. _ . . • - r - , . - .1 , „- • , -, .... , , . ..; - . . . , . .., ~ t . , . . t • , 11 ..., . .. . _. , . .. ... - .... •is . S) -- r ir' ill ... . , . . , . . C - I SAMUEL WEIGHT, Editor and Proprietor. VOLUME XXXIII, NUMBER 38.1 WAR NEWS. THE SIEGE OF VORKTOWt POSITION OF TOE FORCES. STRENGTH OF THE REBELS .SCENES AND INCIDENTS. (Special Correspondence of N.Y. Evening Posq IN CAxr NEAR YORKTOWN, VA., April 7, '62. My letter of yesterday gave an account of our advance to this point, a mile and a half from Yorktown. The position occupied by our forces is also a mile and a half from York river, to which stream our pickets ex tend. A few Federal gunboats were in sight on the river this morning, but the heavy 32-pounders of the Rebels aro rather ,too formidable for them as yet. Our siege guns are . now coming in , but the bad condi tion of the roads retards the movements of artillery. E= Our troops were busily occupied last night in throwing up earthworks for the protec tion of our storming parties, and while so engaged had a sharp encounter with a corn ',pony of Rebel infantry which had been sent out to see what we were doing. Our boys were ready for the enemy, and met them with a sharp volley, which hurried them back to their lines at the "double quick." THE POSITION' Our camps lie just hack of the forest, which hides us imperfectly from the,pbser vation of tho enemy. The lines are near .together that the Rebel shells often fall -among our tents. Our upper battery is situated in an opening in the woods, and is plainly in sight of the Rebel works; so near them, in fact, that the shells tear up the ground and have killed our horses at a mur derous rate. Two of our men in this battery have been killed, and three wounded. The whole number of troops killed in the skirmish of Saturday was five, and fifteen were wounded The affair on that day, however, was intended merely as a recon noissance for the purpose of drawing the enemy's fire and getting an idea of his strength and and position. It is bqlieved that the Rebels suffered more severely than our forces, for the Berdan Sharpshooters do dreadful work at a range which the Rebels cannot reach. They picked off four Rebel gunners on the earthworks at one concerted fire. General McClellan pasSed the whole of yesterday in the advanced camp, and it was supposed that his presence indicated an im mediate attack upon the enemy; but to-day there aro no signs of action, and the Rebels aro as silent as mice. What the real plan of attack is I am not permitted to state, but it is believed in camp that we are to get to the rear of the enemy, and, by cutting off his retreat, prevent hie escape or the removal of any of the guns. Of course, nothing of a definite nature is know in regard to intended movements, and we must wait with patience till the blow is struck. GENERAL, P(TZ•JOUN PORTER General Porter is in command of the ad vance guard of the army, and has the whole direction of affairs. General McClellan has his headquarters three miles in our rear, and Gen. Sedgwick is with him in command of the reserves. Geo. Porter, who has the keenness of a hawk, is never at rest. Ile trusts nobody's eyes or impressions but his own, and exposes himself in the most dan gerous places while superintending the prep arations far the siege. While reconnoiter ing the Rebel works a cannon shot killed the horse of ono of his aids, and more than one shell has buret before, over or behind him. • He was three times up in a balloon yesterday, once from a point near York river, carefully reconnoitering the position of the Rebels. General 'McClellan made his whole sojourn in camp with Gen. Porter, and has confided to him the execution of his plans. I:=3 Not the least remarkable among the inci dents of the siege ie the stirring notes of the military bands. In the soft twilight of these lovely spring days, the bands of the Rebel regiments saucily play the air of "Dixie," and the lines are so close together that the music is distinctly heard in our camp, while we send back the glorious strains of the "Star Spangled Banner," and drown the ,cheers of the enemy with shouts that find a ringing echo in the woods. Our troops are eager to set upon the enemy, and are full of Confidence and enthusiasm. TES REBEL FORCE As nearly as we can ascertain, the force Pc the enemy around Yorktown is from thir ty to thirty.five thousand men. Of this number five or six thousand are stationed in the earthworks directly in front of our lines, and the remainder are scattered over a space of six miles in and around the city. NARROW Escsrzs. Happening to be in possession of a good spy-glass, I mounted a fence beside one of our