Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-17
OPERATIONS NEAR YORKTOWN.

Gen. Mcclellan is not at Yorktown without
purpose; and it is not to be supposed that
generals Mcdowell and Banks are unaware OF
this purpose or without instructions to act in
concert with it. In approaching Yorktown
the army has encountered and overcome very
great difficulties. In due time the place will
be taken, but we are not likely to be told be.
torehand what will happen there and else
where before this result preached. We make
few extracts from letters from Gen. McClcl-
lan's camp, which we find in some of our ex
changes -
THE SHAREHOLDERS.
NEAR YoRKTowS, April 10, lS62-The
sharpshooters, with their target rifles, are a
great institution here. The other day, tile
22l Massachusetts, got too far in advance for
safety; when the bugle sounded the retreat
for them, the rebels to the number of thou.
sand, jumped on their earthworks and began
TO cheer. But their third cheer was turned
into groan. The bugIe was not obeyed by
about three hundred Of Berdun's meu, who
lay still, aud when the rebels showed them.
selves, picked oil good many before they
got through their third cheer.
Yesterday the sharpshOoters exchanged their
gray caps and coats for the regulation blue.
When they appeared on picket duty, the reb.
els, unsuspecting the change, came out of their
works, and approached our lines. When they
got in plain view our sharpshoOters fred, and
nine OF the rebels were seen to fall. Two got
up and followed the retreating foe, and the
others lay there this morning, the rebels fear
ing TO came out to get the bodies. When
their pickets afterwards came near enough
to make themselves heard, they asked us
what we lad done with our gray coats and
caps, and remarked that we were "the same
blue devils
The efficiency OF the target rifles has elicit
ed warm praise from verybody connected
with the siege. The telescope target rifles in
particular are serviceable. The following let.
ter, written by direction of Gen. FitzJohn
Porter, commanding the division which has
the front in the siege, tells its own story
"Celonsl Berdan, Commanding Sharpshooters:
Colonel: The commanding general in.
siructs me TO say to you that he il glad to
learn from the admission of the enemy them
selves, that they begin to fear your sharp.
shooters. Your men have caused a large
number of the enemy to bite the dust. The
comms Infringement is glad to learn that y our
corps are proving themselves so efficient, and
trusts that this intelligence will encourage
your men, give them, il possible clearer eye,
and q steadier hand, SO that when their trusty
rifles are pointed at the foe they will make
one rebel less at every discharge"
GEN. MCCLELLAN.
Gen. Mcclellan has been so often described
and SO many pictures of him have been exhib
ited that think it necessary to make one
more. First, he is unlike any picture have
seen of him; second, he does not look like Ma
poleon; third, he does not look like Washing
ton. lie is of medium height-about five feet
seven inches, not over; of stout frame hard
and muscular; with high cheek bones bony
face and head, and thick through from ear to
ear nose irregular in shape, and his mouth is
not symmetrical, but shows great frmness.
He is not handsome, but has look of deter
mination. He seldom smiles, and says but
few words. He is said to weigh one hundred
and seventy-five pounds