The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-06
SH EET.
New York. Tuesday, May 8, 1864.
THE SITUATION.


The principal feature Of this days news, as well
a. being the object of the greatest anxiety is the
movements of our troops the peninsula. Gen.
era McClellans dispatches are very satisfactory as
far as they go. He states that his troops have
thus far taken seventy-one heavy guns, large
amounts of tents, ammunition, &c. GAN along
the lines their works prove to have been
most formidable, and ] am now fully satisfied
OF the correctness of the course I have pur-
sued. The success is brilliant, and you may rest
assured that its effects will be Of the greatest i'm
portance. There shall be no delay in following up
the rebels, who have been guilty of the most muir
deroas and barbarous conduct in placing torpe-
does within the abandoned works, near wells and
springs, and near iagstaffs, magazines, telegraph
offices, in carpet bags barrels of -four, &c. We
have not lost many men in this manner-some four
or five killed, and perhaps dozen wounded. I
SHAH make the prisoners remoue them at Their o,rn
peril"
In another despatch he particularizes the guns
taken at Yorktown, and states that those so
described do not include the cannon that were in
the rebel works at Gloucester and on his left.
The confidence with which he asserts that the
effects OF his movements will be of the greatest
Importance. and his previous dispatches relative
to the advance of his forces, give evidence Of his
full belief that he will be able to capture the
greater part. if not the whole, Of the rebel army
before they can reach Richmond.
Our special correspondence from the peninsula
vail be found Of the greatest interest 1t is full
and explicit, and the map which accompanies it
plainly shows that the defences around Yorktown
itself were Of great strength and not easily to
have been taken by storm. The number of guns re-
ported captured in these works alone is formidable
without even the consideration that they may have
been 80 placed as to bring our advancing troops
under raking cross fire. The other batteries at
Gloucester and on the left, near Warwick river,
doubtless covered the works around the village.
Our map sets forth that the particular defences
shown thereon were embraced within the space of
three-quarters Of a mile.
Later intelligence from the peninsula states that
General Stoneman's cavalry force had overtaken
she rear OF the rebels on Sunday afternoon. and
forced them to an encounter which, in more than
one instance, was hand to hand. The artillery on
both sides were engaged for q short time, but in
the end the rebel cavalry forced by our men to
abandon their position. The want of infantry pre-.
vented our men from advancing on the enemy's
works. and it being evident that it was useless to
attempt further operations, the troops fell back
about two hundred yards to await the arrival OF
infantry. which soon after arrived, but it was
deemed advisable to defer further operations until
the next morning. 1t was expected that Williams.
burg would then be occupied, as the rebels were
still in full retreat.
The statement Of the colored man who repre.
scented himself as JEFF. Davis coachman is very
important, il true; and it bears upon its face An
appearance Of straightforwardness there is but
little doubt of its veracity. 1t shows that all hopes
1.-THE of the rebel cause are considered over
by those most interested, and even Mrs. Davis
stated that "the confederacy was about played
for with pleasure by the Richmond people, who
are halfstarved. Confederate money is peremp.
'oriy refused by the storekeepers, even when ten
dersd by persons high in authority. Bank and
government property has been already packed up
for removal to Danvle, and all confidence in the
rebel leaders appears to have fed.
The Mcrrimac has once more made her annear.
ance, and remained out until four O'Clock on the
lth instant, when she again disappeared behind
Sewsll's Point. 1t plainly appears that her object
is to intimidate rather than to fight. Perhaps the
evacuation Of Yorktown has been the cause Of her
retreat, her commander not deemingit safe to keep
out longer now that the fight has really begun.
An official despatch confirms the report that
General Candy had obtained decisive victory
over the rebels at Paralta, in New Mexico. The
Texan rebels works had been so invested that
after the battle they had but two choices-to sur
render or fee to the mountains, where if they
adopted the latter course, they would most assur-
edly fall into the hands Of the Indians.
The news from the Southwest, via Memphis, con.
firms the report Of the capture of Baton Rouge,
and the passage Of the Union gunboats up the
river. General Butlers forces had ocsspied New
Orleans, and an hGnonse amount Of cotton had
been discovered and seized. The Unionhts had
held meeting in that city, which was attended by
lsEs numbers Of sl!!ssas yyAs gIslsla kA