The New York herald., 1862-05-08

ing for the last twelve months can Ind no other line on
which to fight. General Woodbury. is graduate OF
West Poiet, was major OF engineers in the regular
army when the broke out, and superin.ended the
construction OF of the important Of the WORKS
around Washington.
ENEMY.
The cavalry started in pursuit Of the enemy this
morning, and followed by the light artillery. 1t
magnificent sight TO squadron after squadron
OF cavalry gaoping the plain and pressing forward
with ardor in the pursuit. This afternoon some firing
heard in the direction Of Williamsburg, and Il is
supposed that the enemy's rear guard made stand
there in order to the retreat Of his main body
II is stated that in the engagement which ensued We
captured several hundred prisoners.
Lieutenant James visited Yorktown this morning. and
found number u letters there from different parts oS
the South, some extracts from which, enclose.
SOUTHERN BoxrAsr IS. SOUTHERN COURAGE
The following an extract rebel letter found at
Yorktown;To Lieut.. sheppard, from his father. Bowl
ing Green, Monday, cath. az was very sorry
to learn from your letter that you had not rsenisted
To leave the service such time will tarnsh your fair
fame hope your heart will fail you II you leave your
country in this her hour OF need AS to the justice
Of subiecting volunteers draft it does hard bat
1t best for the defence Of the country In the Caro-
line companies they have all rs-enlisted married
and all. There few men left here that Caroline
could not furnish third Of her quota without the
enlistment OF her volunteers begin 70 fear nat
the troops not sufficiently drilled stand
before the better disciplined Yankee troops. HmU Be either
lack Of displine or lack Of courage. Is edent thai in
all the late engagements soldiers did not stand their
ground long, that they had cowardly commanders.
All mo- hape boasted too much Of Southern pluck
Since the battle of Manassas have been growing
arrogant and eefsuficcnt, bat have noo terrible
awakening from our delu'ions"
CAMP NEAR YORKTOWN May 5, 1862.
THE MILITARY GOVERNOR or YORKTOWN
Tho announcement in my .et.er OF yesterday, .ha.
General Fritz John Porter had been appointed Military
Governor OF Yorktown proves to have been premature
The appointment has been conferred General van
Aen the newly made Brgadier General and late in com
mand Of the Van Allen cavalry. He said to bo man
thoroughly competent for tho place. Intelligence OF his
appointment the position has caused pleasant rcv
val Of feeling among the regiments Of General Porsr
division who hope to BIO speedily ordered take
the position advance which they have held with such
distinguished honor themselves since leaving the
banks Of the Potomac. For the present, however,
they remain in the camps they have occupied
si1co arrival here, but It will not be q
much longer sojourn as they are now under orders
to bc ready to march at moments notice Seeing other
divisions going away, which they have been doing all
day with faces toward Richmond and hearing the roar
OF artillery in tho distance makes them slightly uneasy
in camp and impatient TO participate in tho conflict with
tho enemy known to bs going on near Williamsburg
The leading tokens Of activity to-day have been IN pepar
ing rations the future march, dcspatchng the sick
to Cheeseman's Landing be sent away tho genera
hospitals and play envenng airs by the bands which
now that the order in force ever since coming here
hbiting playing has been rescndod give full vent
their playing propenstes and patriotism -
through the nspirng medium Of brass and wind nsru
mens This lively music makes slight amends for The
dupess epgsnered BY drenehing clouds and depart
cd divisions.
IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN.
This afternoon visited Yorktown second time ana
spent several hours there The paes garrisoned by
the Forty fourth New York regiment Under the regs
OF the newly appointed Military Governor lis beginning
70 nut on neat smart and business like appearances
indications Of its occupancy by troops and officers Of
the Union army who not long in giving place the
imprint Of their intelligence and quiet business apti.
tude thorough police system has been established,
the principal buildings pnt in cleanly condition. and
bon nrss made Of tho filth and rubbish left by the
rebels Already the army post office and telegraph
Office and express Office are there, and commssary
store houses line the docks which present 60 head
and business like aspect from the gunboas transports
and barpss stationed Ut the wharvss and in the river
And thus iwil be sill another change In the pro-
rramme calls removal elsewhere when the town will
resume its pristine dulness and stupidity prior the
war But IL will be miserable from being the sub
iect Of second sege. Future Travellers curious to
ths monumental remains Of rebel labor and folly will
visit it, and they only.
MORE INTERNAL MACHINES AND RELICS.
Afcw more OF the rebel Internal machines dis.
covered to day Rebel prisoners at work hunt
np for thom aud digging them up. II Is believed
they have nearly all been brought TO light, and
m no casualties occurred today from their ex.
i plosion. IL is to be hoped that sad chapter is
At an end. Rebel relic hunting continues the mania
| looked through . good many Of the barracks and
tents and found all sorts Of men, including two three
Conaressmen, anxously looking up mementoss OF th,
place to take away with them. was particularly
with the interior appointments Of tent There were
nne wardrobe washstand, bowl and pitcher, dressing
table MIRROR colognss, pomades and last, and moi
least box huge capsules showing that Its late
| pant was both man OF taste and Of the world
But this was rarity in the tent line Most give evdsnc
OF want Of luxurious absttors to comfort, and fur
| nish proof abundant that the flowers Of Souther
chivaIry, II they bloomed and aourished At al
| did SO amid worse surroundings than th
| arreasy msehancs,' of our own army, and stoops
to the vulgary OF eating and drinking that must hav
been exceedingly repugnant 10 their @sthetical an
highly apprecativs tastes The guns the carthwork
remain a. found them, and neither have the mag'
zines been opened the trains Of powder undsryn
passages through the ntrenchmsnts been disu
II understood that the guns and all will be thorough
overhaulcd o-morrow. Guards kept about all tn
wells in the town, the water in them, on examination
proving TO be poisoned.
/ APfxARANcr GLOUCESTER
A few minutes in Gloucester Point, my nrst and onl
visit there, served all purpose Of seeing the plac
and satisfying curiosity. II is counterpart OF York
town on a smaller scale. The Enfans Perdus regimen,
Col. Comfort, are occupying IT,
pEsERrERs
Hosts OF desertcrs in to-day TO Gen Mcclellan
headquarters, which have not been moved yet. The
are mostly strsgglers from the rebel guard, VIII
avasd themselves Of the opportunity Of coming over
our side Like FORMER desertcrs, they all unsparin
In their anathsmas OF the rebel leaders, and repeat tn
| allegations that most Of the rebel army wou
come over TO the Union side IL they could Anon
the descrtsrs were tho busbands-Mr Farnhot and Mr.