Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-08

will furnish you with some informa
ton, which you will Withhold from publ
cation until an engagement takes place, II
accordance with the stipulation of CORES
Pondents.
Yesterday, at one o'clock, our first bat
terry of heavy guns, situated near the Far
renholdt House, opened fire. As the loud
stunning report rang through camp, every
one rushed from the tents to see what wa!
was up. So carefully had it been conceal
ed that many were unaware that such 8
battery existed. 1t is planted at the mouth
OF Wormsley Greek and commands the for.
tihcations Immediately around Yorktown
the River and Gloucester Point. It con.
sists of five 100 pound, and one 200 pound
rifled Parrott guns. walked down to the
bank of York River to see the firing, and
not being able 10 see the effect of the shells
I climbed tall pine tree that stood by,
and by the aid of q glass, watched the re.
suit of the FIRE. Our shots at first fell
short, but the range was soon obtained and
the shell could be seen to fall within the
ramparts. shell in reply was soon elic-
tied, and with very accurate range. The
rebels have good artillerists aud have done
some very fine firing, During the night a
solid shell from this battery fell into their
| Notifications, crashing through some tim
bers, and causing great outcry and up-
roar. 1t was quickly followed by a shell
containing some liquid which, when til G
shell exploded, caught fire and lit up eve
rything, for short time.
The firing at those working in the tren-
ches was rapid but not very effective, only
few being wounded. 1t has continued
during the morning to the present time.
The ProdigiOus labor performed by
the soldiers of this army can hardly
be conceived Of Old roads for many
miles had to be rebuilt, and new ones
constructed. The country abounds in
creeks, inlets of the rivers aud swamps-
poontoon bridges have to be thrown across
some, while bridges of solid timber are
made across others, all capable of bearing
the rapid crossing of Artillery. Besides
the construction of roads and bridges, the
divisions in the advance have picket and
fatigue duty to perform. The details OF
working parties are made each morning
and evening; the morning detail march,
with muBkets loaded and sIung, to the
Quartermasters of each division, when each
man received either pickaxe or shovel.
they then marched to the intrenchments
and worked under the direction of the En-
gineersi while working they areprepared
TO assist the pickels and reserve pickets, if
hsOrue ShOulu De attempted. ~ Is the work.
ing parties who arc continually nnder
FIRE. 1t is considered point of honor to
work in the trenches and the soldiers
who would attempt to shirk his turn,
would be immediately stamped coward.
Once in the trenches, safety impels each
one to dig his ditch us deep aui wide as
necessary. In the eveniog the day 'sde-
tail" is relieved by similarly equipped
night detail: the pickets are doubled.-
When any important work has been con-
structed during the night, and sortie may
be expected as soon as the dawn reveals it
to the enemy, the division by which the
work is constructed is under arms before
daylight, ready to repel any assault. So
far, no sortie or effort has been made to
stop the progress OF, Our entertainments,
except the Smelling of the fatigue parties !,
they seem to lack the courage to at
tempt a brilliant exploit. In addition
TO the trenches and forts being built,
in full view of the enemy's many heavy bat
teries and being constructed behind the
wood, and when the trees in front of the
batteries are felled they will have full
sweep at their Notifications. They can
not resist many hours the concen-
trated FIRE of so much and such heavy
Artillery, served as it will be. Such is the
perfect system of signals and telegraphs,
that ip case of an attack of opr works day
or night, the soldiers in the trenches could
be reinforced in few moments, OUT.