batteries during the little engagement of Ss turday, and observed the style of firing from the Rebel works; calling out to some of our gunners when a shell exploded short or beyond our pOsition; but while engaged in ' that interesting pursuit had a lively antes, of the eccentric movements of those 'niggler of war, a shell struck the rail on whichlstood. broke it and knocked me over, but did no other damage. From one o'clock to three on Saturday I stood so near nur batteries as to be able to assist in carrying away the bcdies of two of our men who were killed by the fire of the enemy, and of one who was wounded at a gun while engaged in loading it. Another ball killed two horses, and another broke a spoke in a wheel, and still another went under the root of a tree within ten feet of me. This was rather warm work, and in company with the surgeon (who was too useful a moo to be put in such imminent risk) I instantly made a retreat to the shel ter of a large pine tree, which was imme diately struck and barked by a Rebel shell, at the distance of some ten feet above our heads. The scene now became intensely exciting, Give 'em shouted Captain Griffin, "and you, reporter! just shout 'down!' when you see a smoke; and then, lcoys, down on your marrow bones!" This fun was rather too funny, but the way the dirt flew and the shells burst in the Rebel works and bar racks, showed that our guns did good ser vice in return for the bard knocks the enemy had given us. There is a great deal of con solation to be derived in such circumstancs from the reflection that "it is but one ball in five hundred that ever kills"—but, for all that, the sensation is not what you might call absolutely agreeable. While I sit here writing, tlieFe is an occasional shot, but all is "quiet with the army of the Potomac." TAE CDIINTILY AND TDB PEOPLE. The country hereabouts is almost a level plain, skirted by heavy forests, but sparsely inhabited. It produces large quantities of corn and wheat, some tobacco, and an abun dance of peaches, but other fruits are scarce. The wood is chiefly bard pine, and a large proportion of the forest is swampy, but when cleared up and drained the land dries and makes an excellent wheat region. The people are mostly large landowners, and apparently wealthy, possessing fine mansions and beautiful sites and grounds. On the James river the dwellings have been burned for a distance of several miles; but on the York river, and in the immediate vi cinity of our camp, they are still standing, hastily forsaken by their owners, without an attempt to remove any other property than private papers. In many instances an abundance of provisions and live stock have been found upon these deserted premises.— Occasionally a negro is left behind, and still more rarely a few whites of the poorer class es. These latter are all arrant Secession ists. NORWAY. BERDAN'S SIIARPSIIOOTERS. Some of the correspondents give lively sketches of the operations of our army before Yorktown. One correspondent tells how the affair was opened: The action commenced at 9 A. M., under General Porter, who had the command of the right wing. First of all Col. Berdan's Sharpshooters, belonging to the division, advanced as skirmishers, to clear the woods and reconnoitre, the troops supporting them. These deployed to the right and left, plung ing in the bushes and availing themselves of any stone, tree or log that might afford shel ter. Companies A and G were on the ex treme right, before the Fifth Massachu setts Battery; Companies C and, B, and part of F, distributed along the fence on the left; Companies 3 and II acted as n reserve. Over three-quarters of a mile was thus entirely covered by Sharpshooters. But for their admirable pluck, skill and adroitness, our troops would have been exposed to a mur derous fire from every tree and thicket in front of the Rebel entrenchments. Col. 11. Berdan and Dr. Snelling (Sur geon of the Regiment, now deservedly pro moted to the Brigade Surgeonship), followed by three orderlies, had ridden to the hori zontal belt of woods exhibited in the map, when the first Rebel shot came whizzing over their heads, another compelled them to seek cover in the bushes. There they re mained until the men were fairly deployed, the shot and shell playing fast and furiously about them; the sharpshooters lying on their stomachs and progressing reptile fash ion to every favorable point for assailing the enemy. Twenty minutes subsequent, he Fifth Massachusetts, under Capt. Allen, came up, and turning to the right went to work vigorously on the battery fronting them. The ambulances, meantime, under cover of the woods, awaited their ghastly