The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-14
THE sIEGE OF YORKTOWN.

The sun 5Aone brightly yesterday and to-day,
much to the relief OF the thousands Of soldiers
who are compelled to sleep lu the open air The
roads are still III Il very bad condition. The
rebels continue 70 open with artillery whenever
they discover d picket post, to which our guns
never reply The rebel forces have been greatly
increased within the last two days. On Thurs
day several vessels were seen to land troops at
Yorktown and also Gloucester, opposite, which
place has not been occupied up to this time -
ReiniOlcemens have also been received from
Norfolk by way of the James river.
The balloon reconnaissance made yesterday by
Gen. Fitz John Porter, shows that the rebels
have materially strengthened their works since
tie advance Of the Federal troops, and that
Maiy additional guns had been placed in posi-
ton lie reached an altitude OF 5000 feet. af-
iOTdlng an unobstrUcted view as far as W illams-
burgh and Norfolk.
Gen. Mcclellan has written letter highly
complimenting the 9Th Maine regiment for their
gallant conduct while making Il reconnaissance
On Warwick rlver. Similar honcrs have also
been bestowed on the Berdan Sharp-Shooters by
Gen. Porter, for their conduct while acting as
sk!imshers during the advance. They now do
picket duty In front Of the enemy's works, and
many a rebel has fallen from the bullets of their
unerrlng rifles.
CAMP BEFORE YORKTOWN. April 10.
On Friday, while the l2th N. Y. Volunteers,
in command of Major Barnum, were on picket
duty in ont OF the enemy's works near York
river regiment Of rebels came out from under
cover and advanced in line of battle. The Ma
JOr rallied about 300 of his men to receive them
at musket range, and then poured in a deadly
Ire of MIME balls, when the rebels retired, leav
ing their dead and wounded, which they alter
wards removed in ambulances. Later in the
Day the rebels advanced in considerable force
from another point, driving in our pckets and
burning building used by the Federal troops.
During both these skirmishes we had three men
slightly wounded.
A balloon was sent up from the rebel lines
this morning for the first time. The weather
still continues pleasant, much improving the
roads. There was no firing of artillery yester-
gay by eitner army OF any moment. The army
0uslly occupied in pushing forward the neces-
Afy preparations Tor AN advance. There are no
suffers here. The Quartcrmaster and subsist
ence department are rapidly perieeting their ar.
engagements to keep the army supplied with ev-
erythng needed Tor the comfort of the troops.
New YORK, April 49, A special despatch to
The Sunday .Neacury from Washington says
there are not five thousand rebels between Cor
donsvlllc and Richmond. The Rappahannock
iVer is very high.
The same paper states that it had advices
from Port Royal to the effect that an assault on
savannah had been arranged for April. The
Su'ahce pckets OF the Union army were within
miles OF Savannah on the It'll Nearly all
WI military forces had been distributed in the
interior ana those on Daw uskie Island had been
reinforced.
The steamer Baltic arrived to-day from a
Uuse IN search of the Vermont. She touched
d bermuda aud left on the Sth. having been
Oluvfed TO leave in "a hours. The steamer Der
muua and Herald were loading with English
eIouS undoubtedly intending to run the block
" "1e' 1t Is reported at Bermuda that the YER
'u0nI was IN good condition and was on her
way to Port Royal.
WHEELING, Va, April b.
~ "on u. VI. Stanton, Secretary Of War;
NJ ue'pa!ch just received from Gen. Milroy at
'n"'efey under date of yesterday, states as ioI-
ADe rebels, about 1000 strong, with cavalry
,n n"P'IiieS and two pieces of artillery, attacked
~ PVNe's THIS morning, about III o'clock, ana
y'' 'ncin some TWO miles. | sent out reen-
rb,'"''n's under command of Major Webster
"'ilhishing was brisk Tor II short time, but
o., ''oG c, We're put to flight with considerable
loGI, l"e casuatlos on our side were men
''J wounded. Our men behaved nobly.
}. &. FRrMoNT, Maj General,
HtMNG, Va, April 10. Intelligence has
r,.,, ,'evIed here from Washington that trans
m l,, Tor this Departnent has been ordered
u =, ly,p. a.
Coming. ''' '''''' N'''''
n telegram from Gen. Schenck, il the district
''''1hd, gives a. rumUr that the rebel