The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-08
czN MCCLELLAN IN THE FIELD!
THE GRAND ARMY ADVANCING
oueratioH,s against Yorktown
70 THE FIR EEMAN

WASHINGTON, April I. The following is
summary of intelligence received by the War
nenartment up to 10 o'clock tonight Yester-
dav the enemy's works were carefully examined
hr Gen. Mcclellan and found to DO very strong,
the approaches difficult, the enemy in force, and
,roter batteries at York and Gloucester were
said 70 be much increased. There was sharp
firing on the right but no harm done. Our
4nrces ere receiving supplies from Shipping
Point, repairing roads and getting up siege
rrains. ID seemed plain that mortars and siege
trains must be useu before assauiting.
Another despatch received at 1880 this
morning states that Yorktown will fall, but
moi without :; siege of TWO OF three days. Some
If the outer works had been taken. A des
match from Gen. Wool states that Magruder
has 80 900 men at Yorktown. Another des-
match to the Secretary Of War states that a
new rebel camp has been discovered from the
beach at the Rip Raps, which was sheled out
by Col. Holiday. Several rebel infantry regi-
ments were seen from the Rip Raps during the
day.
There were no signs of the Merrmac. The
rebel tug Zen made u reconnaissance of Sewall' s
Point on Saturday afternoon.
WASHINGTON, April 7. On the afternoon of
Sunday Ship Point had been taken, and our gum
boats rad yholoa out the water batteries. There
was considerable delay caused in crossing Deep
Creek at Warwick Court House, and resistance
was made by the rebels, during which several
casualties occurred on our side. All the forti-
fed places Of Importance before Yorktown had
been taken at every point. The greatest enthu-
sasm prevailed among our troops. tull ac-
count of the affair is contained IN the following
dispatch:
BEFORE YORKTOWN, Saturday Evening.
Hon. Ea,uin N. Stanton, Secretary of War:
That portion of the army recently concentra-
ted at Old Point advanced yesterday morning in
the dire ctioD OF Yorktown, "a miles distant
The right Was assigned to Gen. morrill, brigade
Of Gen. Porter s division, TWO companies OF the
Sd Pennsylvania Cavalry, and a portion Of
Btrdan' sharp Shooters, aching as ssirnshers.
Nothing Of interest took place until their arri-
val at Biz Bethel II miles distant, where they
met the outer pickets of the rebels. The troops
were delayed here ten hours in reconstrn citing
bridge which had been destroyed. The rebels
rerealed before the advance Of our skirmlshels
10 Howard Creek where they had some aban-
doned cArthworks. Four shots were fired here
by he rebels from two pieces, which were soon
sIIenced by the 4th Rhode island battery, when
the rebels beat u basty retreat, taking their
pieces with them.
The main tody Of the army here rested for
the night, while Gen. MoYrilI' $ brigade advanced
three miles to CrickIevlle, and six miles from
Yorktown. BY clock this morning the column
Was again IN motion, and ut 10 O'Clock was IN
front OF the cnelny's works at Yorktown. The
first shot fired was by the rebels, which passed
over the heads of Gen. iorsef and staff without
exploding. The batteries OF Griffin, Sd and 4th
Rhode Island and 5;h Massachusetts, were now
placed In position, replying to every shot sent
by the rebels. The cannonading contln led
with but slight intcrmlsslon. until dark. A bout
100 ehots were fired by both parties during the
day Imposition of the rebels is a strong ont
from present Indications. Their Notifications
extend some two miles in length, and noun
heavy guns. The ground in front Of then
heaviest guns is low and swampy, making il
utterly impossible.