Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-08
FROM GEN. MCCLELLAN.
The Siege of Yorktown.
FROM FORT MONROE.


WAsHINGToN, April THE following is a
summary of the intelligence received by the
war department, up to 10 o'clock, Monday
night
Yesterday the enemy's works were careful.
ly examined by Gen. Mcclellan, and found to
be very strong. The approaches were diff
cult. The enemy was in force, and the water
batteries at Yorktown and Gloucester were
said to be much increased There was sharp
firing in the night, but no harm done. Our
forces were receiving supplies from Shipping
Point. repairing roads, and getting up the
large trains. 1t seemed plain that the mortars
and siege trains must be used before the as.
sault.
Another dispatch received at 101 o'clock
this morning says that Yorktown will fall, but
not without a sege of two or three days.
Some of the outer works were taken. A dis
patch from Gen. Wool says MaGruder had 3d.
600 men at Yorktown.
Another dispatch TO the secretary of war
states that new rebel camp had been discov-
cred from the beach at the Rip Raps, and was
shelled out by Col. Holiday. Several rebel
infantry regiments were seen from the Rip
Raps during the day. No signs of the Merri.
mac. A rebel tug was seen making recon-
noissance off Sewall's Point Sunday afternoon.
WAsHINGToN, April 7.-On the afternoon
of Sunday, Snip Point had been taken, and our
gunboats had shelled out the water batteries
There was considerable delay caused in cross
ing deep creek at Warwick Court House,
and resistance was made by the rebels, during
which several casualties occurred OIL our side.
All the fortified places of importance before
Yorktown had been taken at every point.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed among our
troops. A fuller account is contained in the
following dispatch -
F.BEFoRE yorktown, Saturday Evening
Hon. Ed,Uard NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War:
That portion of the army of the Potomac re
Gently concentrated at Old Point advanced
yesterday morning in the direction of York.
town, twenty-tour miles distant. The right
was assigned to Gen. Morrill's brigade of Gen
Porter'S division, two companies of the third
Pennsylvania cavalry, and Il portion of Ber-
dams sharpshooters, acting as skirmishers.
Nothing of interest took place until their ar.
rival at Big Bethel, twelve miles, where they
met the outer pickets of the rebels. The troops
were delayed here two hours in rtconsructiHg
a bridge which had been destroyed.
The rebels retreated before the advance of
our skirmshers to Howard Creek, where they
had some abandoned earthworks. -Four shots
were fired here by the rebels, from two field
pieces which were soon slenced by the fourth
Rhode Islam battery, when the rebels beat a
hasty retreat, taking their pieces with them.
The main body of our AMY here rested for
the night while General MorriIl's brigade ad
vanced three miles to Cuckleville, and six
miles from Yorktown, and there encamped
BY o'clock this Saturday morning the
column was again in motion, and at 10 o'clock
was in front OF the enemy's works at York
town. The first shot fired was by the rebels,
the shell passing over the heads of General
Porter and staff, without exploding. The
batteries of Griffin, the third and fourth
Rhode Island, aud the fifth Massachusetts,,
were now placed in position, and replied to
every shot sent by the rebels. The cannon
aiding continued, with but slight intefmission,
until dark, About 400 shots were fired by
both parties during the day.
The loss on our side was three killed, as
follows Edward Lewis and Chas L. Lord
of the third Massachusetts battery, and John
REYNOLDS of the fourth Rhode Island battery.
Wouuded-Timothy DonOhue in the hand,
Freeman Karrig and Chas Tucker confusion
of the chest, all of the third Massachusetts bat
terv sergeant James Wade of Co. c in the
arm, Cyrus Wilcox OF Co. c by pieces OF shell
in the leg, aud c. W. Peck OF Co. in the
leg, all oil Berdan's sharpshooters.
The position of the rebels is strong one.
From present indications their notifications
extend some tw miles in length. aud mount
heavy guns The ground in front OF their
heavier guns is low and swampy, making it
utterly impossible