freight, and did not wait long. The shelling of the Rebel battery on the right continued three-quarters of en hour, when another opened' upon - us, and from thenceforth a continuous. fire was kept up - all along the line, the enemy - in hire& pits and from behind his entrenchments endeav oring to pick off our men, who returned the compliment under cover of the woods. At first the Rebels were very daring, springing on their ramparts and cheering, but the deadly results of this braggadocio speedily taught them caution. Our men could see them fall; could perceive their comrades catching them or pulling them down from behind. The first Rebel killed, conspicuous from his white shirt, fell while hurrahing and waving his bat upon the breast-works. Re was picked off by Tru man, &sharpshooter of eleven years' experi ence in the Rocky Mountains. So terrible a fire did Berdan's men keep up that the Rebels found it next to impossible to load and man' a gun. They put up planks and endeavored' to offect it under their shelter, and actually diarnOunted a piece, brought it around the palmlike', and Sent its Contents scattering through - the 'peach orchard with ':NO ENTERTAINMENT'S SO CHEAP AS READING, NOR ANY PLEASURE SO LASTING." COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL 19, 1862. such savage haste that that they did not wait to remove the hammer. Still they could not dislodge the human hornets crouch ing within its friendly shelter. Ping! ping! ping! spit! spit! patter! patter! went the rifle bullets, and booml sounded the artil lery, cutting and crashing through the trunks and branches. Captain Berdan esti mates that at least 150 cannon balls tore through the peach orchard during the day's fight. One shell esplided in the upper chamber of a house at the right, near Bor den's reserve. These brave fellows, by the way, 150 yards in the rear, were at one period subject to a cross fire, in which one man was killed, and the rest, amid a storm of shot and shell, obliged to shift their posi tion, I am informed by Lieutenant Win throp )brother to the Major of that name, killed at Great Bethel), that the dead man, Phelps, was a model soldier; also, that he espressed a presentiment of his pending fate. At 4/ o'clock, P. M., the Stars and bars were still flying over the Rebel entrench ments. At dusk the band struck up "Dixie," and then played the "Marseillaise," while their men gave three cheers, followed by the. discharge of three pieces of artillery.— After that, the night was only broken occa sionally by stray picket firing and the dis tant boom of cannon, away to the left in the direction of General Keyes' corps d'armee. General Keyes' Division A correspondent of the New York Tribune gives the following interesting account of the operations of General Keyes' Division before the enemy's works, on our left wing, to wards the James river: LEE'S MILLS. VIRGINIA. Sunday, April 6,1862. 1 The results of the day's operations, in themselves, are not important. But when we infer from them, as we are compelled to do, that the position of the enemy, which we now confront, as to strength, is ono of the first magnitude; that the works before which the Union forces now lie form a link in the chain of fortifications stretching across the Peninsula, nt the narrowest place between York to James river, their left resting on Yorktown; that this line, besides being one of great strategic importance to the enemy, is in its topography one of remarkable strength; that the labor of thousands of men directed by first-class engineering skill, for nearly a year, has been devoted to making it stronger; I say, viewing the results of the operations of the day as establishing these stern realities, they cannot be said to he otherwise than very important. At the earliest stages of the war this line —the strategic line, was seized on by the Rebels, because it stretched across the most natural route to Richmond, its ends resting on the two principal rivers navigable almost to the centre of the State of Virginia- The distance from York to James river here is between seven and eight miles. The sur face of the country, though generally very level, at quite regular intervals is broken by deep ravines, through which, flow sluggish and insignificant streams, widening fre quently into deep and impenetrable marshes. A neck of land with these characteristics is susceptible into highest degree of military defence. The Peninsula itself is largely covered by the forest, generally pine, with here and there the oak, the elm, and other heavy timber. More than one half of the distance—twenty odd miles—our forces have marched, since they left Hampton, has been through