Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-24
rhis Afternoons Report,
FROM BALTImORR.


BALTHoRE, May %.
The boat from Old Point has arrived.
The Americans special correspondent
states that the steamer from White House
this afternoon brings q number Of psssen,
gers from the head quarters Of General Mo.
0lellan's army, which was in proximity e
Bottom Bridge, over which portion Of the
army has already passed, the second diyi.
sion having crossed the Ohiokahominy 81
New Bridge, about seven miles further up
and within eight miles Of Richmond.
II was rumored that proposition for an
srmistioe for ten days had been made BY
the rebels, bnt Of course no such idea
could be entertained.
The advance Of our army was under
stood 10 be within Eve miles Of the city, 10
which point the enemy has fallen back
with but slight effort to check our onward
movement. The advance by the way Of
New Bridge enters the city on the north
side.
The tug Dragon, from James river this
morning, brings down two very intelligent
citizens from Petersburgh, who fed from
that city yesterday to avoid the press gang
under the CONSUMPTION sct.
In view of the important information
which they bring it would not be proper to
make fheir names public, having been
brought to Commodore GoldsbOrough, They
we're Immediately sent to Gen. Wool, and
will leave this morning for MoOlellsn's
headquarters, for whom they have some in.
formation which they have not yet made
public
They represent the condition of affairs
OF Petersburg and the surrounding country
ss Of a most deplOrsble character. The
sufferings of the people seem almost beyond
endurance.
The scarcity Of provisions was so great
that everything Was seized for the army,
and even the soldiers have been on half
rstions for week past, with no prospect
Of even this supply lasting for 8 great
length of time.
The rebel army, or at least a great poP-
tion Of it, they represent as demorsliEed
and disspirited to such an extent that it is
only held together by the most vigorous
appliance Of military law.
Fill the work Of prescription was pro
crossing, and the roads to Richmond were
thrOnged with unsrmed men, old and young,
being driven along under strong armed
guards.
They represent that no people in modern
times have suffered moro than the people
Of Virginio are now suffering, every house
hold being in mourning with the prospect
Of an approaching famine.
They also state that Gen. Beauregsrd ar
rived at Richmond on Tuesday. On being
questioned as to their authority for this
statement they say that it was so an
nounced and understood at Petersburg on
Wednesday morning, no one doubling the
fact
IaR -ns.v;r uIrvfr intention to fight to the
death before Richmond, but strong suspi-
cions were entertained that it was really
their purpose to abandon the city after a
short defense at the works surrounding il.
Large numbers OF women and children
from Richmond had arrived ct Petersburg,
who represented the distress prevailing in
the city as beyond description. Threats
were made by the soldiers from the Gulf
States, that if they had to leave Richmond
they would Icy it in ashes beJore doing 50.
Great fears were entertained that their
thrert would be carried into effect. 1t
would require the greatest effort on the
citizens to prevent suce = cstsstophre.
The number of troops at Richmond and
in the vicinity was generally believed to be
fully 200, 600, inclu4ing the unarmed and
poorly armed Of the recent levies, who were
having pixies put into their hands for active
service.
Deserters from Fort Darling report that
the infantry force in the vicinity of the work
is nearly 10000 men.