Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-04-30

Magrudsr. We resumed our march a
daybrcuk, and about half.pRst six o'clocI
came up TO the advanced OutpoSts Of tht
enemy. which were perhaps about half I
mile from Fort Magruder. could SCI
from the position where was, three OF
four redoubts on this line of the enemy'l
works. could also see the line o
telegraph poles OH the Yorktown Road
which led to where General Stonemar
was. ordered two regiments tc
advance as Skirmishers on the work
which commanded the Yorktown Road
To skirmish up to the work. And !
dispatched two regiments with instructions
10 break down any barrier aud destroy
my force that might be between me and
the position that Gen. Stoueman occupied.
As soon as my skirmiShcrs had driven the
enemy into Fort Magruder, ordered two
batteries forward, and opened on the work
at once. The two regiments that had been
sent to the Yorktown Road, pissed down
tue road, found no enemy on it, fouud
no barrier. and reported to General
Hancock, who was about q mile and
quarter from Fort Mugruder, that
there was nothing to prevent their advuUC
ing. Those regiments then returned, As
early as nine o'clock Ia the day my sklr.
misherS had advanced so near Fort Ma
grudeF, and there held their position, that
they could not work their artillery. Ii IL
man showed his hand or head above the
work he got ball in it. When this was
done, sent word to the commanding OIL
Ger on tho Yorktown Road that there
was nothing to prevent his advancing
bis troops and taking bis position alongside
Of mine. The place to where sent WAS
about mile and Il half from me. | sup
posed then that Gen. lleintzelman was
there, but 1t turned out TINT be had left,
and Gen. Sumner was in command with q
large force, certainly not less than thirty
thousand men. He could have advanced
through the liue Of defenses across the Pc
ninsula, at Williamsburgh, without losing
ten men. The enemy could not fight, for
| had him 10 vice. | wanted him to ad-
vance, aud until three o'clock Of that day,
expected be would advance and march
through the lines held by tho enemy, aud
go to picking up prisoners. During this
time my own troops were engaged with no
less than three or four times their number
Gen. Kcarncy, who was last of all the army
to leave Yorktown-Cxcept PUrtcr's divi.
sion, which was left to garrison Yorktown
was the first to come 10 my assistance.
II Gen. Sumner had advanced, the rebelli.
on would have been buried there. He did
not advance at all.
Q.-Where was General Mcclellan all
this time?
Alt Yorktown. About nine o'clock,
or thereabout, OF the morning Of the fight,
Prince de JOinyilIe, seeing that no rein.
foGcemGnts would be sent to me, started
for Yorktown, and reached there In about
an hour. 1t is reported to me, and have
10 doubt that it is so, that be said to Gen.
Mcclellan General, you have three old
women in advance. General Hooker Is
engaged heavily, and they will send him
90 reinforcemeuts. 1t Is necessary for you
to go In advance" think Gov. Sprague
went down also to urge General Mcclellan
to come up. 1t was reported to me That
General Mcclellan left Yorktown between
four and FIVE o'clock in the afternOou.-
Lieutenant Colonel Webb, now the In.
spector Of the 9Th Corps, was present AT
the interview between Prince de Joinville
and General Mcclellan. GeocrAl Mcclellan
showed great indispOsition 10 60 forward,
aud only left, Hs am told, between four
and Eve o'clock.
Q-You stood your ground?
A.-YeS, sir. When General KeArney
cAmo up be was my senior, but General
HeintzelmGn was under the impression
ut that time that ranked Kearney, and he
sent him up to report TO me, When Gen.
Kearnsy came up, as bis brigndes came up
| put them 10 position. As soon as that
was done, my own troops were Withdrawn
from the front, and collected together as far
as practicable, General KeRruey holding
the advance General Kearuey then said
to me, al think rank you" replied,
"Certatnly, General, you do. he then
said be would assume command, which
was very proper. That night his line Of
pickets held the advance. During the
night the enCmy evacuated Williamsburg.
| have since learned from most reliable
sources, that when tho news Of that battle
reached Richmond, Jefferson Davis And
Governor LeICher moved their families out
Of Richmond, removed tue archives and
their libraries, and every citizen who could
command vehicle, had his goods piled on
wagons, and prepared TO abandon the city.
They only returned Chose who had lefty
when they found the pursuit ceHsed-i al.
most say, was abandoned,
Q.-Ts 1t your judgment that yon could
have gone into Richmond then 2
Al think We could have moved right
90 and got into Richmond by the second
day after that battle, without another gun
being fired.
Q-What was done7
Ave moved on IN q manner | never
did understand, losing time. II there was
any necessity for that, have never yet
appreciated it. So far as tho best infor.
nation we have goes, tho enemy had
abandoned the idea or defending Richmond;
and il was only Whcn they saw the lHsSl-
tudc and IneIiiClency Of our army, that
they had concluded to make a stand there,
Q-Did you participate in the battle of
Fair Oaks or Seven Pines2
Ar-Atlhc time that battle was fought,
my entire Division was stationed at what
Is called Oak Bottom Swamp, about i've or
six mlCS FROM where the battle Of Satur-
day, the 3ISt Of May, was fought, About
two o'clock Of that day, received orders
10 move OnO.hNlf Of my division to the
front, tho other half to remain aud hold