Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-12

BALTIMORE, April 1.-THE Old Point
boat has arrived. The following are the
main points of the Americans special cor
respondents letter:
The storm has at length broken and the
sun shines brightly this afternoon, though
the wind is still blowing.
Nothing has been seen or heard of the
MeTrlmac to-day, and in view of the recent
terrible reverses to the rebels in the West,
it is doubtless whether they will have the
courage to attempt offensive operations
even with their iron-plated monster, still
desperate circumstances req0ire desperate
remedies, and their desperate strait may
induce an attempt at something in this
way. If she ever does come, she will prob
ably make her appearance tomorrow.
Parties who come in from the army re-
port no special change in affairs. COntin-
ual skirmishing is going on, and brilliant
little affair occurred yesterday morning, in
which Grif1in's battery participated with
marked effect. killing and Wounding 81 of
the rebels. The rebels position extends
across the Peninsula from Yorktown to
Warwick near the James river. A short
distance above Mulberry point, the confor-
nation of the land and the making in of
the creek for James river, shortens their
line of defence, and enables them to COM
mand with their Notifications all the roads
of the Peninsula.
Gems. Lee and Joseph E. johnson are
both reported to be with the rebel forces
here, one commanding at Yorktown and
the other at Warwick. Magruder, holding
a subordinate command, is with the re-
serves at Williamsburg.
According to reports from rebel deser-
tiers, the rebel forces number about SO 900,
Sr,F1 r
the line of the Rappahanuock and about
Norfolk.
Despite the weather and bad roads. our
Generals are pushing forward preparations
for the assault of the rebel works,
and not many days will elapse before
Yorktown will be ours and Richmond
threatened.
The glorious news from the West is act
ing as an excellent stimulaut for our ar
my, and greatly encourages the troops to
strive to win equal honors
Berdan's SharpshOOters give good account
of themselves. They hold the advance
position under the rebel batteries, from
which they constantly harrass the enemy.
A head above the parapet becomes an in-
slant mark for half n dozen rifles, which
at thousand yards, rarely fail to hit their
mark. The rebels keep under cover. A
ohorpshooter, belonging to tue California
regiment, has almost wholly prevented the
rebels from using a large gun in AN impor-
tant position. From well selected rifle
pit he keeps constant aim upon the gun,
and hardly an attempt has been made to
fire it for two days without the rebels los
ing one or more men from his deadly aim
One OF the orders of the day is that one
of our divisions has secured an impor-
tant position, the holding of which will
eventually lead to the forcing of the rebel
line of defence.
Much important preliminary work has
been done by our troops, and with the re-
urn of good weather more active opera.
tons will hardly be postponed many days.
The task before Gen. Mcclellan (the re-
duction of fortified entrenchments) is that
for which he is specially qualified, and the
result is not doubted.