The New York herald., 1862-04-21
Our Army correspondence.

Tho work Is progressing rapidly and when the siege
does commence it viii be the most terrific.
Our Array Correspondence.
CAMP FRONT YORKTOWN April II, 1862
r. igar Near Lees Bts-Saccsispe Assaaas Rebel
Ftrt-7,e b iutdnt Conduct CT Oar 7rops-Strength Of
the Rebel Works DE-
-Four batteries Of artillery and two regiments of Yer
mont had sharp engagement yesterday in front
OF o. the forts which form the chain of decnces but
side he inter works at Yorktown. The Of the
engagement The estate Of Mrs Garrow, between
Jee's Mills and Wnu's Mills, branch OF the Warwick
river. At point the Warwick road where the enemy
had blocked it up with feed timber and the right
you 90 towards Warwick Court House. there opens quito
exte sve field with woods TO the right ald left AMI
tho the road In front, the foot Of gradual
ly descending slope, runs branch OF tho Warwick
river This spot, admirably adapted by nature for de
fence against attacking force, had been chosen
by the enemy for one Of ,he outer works in his
line Of fort i6catons across the entire peninsula
Az this place the stream had been damned
up between the two mills already mentioned. The
water was at different phces between two and four and
deep and thirty to forty rods wide The dam
70 causeway the water. The ground
on either side marshy o. the opposite bank there
deep rifle pit Of indefinite extent, and above it, on
the ,adualy rsug activity, larger breastworks with
emrasues FOR guns rose to the rear partly screened
by timber For several days past tho enemy had had
large numbers Of at work Strengthening still further
this position well other points the line. II
determined on part to drive the working parties
away es cciay at this point and prevent them render
ing their ntrcnchmcnts more impregnabe. Captain
Mosts battery Immediately ready for action, and
adequate number Of infantry ordered to the to
supper, him. Skrmshers thrown out in front and
l~ft
the rear as The Rhode Island Battery B. under
Captain Bartlett engaged the rebels further tho right
dverng their attention while Captain Mott should open
on the rebel work to the left About eight O'Clock nc
ordered up tho first sectiontwo FOUNDER PARROTS
under command Of Lieutenant Flynn. which
tss rich, Of the orcn nod close bv 0' ,bs Wac
wick road, and within about thousand yards Of tho
fort. These two pieces Immediately opened fire which
was returned brsky by the rebels r seven guns
at adjacent points Our shot aud shell fol and around
the ntrcnchments driving the working party away The
enemy had accurate range Of the position and served
their guns in q handsome manner. A shell from one
OF burst directly In front OF Of ten
pound Pa ro pieces Knocking few spokes out OF of
the Wheels and disabling out Of who were
serving the gun Three were killed and four wound
ed by this shell The left OF Parrots und Lien
tenant Donnel, and the centre con of Eapo light
twelve -pounders under Lieutenant Stewart thea
brought ptston and the whole battery bazod away
the work. The enemy continued returning the fire. md
for some time the cannonade was kept m both sides
with great spirit. Captain Motifs men behave a gal
lant manner. After firing nearly hours the enemys
guns sienced, and ours gradually discontinued their
ire All the enemy who had been scattered
and the presented the appearances o being entirely
deserted General Mcclean who, with seve al mcn.
bers Of his staff. including the French royal
representatives, had como upon the ground,
went forward personally in an expose position,
and complmented Captain Mott and his in q very
ratcrpg manner for the alacrity and bravery which
they had displayed at their guns. few shots bad been
exchanged between the skrmshers but after tho enemy
ceased firing hosttfes both sdos discontinued
for sewers al hours.
subsequently It determined TO throw body Of
troops into the work and hold the poston which
be vacated. Four batteries Of light artillery
manded respectively by Captains Ayrcs Mott Kennedy
ard Wheeler Captain Ayrcs the senior officer being in
charge OF them A wheeled into line In the open field
forming almost semcircc, being either side Of
the tall chimncys which mark tho ruins OF Mrs.
Garrows use. This residence had been burned by
order Of the rebel General Magruder than two
weeks ago. The batteries then within about six
tions for artillery in front Six companies Of the Third
| Vermont regiment had been previously deployed
skrmshers In the woods the line forming larger semi
circle about milo in extent from the batteries the
ruad They were continually exchanging shots with the
enemy who had similar skirmishers out in front the
woods. II should be observed that while the work
was apparently deserted the enemy lay concealed
under cover, and had received numerous reinforce
ments during the fow hours previous. The othcr
four ompanies-D Il, y and X. Of the Third Vermont
regimen-had been placed In reserve TO the right.
little in the roar. About three O'Clock Colonel Hyde was
ordered take these four companies advance under
yer of our guns cross the creek and the work II
was arranged that when they should have entered the
fort signal from them would indicate that reinforce
mcnts should BE- sent 10 hold H. The four batteries
opened concerted fire the FORT throwing shot, shell
and spherical into II in rapid succession. Then
those four companies OF the Third regiment advanced,
dashed the water, which in some places up
their armpts, and proceeded 70 storm the work. At this
moment an % :" 'no e0 wno mao sa
down IN the water The brave little band stood their
ground nobly, and Notwithstanding that many had ther
car soaked In The dam, they crossed over
and drove the enemy of the rife pit lower line Of
the intrcuchments This position they held against
Of
ing OF two three regiments, was seen advancing
from the rear into the fort. and, for some
unaccountable reason, our reinforcements not ap-
pearing at tho proper moment, the brave
battalion compelled 10 fall back before superior
numbers We sustained considerable loss both cross
ing recrossing the dam, bat TO what extent 10 i'm
possible TO tell At present
AVer the remnant Of these companies returned,
batteries, which had In the meantime ceased firing,
opened In full force again. Then the Sixth Vermont
regiment was ordered to storm the work by the loft
flank. Led by their gallant Colonel Lord, the Sixth
recimcnt rushed into the water Scvcn companies had
Cotton in and bad reached within about three rods
Of the breaswork when, being IN three feet Of water
they were Immediately met by the fire of long line OF
rebel rifles which popped above tho parapets. A
running nrc from thousand small arms was poured
upon our men. II returned well the clrcum-
stances would warrant. The breastwork lighted up
with continuous sheet Of lame, the artillery beched
away at tho enemy. shells we're bursting over their
brcastworks the smoke ~ the battle ascending and
for few moments the scene ono OF the grandcst
witnessed in Not man Of ours tnchcd, but all
returned the fire OF tho enemy with deadly effect
Wherever head put above the parapet they fired
IT, Hence tho rebels were mostly hit In the hesd OK
cept those killed and wounded by shells, which must
have been considerable. Many Of our wounded wero
hit in the hip and lower cxtremcs indicating that the
rebels were endeavorng 70 comply with Msgruders order
TO Are low and each bring down his Finding that
rebel reinorocmers still advancing aud owing
the apparent mpossbity OF making successful assault
with the bayonct Colonel Lord retired with his mcn who
brought most of their wounded oomradesaway with them.
During the action IL made manifest that this fortified.
on strong by nature and improved by art and the su
perior numbers opposed 10 behind their wo rem.
dered impossible TO continue the attack without fearful
loss e while at the time II doubtful wheth.
at this uncture In our offensive operations tne advan
apes 10 be gained would compensate for the blood which
would necessarily be shed In taking Our mon display
cd an ndierencSt 10 danger and hsmssss Of parbces