Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-05-02

NO.a.25.
from which the cannon were sxtrieatyd with
the greatest difficulty, though The weather
had been fair and dry for ssvsral days = Un.
paused to admire this charming region, COW
cred with virgin forests. broken hsse nd
there by clearings, and reminded us of "a
must smiling dissricts. OF DoxSnahiss, ~
Provence Of England. Bat the enemy might
be hidden in these woods. and We thouGht
only Of finding him. The Duke Dc Chas1sas
who was scouting With forty Acs.sl
spddghly upon ! e6nied ederats 81 ~ ~
The rear guard Of the column ssntiDasa ~
Cen. Smith. The young lprines .st9Yne@
will, fifteen prisoners, and on his report 0sn.
Stoneman made new effort to reach thsse
troops before their junction with the usala,
body Of the enemy, supposed to b. i,sat VII.
liamsburg. s-.1ae sas9 h,er 3 hs.g.
We soon reached the fork Of the two vosas
the one coming from Yorktown, and which
Stoneman was following, and the other ftea
Lees Mill, and by which the confedeya&es
were retreating. But as soon as the Fsderal
cavalry appeared at the point Of iunetisns
they were saluted with an artillery fire from
numerous feld-works thrown up In 'front.' se
Williamsburg. A rapid glancs showed tl.g
position. AS We have said, the psuinsnlh
continues to narrow a. far up ~ Williamsburg.
Two creeks or bays-the one opening from
James, the other from York river, aud hoah.
ending in marshee-narrow |. still more.
Between these two marshes Is 4 sort Of 18th.
mus, in which end the two roads from Y0Eh.
town and Lees Mill. At the south end d
this isthmus, as you approach Yorktown, ths
country is densely wooded. On tho noesh
side, on the contrary; towards Williamsbnitg..
it is open. and covered with largo eosu-Sslds.
behind which appear the towers and steDples
Of tho town. On the open space the easny
work. Fort Magruder. placed on the roadway
opposite the isthmus. and then series of 30
doubts and riac-pits, facing all parts Of DO
marsh by which the infantry could possibly
advance. He had then made largo abattts.
in such a manner as to open fire Of ,artiiley
and musketry on the approached to the mash
and to the fork Of the roads. 1t was in tho
midst Of these abattis that the Fed6fxf xkve
airy debouclied at trot. and hers they were
greeted with storm Of shells by Fort Ma
gruder. Eaese3 aie3 a6T
In the space between this and thu rsdp1bts
the confederate infantry and cavalry ,,wem
drawn up in line Of battle. Stoneinan, set.-
ing that the enemy thus covered the fort, ai'd 4
that it was iinpossible to maintain his own
position. tried to dislodge him BY q visusuuj
blow. He advanced all bis flying artilhey,
which drew up opposite the abatiis, aud N.
piled to the fire of the redoubts. He dsen
ordered his cavalay to charge. The sixih
regiment Of Federal cavalry rushed bSsdly
upon the confederate cavalry-pasaihesr2
they did so, updrr the cross frs at tbs m
doubts-and engaged in one Of those ,6ghia
with cold steel Which ars now 20 rare. but
all this was valor thrown away. The tnsshy
did not disturb hin,self; lss he'd the s6dtalt
tage of numbers aud position. II 80 ~
possible to carry these works With, easalRN
alone. We began to. lose men aud hQsas2
" have lost thirty-one men," said xsioe
Williams, who had Just led the tharRe N {k
sixth cavalry, Z, ,aoslully salutins 6tosSyAGnkGil
with his sabcr with that Msolats air, aatslt
means. /" We are r'adyl to try Il aHsiM abae
it is useless" Stonsinan then orderei 4 =,
treat. We repassrtl the abattis. retired q =
clearing half mile in the rear, ada awAi(s6
the arrival Of the infautry,to IA renew lhS attek
withit Cnfortunat~ly ), in passing thsasI3s
the marsh, one Of the gu,s sunk u, ihss ~
and could not b. got ont. 10 vain, wegs, the
teams doubled the enemy concentrated 6xIcs
forcs on this one pHint and killed ut sthV
horses. The pircs had to b 'iab1ndoas& ~
first yst lost BY tls army fail,s nstoxnAsas2
We wsrs incorsclablr, IN ths .eyepins, Han