Year: 1862




carry in addition to their arms and accutre
ments, extra rations in the shape of tarkies,
chickens, geese and ducks, which, by the noise
made, had evidently been but recently served
out to them, and were yet in many instances
alive and kicking. Just before entering Will
liamsburg noticed an enterprising private
by the side of the road under the shade of u
large tree, with some half dozen half ripe
water melons spread out before him, which be
was disposing Of to his less fortunate comrades
at the moderate rate of fifty cents each How
he became the owner of this valuable mer-
chandise is unknown to your correspondent, but
that his profits equalled the total of his re-
ceipt have no doubt. He was not native
Yankee, but Hibernian, and one who, evi-
IDENTITY with the reckless generosity and pro-
fusion characteristic of his countrymen, com
bined the thrift aud shreW dness which is sup
posed to belong to the natives of the land OF
his adoption.


Toe secessionists of Williamsburg, rs else
where along the rout, were much rejoiced TO
see our army making a retrOgade movement
anticipating that soon this part of the peniusu-
la also would be surrendered to the rebel rule
again The colored population had taken
the alarm, and were very anxious to learn
what the future had in store for them. Some
of the more udscreet of the rebel sympathz
ers, upon learning that we were eVacuatng
cur position upon the James river INDUCED in
| threats Of what should be done to them when
the Yankees were gone. This increased their
alarm and agitation, and the exodus of this
class Of the population, most Of whom had
been the slaves OF fugitive rebel masters, has
already commenced, and probably few days
viii see the town relieved Of nearly all of them,
aud but q very few will remain to experience
the tender mercies of their secesh friends -
Between the action Of the rebels in carrying
their slaves down South and the operation OF
military rule, the peninsula has been pretty
we'll cleared Of the more valuable portion of
the slave property-those who are lett gener-
ally being either of an ancient or very tender
and juvenile age, neither of which are of mach
profit Practical emancipation has taken
place, and those who have not availed them
/ selves of its benefits are of the class who are
either too old, too young, or too shiftless to
do SO.


! THIS morning one of the rebel sympai ihizers
! of this place, ma ned Robert Coles, was ar.
rested by the order of the Provost Marshal
and at his residence was found quartty OF
ammunition and some arms. 1t is said that be
was busijy engaged yesterday in running bull
lets while our troops were passing through the
town. The avowed purpose of b Sc prepara-
tonS was to stop the departure oI The contra
bands after the expected withdrawal Of our
forces


At an early hour this morning the march
was resumed, aud continued in an orderly
manner until Yorktown was reached There
wa n Of 81 n attack and thora did pot
exist the necessity for any special care in max
ing the advance. Nothing worthy of note oc


Cured, and Yorktown was reached soon after
noon, and the weary soldiers encamped in the
old camp made familiar to most of them by q
tour weeks residence during the famous siege
of the rebel forlGcatouS Here they remain
ed and rested The marching was beginning
to tell upon the men, and there was a good
many stragglers who had fallen out of the
ranks. The Provost guard was cosntantIy
employed riding to and fro upon the road ,hur-
rying them up ; but in spite of Their exertions
they came slowly in by twos and threes, aud
sometimes in squads Most of them reioiued
taeir commands in the course Of the day and
evening The scenes of the previous two days
were repeated along the rout, although not to
so great an extent. 1t was, however, highly
dangerous for poultry to show Itself in any
close proximity to the soldiers.


Upon our arrival at Yorktown | called up-
on General VanA lien, the military governor
! OF the place, who received me very kindly aud
courteously, and to him | am indebted for ia
| vors and attentions received. Since the occu-
! patton OF the place by the UniCn troops it has
been much improved ,and its general appearance
aud clean orderly conditions is highly credita.
| ble to him aud TO Captain Revere of the For
| ty-fourth regiment New York Volunteers, the
! Provost Marshal When we first took posses
| sion of the place, it was in very filthy condl-
tlon. Under the direction of Captain Revere
it has been thoroughly cleaned aud very
large quantity OF fifth, offal and decaying car
CaSScs Of animals have beer removed and bur-


led. The main street has been filled in and
raised two feet, aud everything possible has
been done TO make the vllag a healthy and
respectable place of residence The earth
works and entertainments built by both our
| own aud the rebel troops remain intact, and
by their extent and massiyeness show with
what perseverance and energy both parties con-
tended iOr the possession OF the locality The
first building erected in Yorktown for twenty
seven years Is row Of five one story wooden
building, built under Captain Revere's direc
tion Tor the use of officers, &c, connected with
headquarters. The place is fully prepared for
defence against any attack which might be
made upon it by the rebels who cannot safely
or successfully venture upon any operation of
that nature. A single gunboat would CON-
mand Gloucester Point opposite, and prevent
the erection of batteries there; and any hostile
demonstrations from the land side must result
in speedy repulse of any force which might
be brought down for that purpose


Upon the paiu outside of the rebel works.
quite an extensive burying ground has been
laid out, which already contains about three
hundred graves mostly of onr soldiers who
have been buried there When the army ad-