Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-17
THE ADVANCE OF GEN. MCCLELLAN.
HEADQUARTERS EEYEs' CoRPs,
CHu,, nrnr Lae's Mill An-;la {


remains very much the same as when I last
wrote. Every hour develops something moro
ct the enemy'S lire OF defense, of his strength
N forts, guns, rife pits and numbers. snd of
the great discretion and military science that
must be brought to bear in the investment and
approaches to the enemy's works. They are
of complete and massive strength, Constructed
according to the exactest rules of engineering.
and with that knowledge of the Topography Of
the country which belongs TO falnilNritv with
1t for years. When. added to these advantage,
OF The enemy, were il possible to describe the
disadvantages We have to contend against in
the tortuousRess OF the line Of battle we are
forced to assume in the innu0erable sEamps
and pools OF water extending along our entire
line, in the almost impenetrable forests and
underground of tangled wood and in, for apv
other reason than absolute ssmilitary neces
sity, impossible roads for light artillery and
heavy transportation, you would have a SLIGHT
conception OF the herculean task imposed upon
tols army. Privates in campaigns before this
have suffered perhaps as much as our troops
have in the last three days; but none ever. In
so large Sn army, heard so little of grumbIipp
and anathema against pTiYation, cold, wet and
hunger.
Our men, labOring under all the excitement
attendant upon position within two miles of
their enemy, and Constantly exposed to the
SPELLS ct batteries within easy range, have
Tue finest physical capacity for endurance
ahis is rot all the soldiers have shown. They
are not In the least appalled, in view Of the
terrific struggle before them and at this yerv
moment-9 o'clock p. m.-the air is vocal with
pathetic and patriotic songs. The camp fires
of the enemy are in plain sight. Our soldiers
Stsld around their own, and beside their
loaded muskets the left hands of many rest
upon them, while with the right they wave
toward the traitors TO their flag the strains CT
the "Star-Spsngled Banner" the Red
White, and Blue" and amid il all the loved
and cherished are rot forgotten, for turning
their faces toward the patriot land frsm which
they come they sing, do They Miss Ne at
Home, /" Let he l,iss Him for His Mother"
and breathe their silent prayers that the for
tunes Of war may permit them to mingIe with
tnelr friends II the enjoyment of peace To
many the prayer will be granted For mauy
the swift messengers of death have already
plumed their wings. They will perish in
holy cause, and we believe in victory. God
grant them eternal victory
On the 9Th instant very successful and i'm
Rortsnt reconnaissance was made by Brig Gen
w: D Hancock, accompanied by Lieut. Mer-
f.ll, OF the Engineers, and Lieut Bowen Of the
typographical Engineers. and the 9TH Wiscop-
sin, Col. Cobb, and the 6th Maine regiment.
bu-nham. Your correspondent had the pleas
ure OF being witness. The enemy were found
u
size OF its works. The skiTmisbers thrown ont
IN advance met the rebel pickets at every ex.
posed and convenient place this side OF the
stream. pur men gallsntly drove them up TO
the shore, and in several instances across. The
elemy's fOrtifeations we're disclosed in all
places, guns being mounted in them, with
single exception. This stream is almost an ar
hhcial one, formed by damn,ing up-a contin-
Uous series of somewhat broad aud deep though
standing waters rendering it unsafe to ford
There we're several little fost bridges thrown
across at different intervals over which the
plckets Of the enemy retired as we advanced.
Vn their side OF the stream the land Is much
higher than on this.
Near the ruins Of house (or more properly
the customary vandalism Of the enemy in an
open space the enemy fort opposite, mounting
but one gun, is perhaps little lower, but al.
though obscured by the woods, the evidence i
complete that beyond this fort the busy tools
Ut treason have erected a larger and stronger
cne. Ercm the ruins referred 10, tho 6lh
Maine advanced to the top of the ravine de-
seen ling or this side to the stream and under
its protection, Lieut. COmstoek made import
ant observations. TIE 18th Alabama were
ststiJn On the other side. Fo9r prisoners be-
longing 70 that regiment we're taken, and. TO
believe their story, it numbers .O7O men. and
lett Richmond only few days age. which of
course affords evidence that the enemy's nosi-
desperate a.
E1stance- While the 9Th Maine held this place
the enemy : troops were plainly seen march
ing down the stream and behind their fortif-
cations IL was tie opinion Of Col Curnbam
that this part Of the eDemy's lire could be ia
ken He sent Maj. HsrTis, with an escort Of
eSo men, to Gen Hancock to ask permission
20 do so. at that moment the General was
with the 5th Wisconsin inspecting the works
OF the enemy further down. Mai Harris was
intercepted By small scouting party of the
enemy. When meeting them he cOolIy gave
orders to his two men a. IL he had a compszy.
and ordering them to FIRE, one of the enemy
was killed; the others fell back, and the Major
escaped.
Ii there existed favorable moment for oc.
cupylDg that fort 1t quickly Iassed; but not
wl;hstanding the concentration Of four or FIVE
regiments Of rebels at that point, the 9th held
their Position for three hours, and until by
Gen HancOck's orders they returned to camn
Farther down and toward the James river the
next lntrenc hment the deVilish genius of re-
oelllon has devised seems to lie rihe-pit. The
sklrmlshers Of the 5th Wisconsin, under Cant
Bean, drove the enemy at this point down the
bank, neck and heels over their foot bridges
ana out OF sight into their works whatever
they are. Farther down, and in the same linz
stronger works, Fashioned forts, each mounting
several guns, were developed by the 5th Wis
corsls and 9th Maine skiTmishers. The enemy
- NA07O PoinbS VI Nhls splendIdlY conducted
reconnaissance were compelled to occupy the
higher ground in front Of the plain towards
their face. Here the enemy from the hiehest
OF the two forts threw shells at en-. Hsnc0ck,
sklrmlshers, commanded by Msjor Lorabee.
Ihls fort also commands two forts lower down
Lees Mills was not more than 500 wards
from the top Of the ravine, and at this nIace
the bugie calls, and the movements of the an
eDy's light artillery were clearly heard snd
seen as Gen. Hancock drove the enemy's skir-
mishers in. They were evidently eYnAct;n,
that We would descend down to the stresn
and attempt to cross. While our skirmisbrrs
remained for an entire day at another point
still lower down, the fourth principal work of
the enemy was also clearly within their view.
but during that time its parapsts were raised
several feet.
An encsmpment Of rebel troops is around all
that place. We were so near that even in the
woods their cosors were plainly seen. II would
be impossible for me TO praise too much the cal.
lantry OF the troops throughout the enIire
Reconnaissance. They seemed to eomprehtn nd
the reason IS well as the duty TO obev
their clear and emphatic orders, and while the
plan and the conduct Of the expedition re.