The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-27

paid for, but in more they were In too grest q
hurry TO reioin their regiments to settle. The
sufferers acknowledged hpstever, that ther friends
Of the rebel army trsated them with no more re
gard for their vested rightx; but what seemed to
atet them most severely Was the thousht that the
hated Yankees should have the benefit Of SeceslI
property. Of course this ptllHging by soldiers AS
they pass through even All efeny's rouatry must
he condemned, and when detected and proved,
must DO punished for the good OF the army itself,
which such practices tend 10 deniorsize but still
Il Is undoubtedly severe temptation 10 one who
has fur weeks lived on salt pork aud lard brs ad
tn see young and Fat fowl within close proximity
to him
Without any incidents worthy of note, thu river
reached by the advance early In the afteI\oon
ami by night the divisions Of Gen. Morelt and Men.
Sykea were crossed over to the Opposite tanA -
Den MeCail's diviso having taken another roAl
and having left the old camp subsequently, to the
others did not reach there until the next forenoon.
A splendid pontoon bridge, OF nearly third of a
mile in length and about thirty Zee. wide, had been
built across the Chckahominy by the Engineer
Brigade, and upon this marched our weary soldiers,
followed by the artillery and wagon train, and en-
camped upon the opposite shore for the night
Near this bridge there were lying the gunbcats
Delaware and Yankee to protect 1t against any at
tempt the enemy might mako to destroy II. The
days march had been long aud tresoiue, but the
nen stood 1t very well The weather through
out the day was cool, RId until l r. M was
overcast, that except forshe dust the march had
this time the weather has seHn most favorable
Had IT. been ordered expressly, 1t could not Lave
been bettered, except, perhaps. little rain TO lay
the dust, which would have bsen an acceptable Inn
prOvement. The intense heat under hich We had
been sweltcrng fer weeks past has been succeeded
by cool and comfortable temperature, which has
enabled lis to march through the day and encamp
at night, to the manifest advantage ot the army
regards it's health and strength. Night marches
have not been rosorted to, except upon the first
night, but the men have been allowed 10 rest and
refresh themselves after their days march, and pre-
pare for the labors and iatigGes CT tie succeeding
day.
Saturday morning the march was resumed, and
the columns moved on towards Williamsburg, at
which place the advance arrived about A NJ
Gen. Morelfs division arrived there about p. NJ,
and passed on to the viciSty of the Old battlefield,
where they remained encanped I'M il Sunday mora
ing. The day march was without incident wor-
tiny OF note Everything passed along peaceably.
1t was now evident that the rebels were either
aware OF the time when, and the direction IN which,
were gCing, or that they had other business for
their army than following us. Their experience at
White Oak Swamp aud Malvern Hill may have
taught taem a lesson which they do not care to
have repeated ut present II any attack is yet
intended by them, IL must be upon Onr rear guard;
but 1t il not thought that they will disturb US
1T all. This days march Witnessed repetition of
the previous onslaught upon the poultry aud or
cbaIds of the secesh nhabitauts by The stragglefs
As general thing, they were civil, however, and
willing 10 payfor what WAS taken when requested d
10 do so. Large quantities of unripe fruit and mel,
ons were devoured, which will most probably cause
a material increase Of cases of diarrhna aud dy
terry and refill the regimeua hospitals, which had
been cleared OF their occupants preparatory TO this
movement. There was also II very general dsap-
pear8nce Of fowls OF all kinds, and poultry has be-
come very common article of diet III The campo.
Many Of the soldiers to carry III addition
to their arIs and aceoutrements extra rations in
the shape of turkeys. Chickens, geese and ducks,
which by tie noise they made, had evidently been
but recently served out To them o. and were yet
in many instances alive and kicking Just before
entering Williamsburg, l noticed enterprising
private by the side OF the read, under he shade of
large tree, with hall dozen balf ripe water
melons spread ont before him. which he dis
posing OF to his less fortunate comrades at the mod
crate rate OF 50 cts each. How he became the own
of this valuable merchandise is unknown 20 Your
correspondent, but that lis profits equed the to,
tai of his receipts, have II" ;ionbt. He was not a
native Yankee, bus 4 Hibefnian, and one who evil
IDENTIFY with the reckless generosity aid proisioE
characteristic OF his counirymen, combined the
thrift and hrewdness which is supposed 10 belong
to the natives of the land of his adoption.
