New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-12

did retreat, it would necessarily have been 10 the
face Of mnrderous fire. II due TO the truth TO cav
Gen. Mcclellan at once saw tie mistake made not
strengthening Gen. Hancock, and the immense
advantages derived frou taking up the position he
had Won, and the first thing he did on bis arriva'
was to send Linn large force. It's appearance on
the enemys rear just at evening no doubt precipi-
taied their flight.
The 6gbing on the left by Hooker, and the
Sickes Peck, and other Brgades, though very
revere and at times at our disadvantage neverihe'
le,s ended in our occupying an advanced posliion
when tho fight ended. The number OF dead which
were this morning strewD over the field showed now
severe was the conflict. The Union and the keoei
dead lay toeether--those VI the enemy much the
most Dumelous-a ghastly spectacle not easily
elaced from the mind.
The aight of tie enemy was known to us 81 M
eaily hour. TIE storm bad ceased, and the noInlis
broke clear and chilly. Our troois were soon III no
tou, and about o'clock occupied the enemy "o'Ae
and all TIER portions. hard biscuit, and me nope
thai chance would throw me III tile way OF cup
coffee not y breakfast that took inucn lih.e 70
cispa,ch; therefore l was coon on my way 70 'ne
right. A plashing gallop brought NE INTO the nei
HaDcocks brilliant exploit VI the erGiOn DeIore'
Although men were busy III burying tho deaa, we!
were still lying scattered over the grouno, Inc
Wounded were being removed to comfortable ho'-
oabie quarters, objects Of aSsduous attention from
our surgeons. Pausing a short time at tie Head
quarters OF Gen. Smith (w hich wore on large pine
stump, VITO was proud that his DIVISION hau
made fine record, rode across the neld, where'
the afternoon before Unanswered the Rebel cavalry,
and across which flew our shells toward the iars.s'
of the Rebel works, Fort Msgruder.
Ii is large irregular breastwOrk, with q deep
water ditch, and platform for eight guns. Two "a
pound howiizers, which the Rebels, althongn tIey
burned the carriages, could not remove, We're all
tint had lot been taken away. In the rear were
wel-bult barracks. Two or three cai-sons ana
timber were left behipd, which, teside lew corn
telleTs, were about all tbs property not removed
There several dead horses here, Iying n9ou.'
killed by shells, and five OF the eneIny deal,
vet unburied. Fort Magrn9er ie one or seven Wor's
within the distance Of three iles. oetendng the ap-
proach TO Williamsburg. Though not III some re-
spects AZ strong chain as that OF the Warwcs, II
was nevertheless one where a few men conld Keep
much superior force at bay. II wac sdmifsoiy
chosep, the spot where che enemy couid Ior ieM
days al least d.pue an advance and thereby cover
tls. retreat from Yorktown. Nearly bali the enlif-
Rebel army is belle we'd to have halted here or aoou
40 OJO meD uuder the perropal c0nliDano, IL 10 saei
of Gen. Johnston, who, Il ls reported, i.ceNo'
.lizht wound in the shoulder. The siuoboruness
with which they resisted an advance canrot nc dir-
puted. Though forced TO yield, they fought desper-
atsly and usua their cavalry proved itsei 70 DC
| q very Efficient arm of The service.
| In the barracks there several wounded men
whom the Rebels ia their bas,e, bad lett teLihu'
and who wers kindly cared for by our surgeons. A
cart 10 carry away young man, III whom he eeeucd
TO have a peculiar interest," but would not confess
any. lie doabtlees WAS the son OF the od man.
1 When qnesuoned 20 the enemys loss, tle
wounded rnen would confess nothing more .'n 'na'
II was very heavy, procsbly twice III great us Our
own. Iley spoke Of Kancocke charge rs terTioie
and disastrous, particularly to the North Csroiila
regineute.
Without stopping 10 give this chain Of works al
much examination, oV TO gather as many par'l'uf'
.. -.st ba last ~ a
could wish, sut Welding TO the wish to b. among 'h
tie, to enter Williamsburg, pushed ahead lst ,
,;en Mcclellan suite, and escort dashed across N
, field foe the ,ane drstiua,ion body OF cavalry
the 5 b Pennsylvsnia Regiment Of lniantry, auc
comuauy of artillery had been thrown out on hou
before. Had the rursut been an bour earlier on
cavalry would have been on the heels o. tue heoe
rear guard before Il lett Williamsburg.
r The exit OF the Rebel Army was most unquestion
q shly sudden, partaking sonewEat OF stampede
w. liamsburg wss scarcely TWO miles ahead. ~
rosd, though generally hue, and ittle aScenoin <
was nearly inparaibe from mud OF that pecu larl
plastic and sticky sort which mire, easy and hold
, last A. approached the vii age one OF tie olies
in the country, with its seat of learning Wnen
Washington aud many leading men OF his time
graduated; with its phianthropic institutions uLae
State patronage the dest church III Virginia, carry
iny US back 10 the GAYS long before the revolution
i.s monument TO Colonial Government, pledge oil th'
loyalty Of the people to his Majesty the King III
gentee society, and interesting associations, ie
"a though was going into some venerable presence
,yust out,ide the village met negroes IN lives anc
tens, acting very much though something hao hap
pened that pleased tLem Come at ast, said one
- but ths Secesb am gone though But reckon yot
catch bin mighty soon" They We're as VINO
the Best dressed negroes ] had ever seen anywhere
and many Of them gave evde0ce Of he onging TO ths
" first iami ies." They were going 10 see fort Ma
, lruder and the scene OF the late firing
The will ee wss nearly de.erted, not n fifth Of th'
population having had sufficient seuse TO remain al
home. During the last year tbe population oi The
village was greater By considerable than usual
oaing 10 the inex OF fngitiyes from other parts OF
tie State, particularly from the lower end OF the
Peninsula. Those sojourners who waited Tor Tie
tide OF success 10 the rebellion, and hey who gave
them m asylum, were now fugiuves together, car
red along with the IetreatiDg army. Stores shops,
sn1 nearly every building, was closed, save ouly
such az bsd been opened hos lals. These were tie
CoNege Insane Asy lum, the old church, the Court
lIouc and some few private residences. The number
of wounded occupying these buildings was from oJU
To $40 The wounded OF the first ard part OF the
second DAYS fight lad been carried 20 Richmond or
ese vheie g. Those who were left here were wounded
In the later part OF yesterday, and In the pfecpl-
tancy of tie retreat were ief behind was gssur
that even the surgeons fed, leaving he wounded TO
be cared fox by us, or lot at all Ten surgeone sub
seauently returned by flag Of truce, bat an as ured
Tint they rendered no service. About IS wounded
| Union men were found in the hospitals, and thus
| fortunately fell into our hands. i an assured 81
hours after the close Of fgbipg thar there are moro
than 100 wounded who have not received the
slightest surgical attention, and that they suiler
hon the ant CT food and every other Necessary. i
have heard the Rebel Ices III killed aud wounded
placed AZ $500. They nnquestionabiy make ~ ecia
,ndeayors to disguise their Ices, and have reason
TO think that their wounded scattered among the
priynte houses of the place. and the iac kept secret
The force which Gen. Mcclellan gelt forward
pro, eeded through the village and three or
iour miles beyond, iahug seversl prisoners ard
battery of Light artillery, and come howitzers which
tho enemy were compelled 20 abandon. The pursuit
was continued no farther, aud the forces returned 10