The National tribune., 1898-10-13
UNION ARMY ENTERING MAIN STREET OF YORKTOWN
TIE flag floats McClellan's Headquarters

masters with an order for new suit of
soldiers clothes. When he saw they were
! for me, on his return, he said Hi, dat
darky links he's some. Guess he don't
cook no more for Massa Doct'T."
After removing as much of the color as
il was possible for soap and water TO do,
my complexion was a nice maroon color,
which my new costume showed off TO
good advantage. Had my own mother
seen me then, it would have been difficult
to convince her of our relationship. i
made out nv report immedatel and
tiers, together with my trophy from the
land of traitors. ! saw Gen. q. B., but he
did not recognize me, and ordered me to
go and tell A to appear before him in
an hour from that time.
i returned again to my tent, chalked my
face, and dressed in the same style as on
examination day, went at the hour ap-
pointed, and received the hearty con-
CALCULATIONS Of the General.
Do my friends wish to know how ! felt
In such position and in such a costume!
/ viii tell them. felt Just as happy and
as comfortable as it was possible for any
one TO be under similar circumstances.
| am naturally fond of adventure, a little
ambitious and good deal romantic, and
this together with my devotion to the
Federal cause and determination TO assist
to the utmost of my ability in crushing
the rebellion, made me forget the un-
pleasant items, and not only endure, but
really enjoy, the privations connected
with my perilous positions. Perhaps
spirit OF adventure was important-but
patriotism was the grand secret OF my
success.
While | was thus situated / made a
point of becoming acquainted with Nellie,
my rebel captive. She was trying TO
make herself useful in the hospital, not
withstanding her hand was very painful
often VI thnca uyb up Snffer-
ing less than she was herself.
The next day the continuous roar Of
cannon all along the lines Of the enemy
was kept up necessarily. Nor did it
cease at night, for when darkness settled
over the encampment, from the TampdrtS
that stretched away from Yorktown there
were constant gushes of flame, while the
heavy thunder rolled far away i'm the
gloom"
a little after midnight the cannonading
ceased, and a strange silence rested upon
hill and valley. The first dawn Of day
which broke peacefully over the land
scape discovered to the practced eye Of
Prof. Lowe that the intrenchments of the
enemy were deserted; the rebels had
abandoned their stronghold during the
night and had fled toward Richmond
The news spread throughout the Fed
eral army like lightning; from right TO left
and from center 10 circumference the
entire encampment was one wild scene of
Joy. Music and cheering were the first
items IN the program, and then came the
following order:
"Commandants Of regiments will pre-
pare TO march with two days rations with
the utmost dispatch. Leave, not to re-
turn"
Al about O'Clock in the morning our
advance guard entered Yorktown There
were nearly 100 guns of different kinds
and calibers and a large quantity OF
ammunition. The road over which the
fugitive army passed during the night was
beat up into mortar, knee cedeep, and was
strewn with fragments of army wagons,
tents and baggage.
The Federal troops were i'm excellent
spirits, and pushed on after the Tetreating
army almost on the doublequick In
this manner they kept up the pursuit
until toward evening, when the cavalry
came up with the rear-guard OF the enemy
about two miles from williamsburg
where sharp skirmish followed.
Night came on and firing ceased; the
rebels were behind their intrenchments
and our army bivouacked for the night
The cavalry and artillery forces were
under command OF Gen. St0neman; Gems
Heintzeiman, Hooker and Smith were in
command of the advance column of in
fantry, while Gems. kearny, Couch and
Casey brought up the rear
The enemy's works were four miles in
extent, nearly three -fourths of their front
Creek and College Creek. The main
works were "a large fortification, called
Fort Magruder, and II redoubts for field
guns. The woods around and inside Of
those works were fe!led, and the ground
was thickiy dotted with rifie-pits.
FIERCE FIGHTING.
The battle commenced the next morn
ing at 7:30 o'clock. Gen. Hooker began
the attack. The enemy were heavily re-
inforced, and made a desperate resistance.
Hooker lost great number of men and
five pieces of artillery before Kearny,
Couch or Casey came up. The roads were
a perfect sea of mud, and now it was
raining in torrents. The roar of battle
sounded all along the lines; the thunder
Of cannon and the crash of musketry
reverberated through the woods and over
the plain, assuring the advancing troops
that their companions were engaged in
deadly strife.
The thick growth of heavy timber was
felled in ali directions, forming splendid