The Seeessionists OF Williamsburg, AZ eisewhere
slong the route, were much reoseed to our army
making a retrogrsde movement, anticipating that
this part of the peninsula also would be snr-
rendered the rebel rule again. The ccared pop
u.s.ion had taken the alarm aad were very :tDx
ious to feara chat the future had in store for
them. Some of the more udscruet OF the reisi
sympaihiZers, upon learning that were evacu-
atipg our position upon the Jaides river, udnigod
in threats OF what should lie done to them whos,
the Yankees were gone. This increased theis
alarm and agitation, and the exodus of This class
of the population most of whom had been ti.s
slaves al fugitive rebel masters, has already cola
n.nced, a..a probably few days will the tow
relieved 81 yearly all Of them, and bnt very few
will remain TO experience the tender nlcrces ~
their seeesh friends. Between the acton of ths
rebels i'll carrying their slaves down South and tLs
operation of military rule, the peninsula has been
pretty well cleared Of the more valuable portion
Of the slave propefty-tnoSe who :.re left generally
being either OF ancient Very tender ANA uveldie
age, neither Of which are Of much profit. pfacti-
cal emancipation has taken place, aud those who
have not avaiied themselves OF its benefits Of
the ciass who are either t0G Old, too young or TOO
sh!iless to do 60
This morning ons Of the rebel sympaihiZars of
This place, named Robert Coles. was arrested by
.he order OF The Provost Maraha and 1T his resi-
dence WA found quantity Of ammunition and
some arms. 1t is stated that he bnsily engaged
yeuterday in running bullets while our troops were
passing through the town. The avowed purpose
of tn preparations to stop the departure Of
the contrabands after the expected withdrawal of
forces.
At an carly hour this morning The march was
snb.ej, and continued in an orderly manlier until
Yorktown WAS reached There was no danger OF
an attack, and there did exist the necessity for
any special care in making the advance Nothing
worthy of note occurred, aud Yorktown WIS
reached in the afternoon, AMI the weary sol
di-rs encanped in the old camp, made familiar 10
most of them by four weeks resi- ,ence during the
famous siege of The rebe. fortliieato Here they
remained aud rested The marching was begin
ming to tell upon the Inen, aud there q good
many straggers who had fallen on: OF the ra.nhs
TA. Provost guard WAS constantly employ ell riding,
to and fro upon the road, hurry ing them up; but
In spite Of their exertions they cams slowly III b y
twos and threes aid sometimes Squalls. Gos; OF
than rejdined their commands in the course of the
day and evening. The scenes of the previous two
to so great an extent. 1t was, however, highly
dangerous for poultry TO show itself in any close
proximity to the soldier.
Upon our arrival at Yorktown called upon Gen.
Van Allen, the military Governor of the place, WAC
received me very kindly and courtsously, and to
him am indebted for favorS and attentions receiv-
ed. Since the occupation of the place by the Union
troops it has been much improved, aud its general
appearance, and clean and orderly condition, il
highly crodtae 10 him and to Eaps. Revere OF the
44th regiment New York volunteers, the Provost
Marshal. When irst took possession Of the
place it was in Il very filthy condition. Under the
direction OF Captain Revere 1t has been thoroughly
cleaned, and q very large quantity of tilth otfal
aud decayng carcasses OF animals have been re-
moved and buried The main street has been filed
in and raised two ieet and everything possible has
been done to make the village u healthy and re-
spectacle place Of residence. The eafthWorks and
entreuchiuents built by both oar own and the
rebel troops remain intact, and by their extent
aud miSssiveness show With what perseverance,
and energy both parties contenied f,r the posses
sion of the locality. The first building erected in
Yorktown for twenty seven years is of five
small on story wooden buildings, bnilt under Capt
Revere's direction for the use of the officers, Sc
connected with headquarters The place is fully
prepared for defeneo against any attack which
might be mado upon it by the rebels, who canno,
venture upon any operation OF that nature sin
gle gunLoat would command Gloucester Point OPP
posite, and prevent the erection OF batteries there
aud any hostile demonstration from the land sids
e, 4
might bs bsoagbt down for that purpose.
Upon the plane, outside Of the rebel works, quite