this forest, the exceptions being patches of farm land, many of them cleared by the earliest settlers of the Virginia Colony anti, I presume in no instance as lately as forty years ago. These routes necessarily converge as the peninsula narrows, and, as if to leave little to engineering skill to render the line ono of vast strength in a military sense, nature has given to it the topographical eharacterics to which I have alluded. The army of the Po tomac having chosen this route to go to Rich mond, halts in three columns before the works which the enemy have constructed on this narrow line. As it is the progress of the corps d'armee commanded by General Keyes I am to narrate, I will confine myself to that column. Its route lies nearest to James river. Young's Mills, which was evacuated as we approached, is a position which the enemy evidently intended to hold —at any rote, at which to make a stand fur a time—a position where five thousand men might have made work for four times their number. But, instead of defending this po sition the enemy fell back half a dozen miles to the much stronger one at Lee's Mills, on Warwick river, which the Union forces reached yesterday morning, and which it is very evident they intend to defend resolutely with a large force, which has been aug mented since our arrival. The position is about two miles from James river, and about six miles from York town, and somewhat lower down on the Pea! insults than the latter place. Warwick river deep and narrow, makes up from James river, its head being further toward the Pen insula—a lagoon, rather, with bold banks in spots; for the rest, swamps. According to present information, the enemy have here two works or forts, beside extensive rifle pits, stockade and other devices, all on the west or upper side of the stream and ravine. In the rear is a wood, in the front an open space of from twelve to fifteen hundred yards on the sides woods, thickly studded with undergrowth. On the enemy's right and our left the ravine broadens, and into a marsh, with transverse gullies. The stream having been dammed originally for mechan ical purposes, this feature has been improved upon for the purpose of military defence, so that the water sets back a considerable dis tance on the enemy's left, rendering a flank movement in that direction extremely diffi cult, if not impossible. When Gen. Smith's Division came up to this position yesterday morning, and on its general features being ascertained, General Keyes caused Gen. Couch, with his division, to move nearer James river, with the view of coming upon the enemy's right. Early in the day the skirmishing in the woods on our right, in which whole regi ments of General Couch's Division were at times engaged, was resumed. The purpose of the enemy to get in on our right was so apparent that this became a point of consid. erable interest and some solicitude. Instead of making any progress the enemy were rather driven back, at least compelled to re. main on their side of the river. At times the Rebel forts opened quite briskly on our artillery, which as yet had not been regu larly placed in position. Some half dozen pieces replied by planting a number of shells finely on the face of the Rebels' works and in the forts. Oae of the enemy's shells —a 10-pound Parrott—struck a timber of Captain Wheeler's Battery, nearly demolish ishing a wheel and setting fire to the ammu nition-box, in which there were twenty shells, three of which exploded. At the risk of being blown to atoms, two men rushed for ward and put out the fire, an act of real heroism worthy of praise. Etity in the day General Keyes started on a reconnoissance on our left, and General Hancock, with a considerable force, on oar right. General Keyes traced the line of the enemy's works to James river, and General Hancock fol lowed the line to the centre of the Peninsula. Though not a great deal was done to-day by way of systematic fighting, a vast deal of other work was done. Our men on the left captured several prisoners, who confirm previous information, obtained by reconnois sance, concerning the Rebel line of defence, with the additional that the enemy are be ing reinforced continually from the James river and Norfolk, and that they have a triple line of works, which will be defended to the last. General McClaus is said to be in command nt Lee's Mills, r and General Magruder at Yorktown. As yet the enemy hnve only opened but four guns of light calibre—rifled Parrots, it is thought. The presumption, however, is that they have heavier ones in position.