The campaign in Virginia.
latest Federal accounts.
Through the kindness of a friend, we were yesterday placed in possession of Northern papers as late as Saturday last, the 24th inst. The war news is chiefly devoted to glaring accounts of the campaign in Virginia, which now almost wholly absorbs the attention of the Yankees, the accounts from other divisions being comparatively vague and obscure.
The New York Herald publishes a list of the killed, wounded and missing in the battle of Williamsburg, which occupies more than six columns of solid type, and foots up as follows:
| K'ed. | W'ded. | Misb'g. | Agg. | |
| Gen. Kearney's div'n. | 87 | 314 | 17 | 4.8 |
| Gen. Hooker's div'n | 340 | 917 | 317 | 1,674 |
| Gen. Couch's div'n | 19 | 85 | 24 | 128 |
| Gen. Hancock's brig'd | 9 | 95 | 80 | 184 |
| Total | 455 | 1,411 | 388 | 2,254 |
News from the Peninsula — advance of the "grand army."
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the Northern press telegraphs the following under date of May 22. Some of the statements will amuse our readers: ‘ The steamer from White House this afternoon brings a number of passengers from the headquarters of General McClellan's army, which were in proximity to Bottom's Bridge, over which a portion of the army has already passed, the second division having crossed the Chickahominy at New Bridge, about seven miles further up, and within eight miles of Richmond. It was rumored that a proposition for an armistice for ten days had been made by the rebels; but of course no such idea could be entertained. The advance of our army was understood to be within five miles of the city, to which point the enemy has fallen back, with but a slight movement to check our onward movement — The advance by the way of New Bridge enters the city on the north side. The tug Dragon, from the James river this morning, brings down two very intelligent citizens from Petersburg, who fled from that city yesterday to avoid the press gang under the conscription act. In view of the important information which they bring, it would not be proper to make their names public.--Having been brought to Com. Goldsborough, they were immediately sent to Gen. Wool, and will leave this morning for Gen. McClellan's headquarters, for whom they have some information which they have not yet made public. They represent the condition of affairs at Petersburg and the surrounding country as of a most deplorable character. The sufferings of the people are almost beyond endurance. The scarcity of provisions was so great that everything was seized for the army, and even the soldiers have been on half rations for a week past, with no prospect of even this supply continuing for any great length of time. The rebel army, or at least a great portion of it, they represent as demoralized and dispirited to such an extent that it is only held together by the most rigorous appliance of military law. Still the work of conscription was progressing, and the roads to Richmond were thronged with unarmed men, old and young, being driven along under strongly armed guards. They represent that no people in modern times have suffered more than the people of Virginia are now suffering, every household being in mourning, with the prospect of an approaching famine. They also state that General Beauregard arrived at Richmond on Tuesday. On being questioned as to their authority for this statement, they say that it was so announced and understood at Petersburg on Wednesday morning, no one doubting the fact. Jeff. Davis and the military authorities had declared their intention to fight to the death before Richmond, but strong suspicious were entertained that it was really their purpose to abandon the city after a short defence at the works surrounding it. Large numbers of women and children from Richmond had arrived at Petersburg, who represented the distress prevailing in the city as beyond description. Threats were made by the soldiers from the Gulf States that, if they had to leave Richmond, they would lay it in ashes before doing so. Great fears were entertained that their threat would be carried in to effect. It would require the greatest efforts on the part of the citizens to prevent such a catastrophe. The number of troops at Richmond and in the vicinity was generally believed to be fully two hundred thousand, including the unarmed and poorly armed of the recent levies, who were having pikes put into their hands for active service. Deserters from Fort Da ing report that the infantry force in the vicinity of the work is nearly thirty thousand men. ’ Washington, May 23.--The latest advices from the Army of the Potomac state that Gen. McClellan had crossed the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge, and that his headquarters are near New Bridge. Preparations for an attack are being made.Movements of M'Clellan's army.
We make some extracts from the correspondence of the New York Herald: Camp Fifteen Milks From Richmond, May 19, 1862.
Colonel Russell, of Massachusetts, yesterday reconnoitered towards the railroad bridge on the Chickahominy with one company, and established satisfactorily that about one hundred feet of that structure had been burned, and that the remainder — between five and six hundred feet--was in good condition.
He was fired upon by the enemy's skirmishers, on the other side of the stream, and had one man wounded.
At daylight this morning Major Harlow and Captain Holman, of the same regiment, went to Bottom's Bridge, and found it brown up.
We are therefore within twelve miles of Richmond with an army of old soldiers for old soldiers our men now are. They have acquired, in the few past months of activity, the habits of soldier life more than would seem possible.
They can and do make themselves comfortable under almost any circumstances, and they stand fire like salamanders.
More are ill than ought to be, than need to be, or than would be, if the medical administration of the army kept pace with the other departments.
Those who are simply unwell, unfitted by some trivial derangement for a day's march, are now lost to the army; for they must be sent back long distances to permanent hospitals, or to cities, and in many cases are well before they reach their destination.
Then they are sent on after their regiments, and swell the army of stragglers that now follows the Army of the Potomac all along its line of march.
We pass comfortable and abandoned house everywhere.
Less than twelve yards from where I slept last night — a damp night, with dew heavy as rain.--there lay a soldier on the ground, nearly dead with typhoid fever.
