Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-22
Tine SIEGE OF yorktown.

Special Correspondence Of N. Y. Evening Post
CAMP .REroEE YoRKroys,. April IL With
the upenlng q operations f9t The day Il was dis.
movements a several unimportant points. and had
brought their guns TO bear In new direction,
The vigilance Of our skirn'shefs had prevented
any sttempt Of the enemy to establish hmself
until last evening, when balloon Reconnaissance
from their camp revealed such points as were not
concealed by the woods, as most Of our works
happily are.
The enemy opened fire upon ne early In the day,
and found Il as brlskly returned. One. Of our
batteries opened from . point on ctr left, on The
Warwick road, and another about half mile to
the fight OF IT, where the shells fell thick and fast
among the dry earthworks, ploughing them up
and displacing two Of the rebel guns. The enemy
immediately opened fire from every piece on theft
works. shelling the woods snd sweeping our posi-
ton. This operation had the effect of waking up
two batteries which we had planted under cover
Of the words, and for an hour continuous volleys
were poured Into the enemy. They could not
| stand II, but esetted their works and retired
pell-mell In every direction. Their works, how
ever, were not occupied by our forces, although
the rebels are now probably satisfied of our abili
ty to shell them out at any time we wish. Our
total casualties were six killed and four wounded
During the engagement new rebel earthwork,
intended for a masked battery, was discovered .
short distance to or right from the CLEAN Of the
bayonets IN the sunlight, which fell among the
trees A few shells settled that matter.
The gunbeats, seven In number, lying in the
Hver, opened fire upon the enemy's works. but
the fuse was probably too short FOR execution.
The rebel shots fell quite near one Of the boats
and IL was thought that one struck, but like the
Others, II failed OF Its aim
TIE FIGHT ON WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY, April 1T.-Slnce writing the above,
the direction Of the firing has changed to a point
farther TO the left, and has been confined wholly
to Sedgwick division.
General Porter occupies the bank of the York
river directly In front Of Yorktown Gen Hamil
ton next and Sedgwicx next, while the divisions
Of Reyes corps are extended to York river
A battery was seen to leave the enemy's works
our front at O'Clock Yesterday, passing to our
left, and at O'Clock brisk fire was opened and
continued, with some IS discharges a minute,
until shutdown, and with an occasional shot uni hi
morning, showing that the guns were still
manned and ready.
The night had been taken advantage Of 10 bring
our heavy guns Into place, and at sunrise the work
commenced with redoubled energy, lasting furi-
ously for two hours. At the end OF that time the
enemy retired, and no response has since been
made from his works.
The total number of our men killed yesterday
was 49, and % were wounded. 1t is not known
whether an attempt will be made to occupy the
deserted works to-day, or not.
The most active preparations are making to
place our force upon an equality with the enemy,
aud that with promising despatch. With each
day long step ahead is observabl and the ro-
mantle locality Of our camp, surrounded by deep
ravines and natural wood, gives every facility for
the completion OF the arrangements for attack.