, 1862-05-07
From Gen. McClelIan's Army.
The Enemy to Make a Stand at
Williamsburg.
Gallant Ski7mfshing by General
HanCock's Division.
FROM YQRKTGWW.
Capture Of the Chief Engineer Of Gen.
Johnson's Staff,


WAsuINGTOE, Muy 6.-OHcial dispatches |
received here indicate that the enemy are in
Williamsburg, and that they intend to dis
pute at that point the further passage Of our
army, There had been some brisk fighting,
in which Gen. Hancock had taken two re-
doubts and repulsed Early'6 rebel brigade by
q brilliant bayonet charge. III this engage
ment Gen Hancocks forces are said to have
killed two rebel Colonies aud two Lieutenant
Colouels, and captured one Colonel aud 15D
prisoners. Gen. Mcclellan highly compli-
ments Gen. Hancock's conduct.
At the time Of sending the dispatches our
loss Was not known, but It was supposed to be
considerable in proportion to the extent Of
the engagement, as the fight was very severe.
B1goCAc IN Front OF WILLIAMSBURG,
May S. 1s62-l0F.N.
TO Hon. ES1,cin II. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
After arranging fer q movement up York
River, was urgently sent for here. l lind
Gen. Johnston in front Of me In strong force,
probably greater good deal than my own
Gen. Hancock has taken two rcdonbts and re-
pulsed Ear]y's brigade by q reil charge with
the tayonct, taking one colonel and $50 pris-
one1s, ard killing ut least two eolonels and
many priyates. His conduct was brilliant in
tile extreme. / do not know our exact loss.
but fear that Gen. Hooker has lost considers
bic on our left,
learn from the prisoners taken that the
| rebels intend disputing every step to Rich
| mend. I shall run tho risk OF ut least hold
| ing them in check here while resume the
original plan. Ny entire force is undoubtedly
| considerably inferior to that of the rebels,
which will fight well, but must do all I can
with the force at ny disposal;
GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
| Mai. Gen. Commanding.
The Associated Press agent gives some I'D
ditiona1 particulars frsm our advance near
Williamsburg, dated this crening, ofa fight
there.
Our loss was II killed and a6ent 10 wound
cd. Eighty rebels were left dead on the field
and 40 wounded. We took nearly 200 prison
ers. Their dead we're buried by us On TIKI
field. A stand Of eo!o7s belonging to tue re
to Washington. Gen. Mcclellan and staff III
rived en- Tic field at 5 o'clock. He rode tt
the front greeted by the cheers Of the troops
He Immediately assumed command. Rail-
has poured in torrents all day. Jef: DAvi
my's works at Williamsburg are very formida
BILE, extending across the peninsula
BALTIMORE, May 6.--Among the prisoner
taken at 7 Yorktown is the Chief Engineer c
Gen. Johnson's staff, who states that til
rebel army at Yorktown amounted t
$500 men. He gives the most deple
rable account Of the condition Of the army
ard says they will be unable to make stan
anywhere this side OF Richmond. Their IT
treat comtnt need before daylight Satnrda
morning, He doubts not that the advance va
twenty miles distant at the time the last gu
Was fired from Yorktown.
On Saturday morning Gen. Mcclellan sie
nailed five gunboats lying before Yorktown
| proceed up the river to West Poiut and r
move all the distractions in their Why
, Quite fleet Of steamers and vessels 1oade
, | with troops were discovered and pursu
commenced, resulting in the capture OF sou
Of them, whilst Others were run ashore an
5 burned by those on board, who escaped to Il
) woods. It is said that by 8 o'clock in tt
afternoon the gunboats had reached We
Point, the bead Of navigation, nearly 80 mill
above Yorktown, frequently she1ling parti
and fankiug that portion Of the retreats
army who were moving towards West Poi
i to take the railroad to Richmond.
. BALTIMORE, May THE Fortress Monr<
letter Of the american, dated the 5th, sa,
: that Gen. McC1e1lan's column is beyond "
- hamsburg,: and that our gunboats are at We
3 Point, having on their way captured and q
: destroyed many rebel transports. 4 repo
a was current Of the capture Of 8 large numb
OF prisoners A force bad been landed at We
Point and destroyed railroad bridge leldi1
| to Richmond.
il The following is taken from the american
: special Fortress Monroe letter:
= The French steamer Gossendi came doV
! from Yorktown, bringing the French Minfst
'' and Capt Fox, Assistant Secretary Of t
> Navy. We learn that up to one o'clock Il
). steamers with Gen. FrankEn's division b;
/, ! not gone beyond Yorktown, waiting to he
;. from above. One Of the gunooats which We
u up York river On Sunday morning has
turned. She reports that she found the riy
is | unobstructed; that our gunboats had reach
e West Point, and that q force had been land
l. and bridge on the road to Richmond d
stroycd. Several rebel transports were oyk
4 taken, going up the river. several Of viii
is | we're run asnore aud burned, those OF boa
escaping, while others were captured
q Latest adT1ces state that Gen. Mcclellan
d with the advance, and supposed to be befo
Williamsburg, in which direction there b
ia been brisk cannonadln. all day. Testerd
A. afternoon achooner came down the Jam
II river from Richmond, and vaaesu near New pc
News WAS run ashore Oh the aouth side
r the river. Her singular movements
;e tracted considerable attention. The III
il were seen to take to their boats .
d pull for Newport News: They said th
It had Intentionally rnn her ashore for t
purpose Of reaching our lines, and that S
l. contained sixty tons Of coal for the Merrims
il Several boats we're Immediately manned q
ia started out for the purpose of endeayoring
r. tow her of, but finding this to be impossib
they set her on fire md she burned to t
H. waters edge. The Mersimac WAS In sight
= the time, but did not venture to save the II
4 sci. The crew were taken to headuuarte
n and they gave deploFab1e acconut OF affa
~ in Richmond. The rebel troops regarded
- further attempts to sustain the rebellion size
y l