— Even though they have no heavy guns, the case is not materially different, since the works find their great strength in the ex traordinary features of the country and their peculiar position. The state of things presented to our Gen erals requires great prudence, a perfect knowledge of everything that relates to the position and strength of the enemy, and time for consultation and deliberation. The enemy's works being an extended line, or a series of hues, a variety of movements and operations, or a series of combined operations, may be thought necessary: The plan, whatever it is, when concluded upon, wilt be vigorously, and, I doubt not, success fully prosecuted. April 7, A.M.—Last night Captain Ayers, Chief of Artillery of Gen. Smith's Division, directed earthworks for the protection of artillery to be thrown up, which was done under the immediate superintendence of Ad jutant Kerusow, whose capacity and zeal have given him a high standing in the esti mation of the best commanders. The posi tion selected advances our pieces to within about 100 yards of the main redoubt of the enmey. While engaged in the work the Reb els fired several cannon-shots, which, though exploding very near, the Vermonters never flinched or for a moment paused, but kept at work through the night. About 9 o'clock this morning General McClellan and staff; with a squadron of cav alry reached Gen. Keyes' headquarters at Warwick Court Douse, about a mile and a half of the front line, where Gen. Smith has his headquarters under a tree. Remaining half and hour in confereocce with Gen. Keyes, Gen. McClellan rode to the front, and hastily inspected the enemy's works and our own position, and returned to the headquarters of Gen. Keyes. The day is rainy and cold, and operations aro entirely suspended. FROM NEW MADRID. Official Report of ffeaeral Pope. FRUIT'S OF THE VICTORY. The Capture of the Army of General lacks& FIIIITEEM PARTICVLAPAIA FEMALE CAMP--. 2113 110313ARD117.5T2; GEN. POPE'S OFFICIAL REPORT. EXPEDITIONAILY FORM, 1 limo MADRID, Mo., April 9 1862. Major General H. W. Hafleck: The canal across the peninsula opposite Island No 10—and for the idea of which I am indebted to General Schuyler Hamilton —was completed by Colonel Bissell's Engi neer Regiment, and four steamers were brought through on the night of the The heavy batteries I had thrown up below Tiptonville completely commanded the low estAloint of the high ground on the Tennes see shore, entirely cutting off the enemy's retreat by water, his retreat by land has never been possible through the swamp. On the night of the 4th Captain Walke, of the navy, ran the enemy's batteries at Is land No. 10 with the gun-boat Carondolet, and reported to me here. On the night of the 6th the gunboat Pittsburg also ran the blockade. Our transports were brought into the river from the bayou, where they had been kept concealed, at daylight, on the 7th, and Paine's Division loaded. The canal has been a prodigiously laborious work. It was twelve miles long, six miles of which were through heavy timber which had to be sawed off by hand four feet under water. The enemy had lined the opposite shore with batteries, extending from Island No. 10 to Tiptonville, Merri-weather Landing, to prevent the passage of the river by this army. I directed Captain Welke to run down with the two gunboats at daylight on the 7th to the point selected for crossing, anti silence the enemy's batteries near it. Ile performed the service gallantly, and I here bear testimony to the thorough and brilliant manner in which this officer discharged his difficult duties with me, and to the hearty and earnest zeal with which, at all hazards, he cooperated with me. As soon ns he signalled me, the boats con taining Paine's Division moved out from the landing and began to cross the river.— The passage of this wide, furious river by our large force was one of the most mag nificent spectacles I ever witnessed. By 12 o'clock that night, the 7th, all the forces de signed to cross the river were over, without delay or accident. As soon as we commenced to cross the enemy began to evacuate Island No. 10 and his batteries along the shore. The divis ions were Pushed forward to Tiptonville as fast as they lauded, Paine's leading. The enemy was driven before him, and, although they made several attempts to form in line of battle and make a stand, Paine did not once deploy his columns—The enemy was pushed all night vigorously, until at 4 o'clock A. M. he was driven back upon the swamps and forced to surrender. Three Generals, seven Colonels, seven regiments, several battalions of infantry, five companies of artillery, over one hun dred heavy siege guns, twenty-four pieces of field artillery, an immense quantity of am• munition and