The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-05-14

fatTs at f0rktos0n on the Entrance 81
Orr Forces--7he Pursuit and .Sk;r
mishsnq aoith tho Rebels Rear guard
Geasrai Ac C1sRaa's Official Dispatch
BALTIMORE. May S. 10 O'Clock A VI. -
The Fortress Monroe boat has just ar
rived, bringing the following interesting
intelligence:
ONB MILE BEYOND YORKTOWN. Sun
day, 10 A. M.-All day yesterday the
rebels kept up hot Gre on Porter's Di-
vision hut hurt no one Onr Parrot gun
at Farnbot Court House occasionally
an we-ed them All last evening and up
to 2 O'Clock lively firing was kept up
About that time it slackened consider
ably, and at 9 O'Clock quite altogether
We fired over two more batteries on them,
but got no answer.
About 3 O'Clock A. NJ, building in
Yorktown was fred, and Prof Lowe and
Gen. Heintzelman again went up and
found it was their storehouse at York.
town wharf At daylight they reported
the forts empty, and at O'Clock A. NJ
we occupied Yorktown without again be-
ing fred on.
We rode through the works and found
| the enemy's guns nearly all remaining,
spiked and dismounted By the side ot
the river large piles of ammunition and
powder, balls and shells never having
been used. About 80 guns are 10 York
town, which is surrounded by a semi-cir-
Gle Of earthworks, al constructed to COW
er one another. II has been a Formidable
position, but must have eventually yield
ed had we have got around the mud. The
gun we saw dismounted the other day, we
learn killed and wounded 4 rebels.
Tne fort has been occupied by the f 81
18th Alabama, 10th and I4,h V,rgioia,
and 13th aud 45th Georgia regiments
These troops were ordered to report at
H5ward's Grove, four miles from Rich
mond, AID left the fort at midnight. A
rear guard was left. who waited for our
appearance, and then left in the greatest
haste. We conversed with two deserters.
who lef. their regiment In Williamsburg
They say the whole rebel army is in a
panic,
Prof Lowe's balloon was run in front,
and found their rear guard at O'Clock
A Nd. four miles out
Gen Mcclellan ordered out the artille-
ry and cavalry, and is pursuing them at
full speed.
All of our gnIboats came up at 8 o.
clock and landed. M ses-.
Some marines, at Gloucester, raised the
O. s. flag, amid cheering that could be
heard across thu river. The boats then
oil left, and at this moment are running
up the York River shelling both sides Of
the river. $50
A number Of mines have been prepar-
ed for our troops by placing percussion
shells under the ground in the roadway ia
the entrances to,he fort. No white folks
are to be found, few negro women and
babies only being seen. The town is the
most squalid aud filthy place we have
ever seen. A few days of warm weather
would have bred a pestiIencs. Flour 10
abundance was left. and large quantity
OF meat, salt aud fresh All their tents
have been left No horses nor wagons
were seen. We saw q number of the
shells, fred from our Parrot guns, lying
all around the fort and in rear.
Reports concur in saying they hsys q
mob cf about 100000 men. ill-fed, dirty
and disheartened
The news of the fall of New Orleans
had been received several days ago and
was known through the camps.
The. road from Yorktown to Hampton.
on which we we're encamped, was guarded
by Fort Magruder, mounting o large
number of guns and arranged TO FIRE from
all sides. Part of these we're taken away.
the rest were spiked and left.
Some of their works are well built and
we'll laid out, others are wretched.
Work was ended upon them on Friday
night. aud the slaves were sent to the rear
guard. They have nothing behind which
they can make stand.
Last night their camp. 6res all along
were the same as usual The dease woods
along the peninsula enabled them to leave
without beiug seen by the balloon.
johnson, Lee and Magruder were all
10 Yorktown ON Saturday. holding a
council Of war.
We push on With the advance. We
hope to catch theul tosn ght. or at least
to demoraize their rear With our orsilsry.
The roads from our encamement to
Yorktown are laid with torpedoes, calcu-
lated to explode as our cavalry and arlii-
lery pass over them.
II is reported that the last man was
seen te leave Yorktown OF half past four
O'Clock this morning The large guns of
the rebels were mustly Ceia,nbiads, taksn
fror, the Norfolk Navy Yard. Some of
them had been quite receutly mounted.
The Notifications, though of the roaghest
character, are very Formidable, heing sur
rounded by deep gorges. across which it
is almost impossible to pass.