The National tribune., 1904-02-11

thought had been discovered about the CEN
ter of the line, near Lees Mill, where there
was dam covered by battery and with
the view of determining the actual strength
of this position, Gen. w. +. Smith, com
manding the Second Division of the Fourth
Corps, was ordered to push strong re
connoissance over the Warwick. at that
point. Under cover of heavy artillery
fire from Is guns, under Capt. Ayres, four
companies of Vermont troops passed the
creek, by wading breast-deep, and carried
the rifle-trenches held by the Confederates
as an advanced line Here they were re-
enforced by eight additional companies.
The enemy, upon being driven from the
front line, retired to redoubt in the rear,
and there receiving a reinforcement, made
counter charge on the handful of Union
troops, who We're driven across the creek,
after holding the rife pits for an hour, en-
tirely unsupported. Many were killed and
wounded in recrossing the stream. co. No
subsequent attempt was made to break the
Confederate line.
YORKTOWN EVACUATED.
1t now remained to undertake the siege
of the uninvested Notifications of York
town-a task to which the army at once
settled down. Depots We're established at
Shipping Point, to which place supplies
were brought direct by water; and indeed
it was necessary to avoid land transpor-
tati0n as much as possible-the roads being
SO few and SO bad as to necessitate the
construction of an immense amount of cor
duroy highway. The first parallel was
opened at about a mile from Yorktown I;
and under it's protection, batteries were cs-
tablished almost simultaneously along the
whole front, extending from York River
on the right to the Warwick on the left
along cord Of about one mile in length.
In all, IA batteries and three redoubts,
fully armed. and including some unusually
hcop fo1
ers, were erected to operate in the reduc-
tion of the earthwOrks. The batteries as
completed were, with single exception (7)
not allowed to open, as it was believed that
the return fire would interfere with the
labor on other works. 1t was preferred to
plete, and then open a simultaneous and
overwhelming bombardment. This period
would baye been reached by the 9th of
May at latest. The artillery and engineer
officers judged that a very few hours fire
would compel the surrender or evacuation
of the works; but, to their great chagrin.
no opportunity was afforded to bring this
professional opinion to the practical test :
| for it was discovered on the 4th of Nav
that the COnfederates had evacuated York
| town. (S) The retreat had been managed
with the same masterly skill that marked
OF the Potomac, cheated of it's anticipated
| brilliant passage at arms, came into posses.
sion only of the deserted works and some
threescore and ten siege guns, that the Con.
federates had been obliged to leave az the
price of their unmolested retreat.
DISCUSSION OF THE PLANS.
In the preceding outline of the siege oi
Yorktown, have confined myself to sim.
pie recital Of events. 1t is well known
however. that no portion Of Gen. McClel.
lan's military career has given rise to a
greater amount Of criticism, or criticism
/ 5. Mcclellan: Report, D. 1O8.
| 6. Magruder's Official Report: Confed
crate Reports of Battles, D. 615.
Z. The exception was in the case of wha,
was called Battery No. /, which on ore
occasion opened on the wharf at Yorktowr
to prevent the enemyis receiving artillery
i stores.
9. "rhe ease with which the 200 ani
lOep0unders were worked, the extraordi
nary accuracy of their fire, and the since
ascertained effects produced upon the enc
my by It, force upon me the conviction tha
the tire OF guns. of similar caliber and now
er. combined with the eross.vertical fire q
the 10 and 1Qinch seac0ast mortars, would
have compelled the enemy to surrender o,
abandon Ills works In less than 10 hours.
Barry: Report OF Artillery Operations
Siege OF Yorktown, p. 1874. This opinion
is not justified by subsequent experience II
the war, for the rude imprOvised earth
works OF the Confederates showed an alili
ty to sustain an. indefinite pounding. Gen
Johnst0n'S evacuatiDn Of Yorktown seem
. to hare been prompted by like. exaggera
tion OF the probable elect Of lombard
menk