Thursday, March 18, 2010

Shelling of Yorktown

BEFORE YORKTOWN, April 25.

The principal event yesterday worth mentioning was the shelling of Yorktown, by one of our gunboats. She moved up to the mouth of Wormley Creek during the morning, opening a well directed fire on their works, which was promptly answered by the rebels. The boat then fell back a distance of three miles from Yorktown, when she again opened fire, the shells exploding each time within the enemy’s works, but obtained no response. A few shells were fired during the day along the whole line to keep the rebels from strengthening their works. No one was injured.

It is raining again to-day, but the indications are, that it will soon clear up.

The object of the flag of truce sent to the enemy’s line on Tuesday by order of Gen. McClellan, was to effect the exchange of four rebel prisoners for a similar number of our wounded on their hands, in order that they might be better cared for. The answer showed they were not disposed to grant the request, but the wounded had not been sent to Richmond.

Capt. W. M. Bartell, Acting Lieut. Col. of the 20th Massachusetts regiment was shot before Yorktown on Wednesday and has had his left leg amputated. He is doing well.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 28, 1862, p. 1

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