Baltimore, April 11. – The Old Point boat has arrived. The following are the main part of a letter from the American’s correspondent.
Fortress Monroe, April 10. – The Storm is at last over. Nothing has been heard or seen of the Merrimac to-day, and in view of the recent reverses of the rebels it is doubtful whether they will attempt offensive operations even with their iron-plated monster. Their desperate strait my induce an attempt at something in this way. If she ever does come she will probably come to-morrow.
Parties who have come in from the army report no special change in affairs. A continual skirmishing is going on and a brilliant affair occurred on Monday in which Griffin’s battery participated with marked effect, killing and wounding 27 rebels.
The rebel position extends across the peninsula from Yorktown to Warrenton near the James river a short distance above Mulberry Point. The conformation of the land and the making in of the creek from James river shortens their line of defense and enables them to command with their fortifications all the roads up the Peninsula.
Gens. Lee and Johnson [sic] are both reported to be with the rebel force here, one commanding at Yorktown and the other at Warrington, Magruder holding a subordinate command is with the reserve at Wallenberg.
According to reports of deserters, the rebel force numbers about fifty thousand, of whom thirty thousand are reinforcements received by or drawn from the line of the Rappahannock and about Norfolk.
Despite the weather and bad roads our Generals are pushing forward preparations for the assault upon the enemy’s works, and not many days will elapse before Yorktown will be ours, and Richmond threatened.
The glorious news from the West is acting as an example for our army, and greatly encourages the troops.
Berden’s [sic] sharp shooters give good accounts of themselves. They hold an advanced position under the rebel batteries, from which they constantly practice on the enemy, and a head above the parapet becomes an instant mark for half a dozen rifles, which at the length of a thousand yards distance rarely fail to hit their mark. One sharp shooter belonging to the California regiment has almost wholly prevented the rebs from using a large gun in an important position – from a well selected rifle pit he keeps a constant aim upon the gun, and hardly an attempt has been made for two days to fire it without the rebels losing one or two men from his deadly aim.
It is said one of our divisions has secured an important position, the holding of which will lead the eventual forcing of the rebel line of defense.
Much important preliminary work has been perfected by our troops, and with the return of good weather active operations will not be postponed many days.
The task before McClellan in reducing fortified entrenchments is one for which he is held specially qualified, and the result is not doubted.
– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, April 12, 1862
Fortress Monroe, April 10. – The Storm is at last over. Nothing has been heard or seen of the Merrimac to-day, and in view of the recent reverses of the rebels it is doubtful whether they will attempt offensive operations even with their iron-plated monster. Their desperate strait my induce an attempt at something in this way. If she ever does come she will probably come to-morrow.
Parties who have come in from the army report no special change in affairs. A continual skirmishing is going on and a brilliant affair occurred on Monday in which Griffin’s battery participated with marked effect, killing and wounding 27 rebels.
The rebel position extends across the peninsula from Yorktown to Warrenton near the James river a short distance above Mulberry Point. The conformation of the land and the making in of the creek from James river shortens their line of defense and enables them to command with their fortifications all the roads up the Peninsula.
Gens. Lee and Johnson [sic] are both reported to be with the rebel force here, one commanding at Yorktown and the other at Warrington, Magruder holding a subordinate command is with the reserve at Wallenberg.
According to reports of deserters, the rebel force numbers about fifty thousand, of whom thirty thousand are reinforcements received by or drawn from the line of the Rappahannock and about Norfolk.
Despite the weather and bad roads our Generals are pushing forward preparations for the assault upon the enemy’s works, and not many days will elapse before Yorktown will be ours, and Richmond threatened.
The glorious news from the West is acting as an example for our army, and greatly encourages the troops.
Berden’s [sic] sharp shooters give good accounts of themselves. They hold an advanced position under the rebel batteries, from which they constantly practice on the enemy, and a head above the parapet becomes an instant mark for half a dozen rifles, which at the length of a thousand yards distance rarely fail to hit their mark. One sharp shooter belonging to the California regiment has almost wholly prevented the rebs from using a large gun in an important position – from a well selected rifle pit he keeps a constant aim upon the gun, and hardly an attempt has been made for two days to fire it without the rebels losing one or two men from his deadly aim.
It is said one of our divisions has secured an important position, the holding of which will lead the eventual forcing of the rebel line of defense.
Much important preliminary work has been perfected by our troops, and with the return of good weather active operations will not be postponed many days.
The task before McClellan in reducing fortified entrenchments is one for which he is held specially qualified, and the result is not doubted.
– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, April 12, 1862
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