats opened fire upon il, and the at
sack was vigorously returned from the fort.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday, the resolution directing
Che Judiciary Committee to inquire as to what
legislation is necessary TO protect negroes from
unconstitutional seizure was adopted. bill re
organizng the courts Of the District Of Columbis
vas referred to the Judiciary Committee, and 0
tfr for a general bankrupt law was also referred
h tho same committes. A bill providing that ap