Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-26
OUR ARMY BEFORE YORKTOWN.
The Rebel FoPtificattens

Especial Correspondence ". Y. Evening Post
IN CAMP MAR YORKTOWN, Va, April pa
visit to the extreme left OF our nes on the shores
Of the James river yesterday PIT me In possession
Of some facts concerning the Notifications Of the
enemy. Commencing upon the shore or the York
river, pposits Gloucester Point the rebel earth
works extend down the river for a distance of
nearly half mile, then, turning at right angles,
extend another half mile and connect with new
Hire Of works In the rear. Another line, nearly
straQ ht extend in southwesterly direction across
the peninsula to James river. After leaving the
principal work at Yorktown, which 10 mounted
with nearly one hundred heavy guns, TIE rebel
line 10 principally composed Of simple breast
works which have bPen thrown up to hight Of
fou, or five feet and armed with pieces Of small
calibre.
For the frst half mile there are several heavy
pieces and for the next half mile none at all; the
works being protected by rifle pits and bodies Of
infantry, with low swarm py land outside, which
will prevent approach. Afterwards the works,
guns and rife-pts occur at intervals. When
within three miles Of the James river the works
are dug along the bank Of creek, across which
the rebels have constructed dams, raising ponds
Of various depths and widths, with esrthworks at
the dams and riHe-pits between. At the mouth
Of the creek the works are somewhat stronger
and extend up tee river a short distance.
OF course our force occupies the entire line, and
snd meets the enemy face to face In frequent Skin
En:.hss. The rebels in force at all points near
their guns, % at least have the power TO concen-
tate considerable nu-cber Of troops at any time
~
able artillery which they transfer rapidly from
one point to anather, as occasion required. Their
principal force or men and guns occupies point
Just outside OF their heaviest works; and from
the increase In the number of tents and the camp
fires, 1t is jud led that heavy reinforcemens must
have been received during the past week. | do
not, however, share n the belief that there Is
anything Ike 100000 in the vicinity. 1 doubt
even whether they have half that number
In artillery ths enemy must be deficient, for
their guns are scarcely Ealf az many as ours. At
the batteries We have thus far eHg.gea, o; where
a sklfmiSh has occurred, this supposed denciency
Of artillery and the superiority OF our numbers az
yell as the courage Of our men, gives deci-
ded advantage. Our sharpshoo:ers follow the re-
treating foe Up &c the very edge of his works and
maintain the position, picking OF the gunners at
every attempt 10 load fire their p,ese, In this
way the slaug liter Of the rebels has been tefFib.s
for there is no disputing the fact when men are
plainly seen to tumble over at their posn. The
aim Of our riEelcen has been unerrIng. The reb-
els are probably deHcien3 IL shar pshooers an our
gunneTs continue their work unf,io,sstsd not one
OF them having been killed by rifle bali "a y.i,
sitnoIgh their daring conduct has exposed them
to the seyeIest Are.
this time novel kiad Of VISA pom was brought
into service. 1t consists Of large-size,i rise
with hopper and machinery at the breach,
which loads and fires by turning crank 40 times
in few seconds. In fact, IL Is one continuous
discharge. The balls flew thick and fast, and the
Yankee inyeptiOn must have astOnished the other
side. There are sotae bali dozen CT these guns
our eyes while watching the effect they ate gu
titled 10 consideration.
a returning from the visit to our left we took
the so2a which leads from Yorktown to War
wick and follows In close proximity TO the rebel
works, In many instances suite near, and In full
view across the open field. BUt fer tie greater
pam Of the way the road crosses through dense
forest In fact, two thirds OF the country In the
center of the peninsula Ia forest broken here
and there BY small plantation, now deserted
At inteI.als el0ag the road our batteries were In
active play upo1. ice Tsbals, receiving, however
but feeble response, Es II they were waiting fer
our nearer approach or were short of ammunition
They evidently hold us in supreme contempi,
although they may have different impression
by and hy.
IT Is a matter o! considerable speculation WHY
they should suEer works 10 have been thrown up
right under their eyes and why they maIntain
such prolonged silence. At few points ttey
have replied sharply for few minutes, and thsn
abandoned II. At no point have we allowed them
to construct new fertilization, and have even
grown ssucy and overbeaTing In our Treatment. of
the Tascais. We have crowded them up until
they cannot work their guns, and tainted them in
every possible manner.
While We can give no indication OF what our
preparations are, ii Is 81 cient to say that thoss
Of us here on the grounds, ard In close daily oh.
Eeryatlcn Of the works, are surprised both al the
Developments Of q General McCIellan's and General
F. J. forteF's ingenuity end skill In taking sd-
vantage CT natural positions, RnS the lapdity with
which the work advances Have ps.ierne: the
the occasion, and whether the rebels ms ke stub
born resistance and fight bloody fight or eyac.
uate after few rounds, the army Of the Potomac
In ready Nnp1u.v