Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-23
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN,
Correspondence of the New York Time!

Correspondence Of The New York Times
NEAR yorktown, April 17.-About three
o'clock this morning, all the infantry were or
dered under arms, and formed in line of battle
at the rear OF their respective encampments
No assembly roll was beat, but the alarm was
spread in whispered tones, and in few mo-
ments long lines of thousands of bay Onets
were glistening in the early morning moon
beams. Ii was expected Il sortie would be
made by the enemy, at day break, upon the
guns we had planted during the night; but as
the morning advanced, with no visible prepar
alton by the enemy for such an event, our
troops were finally dismissed, and retired to
their quarters.
The first Rhode Island battery today did
good execution. One shot disabled a heavy
rebel gun, throwing it six or eight feet into the
air ~ considerable group surrounded the
gun at the time, Oniv two OF whom were able
to walk away, and one OF these, also, appear
ed to be wounded. The rebels have fired but
one gun today, and that resulted in the cas-
ualty above stated. The sharpshooters con
tinue to be OF good service in driving tie
rebel guuners from their places. Their death
is certain event whenever they expose them
selves for an instant.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore American.
FoRTREss MONROE, April 10, 1862
The weather still continues bright and
beautiful with warm sun, and even at night
all is calm and pleasant. For the siege opera
tions at Yorktown, the past ten days have been
admirably suited, and the work already done
is said TO be astonishing. Immense earthworks
commanding the rebel Notifications have been
built and guns mounted, in the face OF con-
slant cannonade from the enemy, while the
sharpshooters have picked off many of their
Eunners, as means OF protecting the working
parties During last night aud to day the
casional booming OF cannon has indicated the
rapid approach Of the final struggle, of the re
suit OF which no one out of rebeldom has the
slightest doubt
As to the arrangements making for the
siege, it would not be- proper for the press TO
speak, but can convey to the reader some
idea OF it by giving a conversation With a
very intelligent rebel prisoner, sent here to-
day by Gen. Mcclellan. | asked him if he
thought Yorktown could be taken He re
piled "When l left Yorltown four days
| ago, thought it could not be taken by three
hundred thousand men, that the works were
| impregnable, and defended by an army that
| could not he conquered. have spent three
days within Gen. McCiean's lines, and wit
messed the movements of his army, and vii
now merely add that have strong fears as
to the result OF the approaching conflict"
The rebel guns, especially those on the
heavy works. are manned altogether by ne
| grocs, or at least, all the work of swabbing
loading, and shifting is done by them, with
white men to oversee and inspect them. So
soon as gun is fired white faces can be seen
| peerlng over the ramparts TO see the effect of
| the ball. and our marksmcn choose IL white
mark with their rifles in preference to black
| one.
The following editorial article from the New
| York Commercial Advertiser contains some
| interesting and significant statements;
The public will be agreeably surprised by
| learning that, Instead oil wasting his whole
ength.-tully seventy thousand men-upon
the tugitves and guerillas in the rear OF the
rebel army reIreating from Manassas Mellow.
ell has executed a splendid flank movement,
! by which he has thrown the greater part OF
his force from the Orange and Alexandria to
the Richmond and fredericksburg railroad !;
and that he is now within sixty miles of the
rebel capital, with no great force OF the en-.
envy in front, flank or rear This stel is a
turning OF the tables upon thu mselyes while
it reduces the distance to Richmond by fully
| one'half OF that by way of GOrdOnsvile As
to the destination of McDowell's army, we
suppose the reader can possibly make il out in
three guesses
Meantime Gen. Banks is literally chasing
! the insurgents down the valley Of Virginia
| Inc Iatest dispatches represent lhem as max
ing from Harrisonburg mot llarnsburg) for
Gordonsville, which is scarcely thirty five
miles distant in direct line. II Jackson has
left the valley, Gen. Banks will either proceed
southwestward to Staunton on the Central
| railroad, or follow him across the Blue Ridge
enthusiastically to Gordonsyille The latter
movement, we Judge, is more probable but
| the nature Ut the pass across the mountains
may inierpose obstacles for time.
AT the present moment we have, there is
reason to believe, three thousand men in
eastern and central Virginia, nearly two
thirds Of whom are under General Mcclellan.
what Will be done with aud by these i'm.
mense hosts we cannot undertake to SAY.
But being two TO one in number Of the insnr