The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-09

regiment OF cavalry was seen coming IL
line of battle, about mile of.
Captain Gibbons battery opened very
effective fire on the rebels, but did not
change their course. The rebels opened or
US from behind an earthwork.
A portion of the LIST and 9Th cavalry Their
charged on the advancing foe and hand
to hand fight ensued. None of our men
were captured, but we took number of
prisoners.
Gibbons battery had fourteen horse 8
killed. Lieutenant DeWolf was mortall y
wounded.
One gun was lost by sticking fast in the
mud.
Lieutenant Benton of the LIST cavalry and
ten men were wounded. Lieutenant Mo-
Clellan and twelve others of the 9th caval .
ry were also slightly wounded.
The rebel cavalry was forced to abandon
their position, but our want of infantry
prevented us from advancing on their works
We then fell back to await the coming Of
our infantry.
Hancock's brigade soon arrived but it
was concluded to defer operations until to-
morrow. The enemy are still retreating
beyond Williamsburg, but their rear guard
is very strong.
LArER--MoNDAY, May Sit is raining
heavily, we will occupy Williamsburg carly
this morning.
BALTIMORE, May 6.-The Fortress Mons
roe letter to the american, dated yesterday,
says that General Nc Clellan's advance is
beyond Williamsburg, that our gulboats
are at West Point, having on ther way
captured or destroyed many rebel trans.
ports.
A report was current of the capture of a
large number of prisoners.
A force had been landed at West Point,
and had destroyed Railrord bridge lead.
ing to Richmond.
BALTIMORE, May 6.-The following is
taken from the Anaerican's special Fortress
Monroe letter:
The French steamer Gossandi came down
from Yorktown, bringing the French
Minister, and Captain Fox, Assistant Sec.
rotary of the Navy.
We learn that up to one O'Clock, the
steamers with General Franklin's division
had not gone beyond Yorktown. Waiting
to hear from above.
One ofthe gunboats which went up York
river on Sunday morning has returned.
She reports that she found the rive IN.
obstructed, that our gunboats had reached
West Point, and that force had been
landed, and bridge on the road to Rich.
mond destroyed.
Several rebel transports were overtaken
going up, and burned, those on board es-
Gaping, while Others were captured.
Latest advices state that General McClel-
Ian is with the advance and supposed to be
before Williamsburgh, in which direction
there has been heard brisk cannonading all
day.
Yesterday afternoon schooner came
down the James river from Richmond, and
when near Newport News was run ashore
on the south side of the river. Her siDgu.
lar movements attracted considerable at
tention. The men were seen to take to
their boats and pull for Newport News.
They said they had Intentionally ran her
ashore for the purpose of reaching our lines
and that she contained sixty tons of coal
for the Merrimac. Several boats were i'm
mediately manned and started out for the
purpose of endeavoring to tow her of, out
finding this to be impossible they set her on
fire and burned her to the waters edge.
The Merrimac was in sight at the time
but did not venture to save the vessel. The
crew were taken to headquarters and they
gave deplorable account of affairs in
Richmond. The rebel troops regarded all
further attempts to sustain the rebellion
sheer folly.