The New York herald., 1862-04-30
Oss>speciaI Army Gosresponderee.

sCxsp IN FRONT or ToRKIows April 20, 1862
Just three weeks have elnpsed to-day since tbs ad.
sanced srgsdes OF grand Army close
70 the cutter limo Of fortincass which the enemy he;
erected sortEs defence Of his position hore Yorktown
During this period immense OF work has been
performed by those attached every branch OF service
IN army Thc plans Of generals and engneerssrs
being put ntoapsdy execution BY the.vsing hearts
strong Of ou! nobls vo!untesrz
Our soldiers seem TO fully reaizs the fsci TIA, many
million eyes, from szsy civilized spot this extensive
continent, and even from tsc cornsr OF the
earth looking with ths nonsest this
peninsula day. Ars they not also equally sve the
impressive truth ihatRsny million heaTie rob0ing
East with eager expectancy and alternate hopes fears
zhls tho mind n almost entirely absorbed with the con-
temptation OF personal and national interests ia
,sss approaching eegs? In many instances s.Inilar
sAcghts and feelings nus. be eo,ertainea snd ft on
other side The reason lie obvious. Wthn circle OF
Ssh.ch The York rives forms tho circumference line on
Che side aud the he other there are
mart.alled two mighty cpporhg armies. The Cover OF
che armies OF the eoatndng recons here brought
Gecste face Brave either iide ready to,ds
Ser what they believe 10 DO ths right, and OK
bohlsF bca 10 either section siu undoubtedly be shed
Both parties appear 10 reze what the whole country
ass appreciates, that unless shall change
the character of tho operations tGere must Boon be
fcugn on this already historic ground OF the most
deepsrass and decisive battles ~ modern times Each
army, smost within rnsket rsrzs Of tho othsr, is max
ns wi~t csisevos to be adequzS preparations Cor hs
coming con.sst. when General NeCellGn commanded
this Army Of the Potomac in front Of washington and
Generals Johnston and Beausgrd she rsbss at Centre
vills and Msnsssss, 1t univorsslly expected that
when 5oss antagonisc forces coaac; with each
other ir Virginia tho greatest engagement Of s whole
camrain would follow That anticipated battle n Msuas
sas did not take place, however Bu, now many OF the
same troops, in general terms II might DO
asid tho same arniesi occupy menscng positions
Virginia so'l, as The gateway on the ysninscia
sstween the two royal rivers--the gateway through
which the Union army s1pscts 70 march IN triumph to
pichnond.
But this Ia the point ~ rhich The enemy has deter.
mined 20 make stubborn stand and dispute the passsee
Always acting the dssensk esxcspt in the attack ON
Fort samtsr somerset ana Pitxsburgit has bosn the
peculiar province Of the enemyto sortify lie has al
ways shown much military skill i'd tbs selection OF pcs
lions for defences Centrsvills sad Manassas were
splendid situations or, TO conGns these statements TO
my observations this psnirsuls the works st Big
Bethel, though BY means formidable in themselves
we're strong by OF their admirable position 50 II
was with the works at Howards Bridge, which wsfoind
deserted when marched on the road 10 Yorktown s.
~ was az Lees Mil, on the Warwick river, where
the Green Mountain boys distinguished themssivvs by
their gallant conduct the 10th inst Rugged ground
ravnes, swamps, msrshes--thesc are slways four,d
about the enemys defensive positions. They are pre.
smneny Characteristic Of the spots he has chosep for
ks forncatlons In shis vicinity wherever nstur. bsd
not made plses particularly fsvorabs for defence &C.