supplies, several thousand stand of small arms, a great number of tents, horses, wagons, etc., etc., have fallen into our hands. Before abandoning Island No. 10, the enemy sank the gunboat Grampus and six of his transports. These last lam raising, and expect to have ready for servics in a few days. The famous floating battery was scuttled and turned adrift with all her guns aboard; she was captured and run aground in shoal water by our forces at New Madrid. Our success is complete and overwhel ming. Our troops, as I expected, behaved gloriously. I will in my full report endeavor to do full justice to all. Brigadier Generals Paine, Stanley and Hamilton crossed the river and conducted their divisions with un tiring activity and skill. I am especially indebted to them. General Paine, fortunate in having the advance, exhibited unusual vigor and courage, and had the satisfaction to receive the surrender of the enemy. Of Colonel Bissell, of the Engineer Regiment, I can hardly say to much. Full of resorces, untiring and determined, he labored night and day, and completed a work which will be a monument of enterprise and skill. We have crossed this great river with a large army, the banks of which were lined with batteries of the enemy to oppose our postage; have pursued and captured all his forces and material of war, and have not lost a man, nor met an accident. Jung Pont, Major Qeneral. Furman PA RTICULA RS. A. correspondent of the Chicago Times gives the following additional particulars of the capture of the Rebel army: THE CAr/TULATION The gunboats Pittsburg and Conestoga took position immediately below this point, to prevent transports from coming up, and General Paine seized the corduroy road.— They had no alternative but to surrender or fight, and they had no disposition for battle. They came in by squads diring the night, whole companies at a time, and laid down their arms without a word. They were broken up and divided during the retreat, and were so closely followed that they had no opportunity to unite for resistance, if they desired to do so, which seemed not to be the case. About two thousand came in in lie manner, and at 3 o'clock in the morn ing an unconditional surrender was sent in, giving up the remainder of the troops. At daybreak they were all marched in, and threw down their arms. Tiptonville pre sented a strange appearance, filled with the motley crowd of butternut-colored Secesb, lounging about with sullen looks and down cast faces, their arms stacked or strewed about in the mud, and their equipments de stroyed or thrown awy on the retreat. The line of the rout was a scene of confusion seldom witnessed. The ground was strewed with guns, knapsacks, clothing, wagons, cannon trucks, and every intinaginable arti cle of military use. Small parties of sol diers lingered everywhere, bidden in the 1 woods. and to drive them out a. line of sol diers was formed by General Pope, extend ing across the neck of land, which was four or five miles wide from the river to the lake 1 or swamps. This line advanced steadily up towards the Island. and.bunted out all of ' the miserable wretches into daylight, where they were captured. $1,50 PER YEAR MY ADVANCE; $2,00 IF NOT IN ADVANCE They were five thousand in number, in cluding officers, among whom there were four generals, viz: Gen blacken, Gen. Gantt, Gen. Walker, and Gea. Schaumm. Thae easily and harmlessly was this army of soldiers captured and imprisoned. Not a life was lost, not a wound was inflicted, but with so small a sacrifice as the labor of a forced march of a few hours the whole body was trapped and caged. They showed no disposition to fight, but came in and threw down their arms sullenly and des pondingly. They might have made a des perate resistance in the woods, but they were so closely followed that they had no means of forming into bodies of any consid erable number, and they were consequently powerless. They were well clothed, and, in the main, I well armed. Some were equipped with shot guns and rifles, but the majority had good arEns. - There were many fine Enfield rifles in their possession. Their artillery was all of good quality, and much of it of the largest size. This they brought away from the fortifications at No. 10, in the hope to save it. Every piece of cannon in their possession was captured. Some of them had been spiked, but none of them are per manently disabled. They gave up all hope I without demur, and indeed seemed glad to be rid of the weighty responsibility which ' rested upon them. They were disheartened I and discouraged. They had been taken by surprise, for they rested in confident security that we never could get boats to General Popo to enable him to cross. They knew of our efforts to do so, but the laughed at them and termed the scheme a 'Yankee folly.