Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-26

We makea few extracts from letters and
dispatches in our exchanges, which show the
situation and progress of affairs at yorktown;

4
We make a few extracts from letters and
dispatches in our exchanges, which show the
situation and progress Of affairs at Yorktown !;
WASHINGTON, April "a.
A gentleman arrived here 10 day dire city
from Gen. McClelan's headquarters, and re-
ports that our forces hare greatly the ADVANTAGE
Of the enemy, as time will show that our
sharpshooters are the terror OF the rebel gun
ners. Our approaches command the rebel in
trenchments. Evaything is scorking as ,ceH as
the mos! saEguIne could 0iSh,
On Monday last there vas firing bet,Ceen tuo
rebel regiments tCithiH the rebel works, causing
much cummOtion in our camp. Ii continued
so long and was so severe that it was mistaken
at first for a regular assault on our outposts,
and the long roll was beaten in our camps. 1t
turned out that one OF their regiments was
firing into another, which returned the fire
with equal spirit Our forces could distinctly
see them carrying off the dead and sounded.
The affair is believed to have been mutiny,
and measures taken to quell il. The Virgin
iana now being conscrlpted, forced into the
service at the point OF the b&yonet, resist as
far as they can, more especially being drafted
and forced into regiments from other states,
to fill the latter to lheir respective quotas. 1t
Is supposed tine mutiny grew out OF something
OF the soft.
OHe bI lHe SeutleInen Alluded 10 ABOVE
states that information was received in our
headquarters at Yorktown that the rebels were
concentrating a large force at Gordonsvile,
hoping TO bag Gen. Banks, aud that it was
their intention to allow Mcdowell TO get
across the Rappahannock, and then to precip.
iIate a superior t)Tce upon him.
Correspondence of the Evening Post
NEAR YORKTOWN, Va, April %, 1862
There IL no change to report in the progress
OF the siege Two contrauauds passed the en-.
emy'S guard in n boat during the darkness
and rain Of last evening, and came TO our
lines. One of them is boy Of sixteen, and
unusually keen. The other is about thirty.
five years old, and shrewd. These negroes
stats that Gen. Magluder is at Lees Mill,
about four miles in front OF our lines on the
James river, and twelve miles from Williams.
ourgh. The rebels have good road along
| the line OF their fertilization from Yorktown 10
| Lees Mill. There are no Qualifications in the
rear of the first rebel line, but guns are moved
from point to point as circumstances require.
The contrabands also state that GeI eral
Joseph johnson commands at Yorktown that
DAVIS is at Richmond, aud, in the language
OF the central bands, "a h, ap O scared" as are
all the rebels at Yorktown and that many
negroes are at work on earthworks and work
ing guns in the forts.
The contrEbands were quite positive that
the rebels had about 10000 men, but little
confidence can be placed in their ideas Of
NUMBERS lhey came through portion of
our camp, where they could see the tents ar.
tllery, &c., OF ten thousand men, and in reply
to the question ii they had as many men as
we had, replied ooh, Just bout half of what
we see hereabouts." So you will see that
there is no idea Of numbers.
Yorktown is something over a mile back
from the Notifications, and separated by "the
Pines, piece OF pine woods A large mum.
Der OF houses have been torn down to keen us
from getting into them. All the information
can gather leads to the conclusion that the
rebels will fight hard while they can do so
with artillery, but that they have no conf.
dence in themselves.
WHAT THE REBELS SAT- OF 1T.
From the Richmond Examiner, April 22
We have but scanty intelligence from tho
peninsula, but sufficient to induce line belief
that no general action is imminent in that
quarter. We have, from all accounts, en- ac.
tive and wary foe 10 deal with on the Deuinsu.
la. Ii is reported that the enemy have cut a
canal between the waters of the York and
warwick rivers, which gives him a water
front across the whole stretch OF country. and
must contribute much TO the strength of his portion
We learn that on Saturday last sharp Skin.
mlsllng continued during the entire day on
our
men lay on their arms, expecting TO renew
the skirmishing and sharpshooting in the
morning. BY break of day it was found that
the enemy had been at work all night. and
had thrown up line of Entertainments and
mounted guns within one thousand Yards of
our position. The indications of the inten.
tons OF the enemy are very uncertain, and il
is thought not Improbable that he may be
drawing off some of his forces for demon
slraiion in the direction of Fredericksburg
1t is certain that at least three columns Of tile
enemy might be concentrated here any day
McDowelps, Geary's and Hooker's-if il be
true, as reported, that the latter has crossed
the river from lower Maryland.
The report that Gen jackson has aban-
doned the upper portion Of the valley appears
to be fully confirmed. He is said to be occupying
Staunton. One report has it that Gen. Fremont
is Expressing down upon lin but the most re.
liable accounts of the movements of this fed.
eral officer represent him to be making his
way towards southwestern Virginia. and that