The New York herald., 1862-04-17
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.
>>->~~--
Operations OF the Army OF
General Mcclellan.
GREAT STRENGTH or THE REBEL WORKS
Daring Excursion of Four
Union Soldiers.
-~~~~--~-~>-~e~-
IMPRESSIVE SCENES IN CAMP.
SHELLINC OF THB REBEL WORKS.
Rebel Account Of q Battle at
Yorktown,
-. &c.. ~
GREAT STRENGTH or The REBEL WORKS
IMPRESSIVE SCENES IN CAMP.
snELLING OF THB REBEL WORKS.
or Army correspondience.

,,As. &c. a.
0us Army Correspondonce. rs
Lsrs MILL, Va. April 10. 1864.
LssS and Yornss Mills-TAs Strength Of the Rebel De-
fsmea-Atd, Woods and Ssvarp-A Skirsnish--Cap-
tred Rebels-What They Said-TAs Captsre of the Fors
Wsrk Of DiFeuuy-AnotAer Skirmish-A Captured
Spy. &C., dc.
We have been for the last few days In front Of the
snemys works, and with prospect OF having all tho
work to do that Lees Mill 10 on the Warwick
river, about three miles from Youngs Mill, and two
miles from tho James river The distance from here to
Yorktown is estimated at sovon miles,
The enemy have erected very extensive works on tho
opposite side OF Warwick river extending the distance
of mile in straight no They are there in force,
and receiving renforcements constantly They have
selected the most favorable position possible strong
defence. the approach being guarded by dense forest
with an almost impassabe road, and the ground
Swampy and uneven. The river intervening is very
Deep that cannot without bridges thus pre-
venting charge Our forces in 'front.' reaching
tho James river 10 . mile above. Our skirmishers
xeached the clearing front Of the works at the
9Th, after driving in the robel pickets.
After immense difficulty and wading knee deep In
mud, wo were enabled to get q portion Of division
through the woods and posted out OF sight, in front
tho works We at opened IRE with two pieces OF
artillery to get the range Of their guns, which q
once replied to by the enemy. scattering 6re
kept up most Of tho afternoon, with what effect
ws could not learn. We twice shot down their
Flagstaff but II was Immediately replaced.
Three prisoners from the Tenth Georgia regiment were
brought in yesterday, from whom General Reyes gather
ed some information. Thoir Aex F. Foster
sorn in Albany N r.; John McKeon. born in Now York
city. and John W. Angnac. born In Augusta Ca They
wore all privates, and members Of the Tenth Georgia.
Colonel Cumming They represent that the ensy havo
about 200 men Immediately In 'front.' and 100 900 the
peniusaaa General Magruder ia in command, and Gene
raj MoLaw's command inside the fort They say that
about two thousand negroes have been work here aud
~ Yorktown for two months. They intend, II beaten
10 fan back On Williamsburg. Their camp s on tho roar
= sAssOrt. rAsy ssy whom they LEFT there were about
twelve guns meuntedone Parrots, and the rest mostly
from sx to tsn poundsrs-mosy iron guns. They have
Z largo number Of light artillery.
hwas rusnorsd In camp when they left that General
Johnston had gone 70 Kentucky taking Of the Ma
uassas troops The Georgian intelligent young
man, but refused to answer any questions They
dressed in tho Virginia homespun cloth, which was
coarse. but comfortable but quite deficient in
Blankets using carpets for that purpose The Northern
es raid they enlisted because they could got work.
Tho labor Of taking this fort win be Of great din
euity but think General Mcclellan fully equal to the
passed over our heads.
Tho following all the casualties on our side during
the attack
Private Joseph Pepper. Company B, Seventh Maine,
Killed
Private Toby, Seventh Maine, slightly wounded
Private Parker, Seventh Maine, slightly wounded.
Private Milton Lewis, Company K, Forty ninth New
York. killed.
Christian Hrsch. Company X, Forty-nin Now York,
probably fatally wounded.
Our had been skrmishing all the morning Of Sum-
day with the enemy, and had fred great many shots
but with what result could not ascertain. Two Or
three men have been slightly wounded side.
The Rhode Island regiment went down last night oppo-
site battery where the creek is quite narrow and drove
hem out with the aid Of few pieces Of artillery They
were each other that they could talk across and
dare each other out.
Our General has just come in, having been over the
whole length of our lines. He says he will have
things in order to commence tho battle in earnest We
bridges; but by the time ready use them wsA
hope they will arrive. could get the river
~ could take their works at tho point Of the bayoneG
We are within half hours ride OF the headquarters,
and courers are constantly passing between with des
patches.
Our men have just brought In spy caught within our
lines, mingng with tho soldiers, with Of our blue
overcoats that one Of had thrown away. he
fought like tiger before he would bo captured but they
dnaiy Knocked him down with gun, and brought him
In. He has not yst been examined, and do not know
what account no gives Of himself.
NEAR WARWICK CouRr Houss, April IL, 1852.
Ndrroso Escape ror Geeral-7eo Brars Men Sdre ne
Whole of the Staf 0scers-A Reconnossancs and Wha,
Was Learned-7he Rebel Force at the Western Pons or
the Works-A Curious Letter, Shouting tas Rebel Mode Of
Conducting Retreat, dc.
Our General finds that the position Of tho enemy at
shs place one Of great strength. Still he presses his
preparations for vigorous assault with great activity,
and is hmsolf the soul Of all On SATURDAY. no was
twelve hours in the saddle and yesterday ssven having
In that time examined personally every position along
his whole front. During the skrmsh fow days since
shell from the enemy's two-gun battery front
Tell into an ammunition chest and exploded all the gun
cartridges &C., In IT, Tho General and his stan were al
Che moment within fifteen feet Of the chest vocfcrous
cheers went up from tho rebels upon tho perception Of
sheir lucky ht But circumstance occurred almost
Immediately which, they aud understood IT, must
have dashed their inclination cheer when tho shell
and general ammunition exploded thors were number
OF shells In the shsst In the blaze the fuses Of these
shells became nred, and there danger Of a much
greater exploslous when two menMartin Roberts and
David L. Smith, Of Capt. whsssr's battery-rushsd up
and threw bucket OF water into the chest which ex
singuished every fuse
This position has front Of one mile on the upper bend
OF The river, and Of about seven miles in ts whole OK
Gent. The Warwick river which covers ell the ensmy,s
right, Is st its mouth about half mile wids and ab
sshoonsrs used TO ascend H. but about two miles above
l mouth the enemy has driven shspencd plos 10 az TO
form complete distraction from bank bank. Above
ths stream narrows, and at the closed work near the