— When they saw them come out of the woods and land at New Madrid, they awoke to a sense of their position and took to their heels. The prisoners were surrounded by a strong guard, and kept at Tiptonvillo to await the arrival of transports. =I One of the features of the deserted Rebel camp was a peculiarity which we have not met with heretofore. On a beautiful bill, surrounded by pleasant groves, budding wild flowers, and the accompanying charms of a rural retreat, we found a bevy of nymphs encamped, and enjoying soldierly life in real earnest. There were twelvo or fifteen of them, of different ages, but all young and more or less fair to look upon.— They sat around the camp-fire and cooked their breakfast, a little dishevelled and rumpled as might, perhaps, be expected, in remembrance of the scenes of excitement they had passed through, but yet as much nt home as though they had campaigned it all their lives. There was a stray lock of hair hanging loosely here and there, an unlaced boddice granting chary glimpses of vast luxuriance of bust, a stocking down at the heel, or a garter with visible downward tendencies—all of which was attributable to our early visit. There were all the marks of femininity about the place. The embow ering trees were hung with hoop-skirts, pet ticoats, and flaunting articles which looked in the distance like abbreviated pantaloons. A. glance at the interior of their tents show ed magnificent disorder. Dimity and calico, silk, feathers, bed-clothes, and all the appur tenances of a female boudoir, were visible. ft was a rare arts its terra—a new bird in the woods. These femanine voyagers were real cam paigners. The chivalry of the South, ever solicitous for the sex, could not resist the inclination for its society, and hence the camp of nymphs by the river side, in the embowering shades, etc. I will not say much for their fair fame, or of the good name of the Confederate officers, whose baggage was mingled in admirable confusion with the rumpled dimity and calico, whose boots and spurs hung among the hoop-skirts and unmentionables, and whose old bate orna mented the tent-poles or decked the heads of the fair adveoturesses. It was a new feature in war. Ttf E 1103COARD31ENT The bombardment, which continued with greater . or less vigor during four weeks, may best be judged by its effects. A letter found on the floating battery stated that eleven mon were wounded daring the first day's bombardment, all of whom were in the up per battery, against which our entire force was directed. Nobody was killed. During the remaining bombardment of four weeks, with two mortars all the time, and four a portion of the time, and with the occasional assistance of the gunboats, nobody was killed nobody was wounded, nobody was bit.— There were some narrow escapes. Once, on the Island, a party of officers were at din ner. when a shell descended and passed through the table into the ground. They turned back-somersaults, and got out of the way, and, when the shell exploded, their re cent plaCe was occupied by a bole some twenty-five feet deep. Another shell struck the muzzle of a cannon and chipped off a piece so neatly that- it was effectually silenced. Another shell descended in the eight upon a spot of ground between three tants. It burrowed into the ground about ten feet and exploded, lifting their tents and contents into the air, and throwing them a considerable distance each way. much to the disturbance of their slumbers, but noth ing to their personal detriment. The Island was extensively cut up; trees were uprooted and a general upturning of things prevailed wherever there happened to be nobody to be hurt. This was the result of a four-week's mortar bombardment. On our side the same result prevailed, both here and with Gen. Pope. [WHOLE IVUMBR 1,652. REIM ` rmtscEs AND PROSPECTS; I There was great disaffection among the Rebel troops, and their officers stated openly that they could not have been depended Undo in the event of a battle. The Generals said that the men had received no pay for ; moiitbs and that, under the discoars,getnent ; of 're cent reverses, they are not so anzioca.,for war as in times gone by: - Orie'Or two' reAi meats were disbanded and sent home before the investment. The offiC'ers : and in want of necessaries. One writing home, tells his friends thatte, woah in ordinary times a hundred thousanddollais, has had no pay in six months, and is obliged to borrow money to buy the postage stamp on his letter. Another, writing to a ' , lady with vrbont he