THE REBEL REAR GUARD AGAIN OVERTAKEN AND DEFEATED.
They cross the Chickahominy and burn the Bridges.
BALTIMORE, May 8. – The following dated Yorktown, May 7, at 12 o’clock, is taken from the correspondence of the American of this city:
As I close my letter, the latest intelligence received from the field of battle is that General McClellan has come up with the enemy, about 8 miles beyond Williamsburgh, and after a pretty severe skirmish with his rear, had again put him to flight across the Chickahominy.
A large additional number of prisoners have been taken, including many deserters, who report that they have had nothing to eat but a few hard biscuit[s], for nearly 48 hours, and when brought in fell down in a fit of exhaustion.
Heavy cannonading could be heard by the boats coming down the river, at an early hour this morning. Nothing as to the result is yet ascertained.
There is no doubt but that the whole army of Lee, Johnson and Magruder, are in a state of utter disorganization, and under the rapid pursuit of General McClellan are fleeing with great precipitation, without the intention of making a stand any where, and unless they reach Richmond in boats, by way of James River, they will certainly be intercepted and captured by the forces landing and landed, at West Point. Not less than fifty steamers are engaged transporting the balance of the army to West Point. A large number of prisoners are arriving there, and others are constantly being brought in.
On Monday the enemy took about 80 of our men prisoners and captured one of the Pennsylvania batteries, having first killed all the horses, they having but a small support of infantry were overwhelmed by a superior force ,and compelled to abandon their guns, but before the close of the day, this battery with one of the enemy’s, was recaptured by Gen. McClellan, and the prisoners they had taken, were found in Williamsburgh next day, engaged in attending on the wounded the enemy had left behind. The retreat of the enemy was accompanied by too much confusion and haste to be troubled with prisoners.
LATEST. – I have just learned that the enemy have destroyed all the bridges across the Chickahominy, and that Gen. McClellan is resting his army on this side. It will be remembered that the Chickahominy runs parallel with the James river, into which it empties.
It is the general impression the Gen. McClellan has now got the enemy just where he wants them.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 10, 1862, p. 3
They cross the Chickahominy and burn the Bridges.
BALTIMORE, May 8. – The following dated Yorktown, May 7, at 12 o’clock, is taken from the correspondence of the American of this city:
As I close my letter, the latest intelligence received from the field of battle is that General McClellan has come up with the enemy, about 8 miles beyond Williamsburgh, and after a pretty severe skirmish with his rear, had again put him to flight across the Chickahominy.
A large additional number of prisoners have been taken, including many deserters, who report that they have had nothing to eat but a few hard biscuit[s], for nearly 48 hours, and when brought in fell down in a fit of exhaustion.
Heavy cannonading could be heard by the boats coming down the river, at an early hour this morning. Nothing as to the result is yet ascertained.
There is no doubt but that the whole army of Lee, Johnson and Magruder, are in a state of utter disorganization, and under the rapid pursuit of General McClellan are fleeing with great precipitation, without the intention of making a stand any where, and unless they reach Richmond in boats, by way of James River, they will certainly be intercepted and captured by the forces landing and landed, at West Point. Not less than fifty steamers are engaged transporting the balance of the army to West Point. A large number of prisoners are arriving there, and others are constantly being brought in.
On Monday the enemy took about 80 of our men prisoners and captured one of the Pennsylvania batteries, having first killed all the horses, they having but a small support of infantry were overwhelmed by a superior force ,and compelled to abandon their guns, but before the close of the day, this battery with one of the enemy’s, was recaptured by Gen. McClellan, and the prisoners they had taken, were found in Williamsburgh next day, engaged in attending on the wounded the enemy had left behind. The retreat of the enemy was accompanied by too much confusion and haste to be troubled with prisoners.
LATEST. – I have just learned that the enemy have destroyed all the bridges across the Chickahominy, and that Gen. McClellan is resting his army on this side. It will be remembered that the Chickahominy runs parallel with the James river, into which it empties.
It is the general impression the Gen. McClellan has now got the enemy just where he wants them.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 10, 1862, p. 3
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