The New York herald., 1862-05-08
Tho Great Victory at Williamsburg
SON 20 Richmond!"

A"c Ureat victory NJ "s"NAS-
Son to Richmondr'
This is the most important victory OF the
war. 1t was fought with fifty thousand OF the
enemy, led by their best general. For the first
time it opens the way to Richmond, the capital
of Virginia, and capital of the rebel con-
federacy, where the victorious Union chieftain
will very soon plant the Stars and Stripes. he
is deliberate and careful in preparation; but,
once he is ready, then he moves with great
rapidity. 1t was so in Rich Mountain, and It
will be the same now in his march to Richmond.
All that impedes him is the state of the roads
and the difficulty of getting up food; for, though
he says he will have to fight other battles be-
fore getting to Richmond, it is not likely they
will cause him any greater delay than the en-
gagement at Williamsburg.
In his despatch, which. we published yester-
day morning, dated ten O'Clock on Monday
evening, General Mcclellan was not aware OF
the extent Of his victory; On the contrary, no
calculated that the enemy would make stand
on Tuesday morning, as "he learned from tne
prisoners taken that the rebels intended dis
putting every step to Richmond" and as he
found General Joe Johnston in front of him
in strong force-probably greater good deal
than his own" But though his "entire force
was considerably inferior to that of the rebels,
who would fight well, he would do all he
could with the force at his disposal" and he
would "run the risk Of at least holding them
in check there while he resumed the original
plan"-namely, to send force up York river
to West Point to head them of. But General
Hancock's brilliant bayonet charge upon
Early's brigade had already won the day, un-
known to the Union troops; for while General
Mcclellan was writing his despatch the enemy
was evacuating his works under the cover of
the night. Accordingly, next morning, in
another despatch, which we publish to-day,
the Commanding General announces "the oc-
cupation of Williamsburg as the result
Of the hard fought action Of yesterday"
The effect of Hancock's engagement on
the previous afternoon was to turn the
left of the enemy's line Of works, and,
being strongly reinforced, to cause the rebels
to abandon their entire position during the
night, leaving all their sick, their wounded
more than thousand together with three hun
dred uninjured prisoners, and = loss in killed
very heavy. The enemy's loss, especially in
officers, is great. General Ricketts, was among
the slain. Hancock's success was gained
with loss Of not over twenty killed and
wounded, though the loss in Hooker's division,
ON the left. was heavy; for there the severest
part Of the fighting took place. Thus was the
victory most decisive; and every hour as
General Mcclellan remarks, proves it more
complete. Cavalry were sent in pursuit, and
more prisoners we're constantly arriving. Five
captured cannon had been recaptured, and a
whole division had been thrown in the rear Of
williamsburg.
Great a. this victory Of McClellan's is, it
would have been far greater and accomplished
at an earlier day had he been aided as he ought
to have been by the War and Navy depart
ments. The result proves him good general.
He modestly said, II will do all I can with
the force at my disposal;" but he had already
with that force achieved the victory; for it had
caused the rebels to retreat, though he knew it
not. By his splendid strategy in Rich Noun
tain be routed and dispersed the rebels in
series Of brilliant and rapid achievements. By
his strategy he compelled the evacuation Of
the enemy's stronghold at Manassas without
the loss Of man. By a combination Of skilful
engineering and strategy he forced the enemy
to abandon his immense Notifications at YORK.
town without waiting for the assault And
now, by his tactics in the field and the valor
and discipline of the fine army he had trained,
he has driven the rebels from their second line.
at Williamsburg, which he describes as every
extensive and exceedingly strong, both in res
pect to position and the works themselves"
This wipes out the disaster Of Bull run, and it
vindicates the sagacity and talents Of McClel-
Ian against the persistent and systematic abuse
poured upon his head by the abolition journals
and demagogues throughout the land. Had he
listened to the "On to Richmond" fanatical cla-
mors last fall he would have prematurely
wrecked the materials Of as fine an army as
ever trod the earth, and he would have been
much farther from Richmond to-day Now
there will be a friendly race between him,