Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-15

Information from Yorktown up to this forenoon
represents everything going on satisfactorily In
that quarter. General McClellan's operations
there are being pushed with great vigor, and will
soon speak for themselves.
ENGAGEMENT ON YORK RIVER.
The steamer Yankee, Capt. Eastman, arrived
at the NAVY Yard at o'clock this morning, hav-
ing left York river at O'Clock yesterday after.
noon, thus making the trip OF AS miles In fifteen
hours.
The Yankee went about eight miles up the
York river on Sunday night, and anchored of
Gloucester Point, where the steamers Penobscot,
Marble Head and wachusetts were already lying
The Rebel batteries at the Point, which are said
70 be very extensive, mounting mostly 100 pound
rined guns, tiled the range OF their guns on the
steamers about O'Clock Yesterday afternoon, the
saot fallin, very little short Of the Marble Head.
The vessels then dropped down the river and
about three miles below the point discovered
party Of Rebels building a battery on the north
bank Of the river, on whom the Yankee opened
Are at the distance Of three fcurths Of mile
The rebels seemed 10th 10 abandon their works
and although the shells of the Yankee fell In their
midst, they did not leave the vicinity, but took
refuge In the woods and behind some neig hbor.
Ing log houses. The Yankee after firing some 80
OF 20 shot and she'll, during an hour and half,
left the scene, the other boats having come up to
do their share, aud the Yankee was leaving
The boats Of the Marble Head were on the way to
the shcre TO bura the houses behind which the
enemy had taken refuge. During the engagement
the guns Of battery up the river fred some eight
or ten shot, but fell far short Of them.
The guns OF the batteries at Gloucester Point
are sah to be only In position TO reach vessels
few miles below them in the middle Of the
river, and light draught vessels can approach
within a short distance Of the point with safety
by hugglng the shore.
- the President Of the Confederate States Of
America.
APRocLAMATION.
Various considerations having rendered Il CT.
pedient, the Last Ditch has been transferred from
the Mississippi to the York river; and the Phil
ippi at which the enemy Is 10 be s'met acaln."
Is for the present located at Yorktown The
Secretary Of War is charged with the duty OF
giving notice, from time to time, Of the various
sites which may be hxed upoa for waterloos
and Gibrslta, also, Of transfer Of the Last Ditch
and Pbilippi.
Given under my hand and The great seal Of the
Confederate States Of America, this
.tssAIl 10Th day OF April, In the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty.two. JEFF. DAVIS.
By the President:
w. C. RivEs, Secretary Of State.
To osrns,s of seys sitss:-Proposals for fur.
nishing sites for GIbraltars and waterloos for
the c. s. A, will be received at the War Depart
ment at Richmond until noon on the 18th inst
and will be duly considered for a confederation,
By command OF the President:
JUDAS r. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War.
PIPER's NEWS
Editor Of the Star IL see by telegraphic dis.
patch just published In all the papers that Gen.
Mcdowell has been informed by an "intelligent
negro' that the rebel forces have all left Frede..
icksburg and gone towards Richmond and York.
town This story Is confirmed (the General says)
by "another negro"
i hope 10 will not impair the credibility of this
Information to remind the public that three toll.
erably Intelligent white men deserted the rebels
At Fredericksburg about ;,co ,cssks ago, and came
Into Gen. Hooker's division, with pree,seiv the
same statement, which was communicated TO the
New York Times by the lower Potomac cores
pondent Of that PAPER. 1t was republished at the
time In the Star. Yours. OBSERVER.
Washington, April Is, 1862.
VANDALISM
10 reported that some Of the men attached 70
Gen Blenker's brigade have been guilty OF mn.
merous acts Of vandalism around CenteryIlIe and
Manassas. They have wsntonly burnt and de-
aroyed Buildings, houses and barns, which even
rebel atrocities had spared. One Instsnce wa, re-
ported, where they would not allow even the fur.
niture to be removed from a building before
hfing IL. Men and women of undoubted LOYALTY
ana Union sentiments, II is stated, have thus been
made 10 suffer, by those who should have been
sheir friends and protectors We are 10th to think
this Of any portion Of eur army but il II &, SO, the
perpetrators should be severely handled.
REcRUITIsG SERVICE DISCONTINUED.
The Secretary OF War issued on the I'd instan,
through the Adjutant General, the following
order:
INC recruiting service fer volunteers will n,
dIsconunucd N every State from this date 'rhc
cmSers detached 90 volunteer recruiting service
Will join their regiments without deIay taking
WIN them the parties aud recruits at their resncr
i've stations. The superintendenis OF yoIuntee,
fecfuiiinC service Will disband their parties and
ciose their oices, after having taken the neoessa,v
steps 10 csriy out these orders The public pron,
eft belonging TO the volunteer recruiting service
VIII De sold 70 che best vantage possible and the
proceeds credited 10 the fund for collecting din.
ing, and organizing volunteers