The Federal on the Peninsula — an advance.
The Federal force on the
Peninsula made an advance yesterday and the night before.
They now occupy the
Cross Roads, in
New Kent county, about 5 miles from Bottom's Bridge, and 18 miles from
Richmond.
The reports received yesterday evening by the
York river train state that on Tuesday night a force commenced moving from the
White House towards the
Cross Roads, and that yesterday morning more troops followed.
Gen. Dix had arrived at the
White House and taken command of the whole army.
Gens. Keyes and
Gordon were at the
Cross Roads.
The Federal have been reinforcing at the
White House during the past three days, and it is stated that among the reinforcements was
Gen. Peck's command from
Suffolk.
Tois is, doubtless, true, as the
Yankees have been fortifying around
Norfolk some time, preparatory to falling back there from
Suffolk, and on Thursday last all the "contra bands" at
Suffolk were sent down to
Norfolk.
It is very doubtful whether there is a regiment of Yankees now in town.
A gentleman who lives near
Williamsburg states positively that not more than 10,000 troops went from
Yorktown by land up the
Peninsula.
Of course he does not know how many went by way of
York river to the
White House.
The
Yankees still hold the
White House, or did yesterday afternoon, probably to make it a point to fall back on in case of a disaster to their arms, which, it appears, they think probable — we know to be certain.
Yesterday morning some of
Col. Shingler's men went in the rear of their pickets at
Tunstall's and captured a Lieutenant and private; but both of the captives were too drunk to answer any questions intelligibly.
It is hardly probable that the
Yankees would have left
Suffolk in a comparatively defenceless situation merely to make a grand march around
Richmond to
Aquia Creek, or upon
Gordonsville, nor did they need so large a force as they have collected to make a feint on
Richmond — a feat they might have accomplished with much fewer men. It is most likely that they really contemplate an "On to
Richmond," which will end even more disastrously than the nine marches they have heretofore made upon the city.