seems to be on intimate terms requests the loan of five dollars to pay inci dental expenses with. The burden of the soldiers' letters is want of useney, discour agement at the Confederate prospects; and a spirit of rebellion against the hardships and privations they are obliged to endure- None of them are sanguine for the future. Even the high officers despond, as well they may, for they are between two fires. They aro sent with small force and disaffected men to defend strategic points, and, when overpowered and driven out, they are ar rested and court martialed for not fighting. We learn from the Rebel officers here that lien. McCown, who was in command at New Madrid, is imprisoned at Corinth for evacu ating New Madrid, and that Pillow is in jail at Richmond on account of the Donelson surrender. El= Commodore Foote has in his possession two small mortars which were captured at the island. They are of five-inch bore and nbout fourteen inches in length. There is no date on them, but they are of English make and of the time of George the Second. They are extraordinary relics, and no doabt be preserved with care by the precept owner. Commodore Foote also has in his possession the signal book of the Confeder ate naval service, which will be of immense service to him in future. =PLOSION OF TUE ENEMY'S GUNS. Two of the seige guns on the island, both thirty-fours, burst, one on the 19th ult., and the other yesterday morning, without, how everwthey say, seriously injuring any of the men. • ' • THE SECESSION PRISONERS The prisoners on the island do not - exceed three hundred, nearly all of them artillerists and from Tennessee. They are comfortably but roughly clad, except the officers, who wear the usual gray uniform, trimmed with red. They are more intelligent than the average of the captives at Fort Donelson, and generally are good physical specimens of men. They say they have had enough to eat, but that not one of them has received, a dollar while in the Confederate service. COMPLAINTS OF TIMM LEADERS AU them complain bitterly of their officers. and declare they have been abused by them. Their commanders were changed everyliw days, and they were frequently ignoraut who was their leader. In two weeks Gen. John P. McCown, of Tennessee, Col. (acting as Brigadier), of Tennessee, Gen. Trudcan, of Louisiana, and Qen. Mackall, of Arkansas, wore at different times , in charge of the forces on and about the istaiid. The prisoners did not know theircompatriobi had abandoned their batteries on shore for several hours after their departure. =I The privates, without exception, so..fur as I could loam, were very glad of the result, and volunteered the opinions that they were disgusted with their leaders and the tsar; that the cause of the Confederacy was hope less, and the rebellion was effectually broken. Many of them said they bad gone into the war under erroneous impressions; otheribsid been forced Into the service, and others bad been driven into it by the prejudice Ur pUb lie opinion 'in the South. They generally stated they would have no further oonnee tion with the strife, and that they ;Were will• ing to cake the oath of allegiance, hoping to woke some amends in the future for the er rors they bad committed in the past. orisioNs or THE OFFICERS. The officers were nearly all quite young men, from 23 to 35 years old, and though they acknowledged they had been deceived in the character and temper of the North, they assumed to be attached to the Confed eracy, and determined to fight for it as long ns their homes were invaded; but that, if the North would withdraw its armies *wiz t he South, they would gladly return to pa cific avocations, with considerable more of such erete twaddle. They were intelligent end well educated, but hardly any of them had any military experience before the mei ent war. The highest officer was Captain W. Y. C. homes, of Memphis. the only person of the same rank except two in the entire number. Your correspondent bad long conversations with the officers, and they appear quite rea -1 *enable, saying they were, they thought, fighting fur their rights; bet, if "oonvitircod otherwise, they would adiocate the 'Cala, Most of them inaisted that they would .nos take the oath of allegiance. at least "natter the present condition of the war; but if they saw no hope of establishing the indepen deuce of the Confederacy they would be 'Compelled to return to their loyalty.. Two or three of. the Rebel offuters.,sx• pressed their gratification at that result of, affairs. If they had refrained' fronaltiti.64 personal co-operation its . .the. struggle, they
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