Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-08

1.-THE Confederates had every reason
to expect a rush by US, for q day or
two before the evacuation notice was
movement going on within the York
town lines. and assembled in Professor
loves balloon for a birdseye view Of
their works. Some troops were then
marching out of Yorktown. but they
soon turned and marched back. evil
IDENTIFY to give me the impression that
the garrison was being REINFORCED.
Their artillerymen set up a s-dden &C
tivtty in firing, and the shells struck
among the men holding the ropes of
my balloon. AT one time thought the
ropes would be cut or the men holding
them knocked over and that would be
carried into the enemy's lines. How
ever. descended safely, reported what
/ had seen and made preparations for
pursuit, which was begun before day
light the morning Of the 4th-"
1t should be noted that the army bal
loon was In constant use throughout
the siege Of Yorktown. General Porter
assembled often. as did hfs engineez Off
GERS. Bombarding it was a daily
amusement for the Confederates.
Once when Porter and Lowe were up
a Confederate shell passed through the
cordage supporting the car and struck
the ground near where General Nc
Clellan was standing. Another shell. a
sixtyfour FOUNDER, landed in a tent
where two soldiers were lying, but for
tunately did not explode. One day the
aged General Heintzelman assembled
a thousand feet That height and less
down to 800 feet was safe from shots.
Battle at Williamsburg.
Pursuit of the retreating Confeder-
ates was quick and rapid. General
stoneman's cavalry galloped through
the abandoned works and on toward
Richmond. Six miles from Yorktown
they were skirmishing with General
Stuart's Virginia troopers at MONDAY.
These they drove back TO a line Of re-
doubts which halted them at p. m.
Here at Williamsburg the Confederat ties
had second line Of Notifications
stretching across the peninsula. In
the center stood Fort Magruder at the
junction OF the roads from Yorktown.
Two brigades OF General Magruders
division were in the works. Stuart
sent word forward to General Long.
/ street. who had passed through the
town, that the Federals were crowding
things. Longstreet marched back with
his own and General d. II. Hills di-
vision. Stoneman also sent word back
10 the infantry summOning General Z.
V. Sumner with General W. + Smiths
division. He arrived just at dark.
Early on the morning of the 9TH Gen.
eral Joe Rockers Federal division ar.
rived and with great impetuosity at,
tackled Fort Magruder.
LOngstreet, with his own division
and that Of d. H. Hill, defended this
| point from early morning until noon
/ intiicting a heavy loss upon Hooker's
| column. Hooker called for help, but
none could be sent him because Sum.
ner. the chief in command, had begun
new line of attack which would turn
/ the Confederate left, II it succeeded
| On this flank the old Confederate re
/ doubts We're unoccupied. Sumner or
/ dered the brigade of General W. S
/ Hancock to occupy two of these Han
/ cock did so and attempted to advance
/ still farther, but was checked by troop,
/ sent over from General Lonestreet's
/ column
Seeing the danger impending on thi.
flank II Hancock remained on the ridg,
he had seized. General d. II Hill
brought forward four regiments an5
attempted TO break through Hancock's
line. Slowly retiring his front line
Hancock drew his enemy into a trar