Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-09
LATEST rRon YoRKrowN.
Tn. Advance Msv.m.nt-Ineiden,,, &C. 4,
tSdSetioasd By Major GsssraI yoia e. Wocl,
commanding department. Of Viyginia.

I'll
y CocxLETowS, Va, Friday evening, April 5.-l
have but a few moments time to write you q
brief account Of the movements Of our troops,
who left Fortres. Monroe on Friday morning.
The advance was composed Of infantry, cavalry,
and artillery, and was made In force.
By daylight the advance was commenced Big
Bethel was reached at nine O'Clock and after
passing the church Oh the left Of the road, some
sixteen rebel cavalry were discovered stationed
In front Of the road, on the other side Of the
bridge. Our advance troops immediately en-
deavored To capture the retels, when their en-
deavors were defeated by the impossible condi-
ton Of the creek, the bridge over II having been
destroyed. In the meantime, the rebels but spurs
to their horses, and were soon out Of sight.
A squad Of men was then detailed to recon.
struct the bridge, which, in two hours time,
admitted OF the safe passage cf our troops.
About a mile beyond Big Bethel the same
Rebel cavalry belonging to Major Phillips
conmand) were again oyertaken. Twenty men
were then detailed to advance on the right and
the party. When those Of the right came within
musket range of the Rebels, the latter opened
upon our soldiers with their carbines, and then
fed precipitately. The sharpshooters immedi-
ately pursued the retreating foe. discharping
their rifles az they went along, but al to no
effect the Rebels successfully accomplishing
their purpose. The same cavalry were visible to
our men all along the subsequent line Of march
az far as Howard's Mills, where they disappeared
from view.
The march was continued through the d,lapi
down, at which latter place the command halted
Information being received that a rebel fort
occupied the bank OF Howard Creek, beyond the
mill bearing the same name, and to the right of
the road leading out from Roscdown, a line Of
battle was Immediately formed, and the Smelling
Of the fort commenced. The rebels replied to our
firing at intervals, but after about half hour had
elapsed, the firing on their side ceased wben.they
immediately abandoned the fort. They effected
their escape with difficulty, with the loss of one
OF their horses, who was killed by a fragment Of
shell. The fort, we have forgotten to state, was
occupied by cavalry.
In the confusion incident to the evacuation Of
the fort, many Of the soldiers made their escape
on foot, they taking direction and their horses
another. After the abandonment of the fort two
soldiers one Of them a mere Youth, a native Of
Boston-both Of them belonging to a Mississippi
regiment, came within our lines and voluntarily
surrendered themselves. Fifteen rounds Of shell
were thrown during the bombardment Of the fort
Some of the soldiers hoistsd the stars and stripes
upon the fort az soon as the rebels abandoned It,
A portion Of the advance was continued on the
same day IS far as COckletown, seven miles dis
tant from Yorktown, where they rested for the
night
From Hampton to Big Bethel the roads were
In fair marching condition, but beyond that point
the troops and the batteries experienced consid-
cradle difficulty In moving over the roads, and
the march was, therefore, necessarily slow and
tedious.
THREE MILES FROM yorktown, April 6 AT
Q O'Clock this morning the troops at Cockletown
were Joined by those who had remained In the
rear during the night and the march continued
teword Yorktown. Scarcely had the movement
commenced beforea heavy fall Of rain took place
which lasted till Yearly MONDAY The route for
considerable portion of the way laid through a
dense woods, Astounding In the deepest and
worst species OF road-rnts Into these the wa
CONS and the carriages bearing the artillery
plunged every monsenti bat, with slow move
ments and skilful drivers, 40 bresksge of any
kind occurred.
When within three miIes of Yorktown tho cou-
mand was gain halted, heavy forts having been
discovered within mile Of the main road TO the
tight. The troops were immediately ranged at
the most commanding points, and the batteries
wheeled Into position In advance Of the infantry
by whom they were supported. The firing was
opened by the forts to the north, two Of them con-
nected by earthworks and mounted with heavy
guns-the first shell burying itself In the grourd
TO the left of the road, about mile and half
from the fort Union battery was posted a little
to the right Of the lower fort and then replied to
the rebel invitation with great precision and ac-
curacy. Both batteries then being opened upon
each other, the firing ON either side for time
was heavy and rapid. After an hour had elapsed
the rebel fore at the forts was considerably di :
minished by many of them Withdrawing to a less
exposed position, but the firing was still kept I'D
at Intervals Of every three minutes.
So soon as the forts alluded 10 had opened their
FIRE, another Union battery was posted in the
woods on the west, and commenced to throw
shell into the forts at that point from which shell
had been thrown among our troops by the rebels
The firing on these forts as also those on the NORTH
was continued all day long, and occasionally at,
ter night, shells fell among our troops Skirmish-
ers were also teployed In the woods to the right
and LEFT, and an incessant exchange of shots took
place between the contending foe.
All day long has the skirmishiDg been kent up
The shells from the rebel forts have been whiz.
zing over our heads, and In the case of many
poor soldier, through them. We have been ope-
rating In the dark. Neither the force nor the DO
siton Of the enemy have we been able to ascertain
further than what we have seen with the naked
eye. We have heard their wild cheers when a
shell has exploded In our midst, have seen their
soldiers riding across the country, and moving
from fort to fort. They have heavy guns mount
ed there; forty two pound howitzers the heaviest.
There 10 no doubt Of that, however for several of
them are In possession Of our troops.
Shells have been thrown by the rebels In all
directions; most Of them with a view Of feeling
our position. Our batteries have been changed
from one position to the other az the case NAV
require, and our men are working like soldiers
and patriots.
T0-nig ht the barracks of the rebels on the west
were fred by them, 1t is supposed. so great was
the CONGREGATION that almost the entire horizon
was Illuminated.
has been one Of rest with the soldiers There has
been little or no firing from The rebel forts, al.
though during the afternoon some twenty or
Iwenty-nve shell were thrown at and into the forts
on the north by Union battery Upon the forts
named two rebel days were seen floating to-day
for the first time.
Inc most important feature OF the day has been
the balloon ascension, which, In point Of i'm.
poRtance TO the Government, has been one of the
greatest balloon recsnnoissa noes evei made The
first ascension was made at five O'Clock In the
morning, and then and there the position and
strength Of the enemy were ascertained for the
first time. Subsequently feconnoissan noes Of from
one to two hours were made and important in.
formation gained.
The Notifications of the Rebels are of the
strongest possible character, and sweep an ex
tent Of country Of seven miles, extending across
the Peninsula from the York to the James river
Behind these Notifications they have a large re-
serve force, so that the entire strength Of the
Rebels at this point IL rated from twenty ave 10
thirty thousand men. Their forts are mounted
by guns Of the heaviest caliber, and some of
them are Of continuous character for miles, be-
Ing connected by earthworks. The heay lest chain
OF forts are on the west, although those on the
North-the point from which the firing was ffst
commenced on Saturday-are sufficiently for
midable to resist powerful attack. There are
other minutfa Of these forts In possession Of our
officers, which II 10 not proper TO make Known at
present Suffice II to say that through the means
OF the balloon ascensions, made all day yester-
day, every Information 10 In our possession Of the
desfgn and intention Of the Rebels
Gen Magruder issued proclamation to the
soldiers Of the Rebel army on the 2sth ut He
states that the enemy n m non them that hi,