There was a pleasant and comfortable house with fire-places within pistol shut.
This pretentious respect for the rights of the inhabitants is a cruel and criminal farce.
‘"Contraband"’ intelligence represents that there is but a small force of rebels all the Chickahominy; that they have some artillery, but that Richmond itself is all for cations.
Tunstall's station, may 20, 1862.
The order comes to night for our corps to march in the morning. In conjunction with other troops we are to push further toward Richmond. Whether we shall see a fight before seeing the rebel Capital remains to be seen. Cannonading heard an hour before sunset in the direction of the Chickahominy revives hope that some of the enemy are still lingering between here and there, and that a passage at arms with the foe is not altogether a forlorn hope. The heavy gun firing is supposed to be an attack on General Stoneman's cavalry and flying artillery, who are out in that direction on a reconnaissance. Our camp ground is a beautiful one; and were not for pressing engagements at Richmond I feel satisfied that General McClellan would not order such a brief sojourn. We are completely environed by hills, and the water is most excellent — a feature of camp life that is the more appreciated and enjoyed from the length of time the men have been obliged to drink miserable surface water. On the highest hill are the headquarters of Gen. McClellan, from whose summit a fine view is had of all the troops here. The General who has just assumed command of Gen. Fitzjohn Porter's old division had the entire division out on dress parade last night. A single call of the bugle called each regiment from its camp. Gen. McClellan and staff viewed the parade. It was a beautiful and imposing signet — the lines of regiments covering the plain so many bands playing in concert, and the gleam of the flashing swords and bayonets in the evening sunset. We have long had the coachman of Jeff. Davis. We have now one of the negro servants of Gen. Magruder. The latter came within our lines to day. He got disgusted with working for the rebel commander, and thought he would try Union service for a change. The bulk of the rebel army, he says has gone to Richmond, but whether they will stand there, or else where, or whit they will do, he is unable to give any information. According to his story Magruder is and his troops have gone down James river to City Point to stop our gunboats. General Johnston and the main body of the rebel army are in our front. Jeff Davis, he has taken ball and fled for parts unknown. As I close intelligence has come in that our advance has passed Bottom's Bridge.Baltimore cross roads, Va. may 21.
In the progress of the march of the army towards Richmond, this corps is now within twenty miles of that city. We are encamp to-day on the spot where, three days ago, thirty thousand rebel troops lay upon their arms. Their camp fires were still burning when our advance came up. They across the Chickahominy over the Lour Bridge and Bottom's Bridge — the former five miles southwest of here, the latter six miles west of this place. I visited, yesterday afternoon, the venerable St Peter's church, two miles northeast of here, and four miles southwest of the White House. It is remarkable as being the church in which Gen. Washington was married. The edifice is still in a good state of preservation. In the graveyard attached to it are the tombs of some of the most distinguished personages in early Virginity. Most of the inscriptions are in Latin, nearly effaced by time. One of them is a wife's tribute of affection to the memory of a departed husband, the purport of which is the quaint declaration that ‘"a small piece of marble cannot contain the record of his many virtues."’ One of our Generals went out with a reconnoitering party yesterday to the Long Bridge, over the Chickahominy. The cavalry in the advance came up with the rear guard of the enemy, and a little skirmish ensued, in while no one was hurt on our side. The enemy appear to be in some force on the South side the Chickahominy. On the way back to can we fell in with a regular secesh farmer. was frank and apparently honest, and his family lives on his farm, within our lines. He says he has been accustomed to go to Richmond to market every week, and went last week usual. He describes the excitement, con nation and alarm that prevail there as ing to such an extent as to utterly interrupt business of all kinds. So many families were leaving the city that it seemed to him that the city was being deserted. He could see no other indication of fortifications around Richmond than the line of low earthworks within a mile of the city described in my letter of yesterday.White House, may 22, 1862.
The advance of the grand army now occupies a stretch of country bordering on the Chickahominy swamp, and at an average distance of ten miles from the city of Richmond. I rode out yesterday to the Union pickets at New Bridge — or rather the site of the New Bridge, for the rebels burned it at daylight on Tuesday--and witnessed some br skirmishing between the Sixth regiment of dragoons (regulars) and a force of rebel infantry that fought from their ambush in a swamp, Ha ing reconnoitered through the whole country on this side of the Chickahominy, Gen. Stongman determined to push to New Bridge and determine the character of its defences, if any and the force of the enemy in the vicinity. The first brush occurred at an old mill, two miles from the creek, when a dragoon w wounded and his horse shot dead. At ten o'clock on Tuesday a force of infantry was sent to reconnoitre, and they penetrated the woods to the verge of the swamp m nted men were here selected to advance through the swamp by the New Bridge and discover the whereabouts of the opposite skirmishers. They galloped forward in gallant style, conscious that a moment would seal the fate of some of them. way of the reeds and slime, from behind a clump of quad of rebels rose upend fired into their faces. Corp'l John Venner. the Sixth cavalry regulars, Company dead; Jas. Brennan, Company A, was pler ough the back by a musket ball the glanced into his chin, struck out his teeth and cut his lip open; Wm. Dixon, of the same company, was badly wounded, and horses of two dragoons killed. The wounded men and the survivors retreated; but the infantry pressed on, drove out the enemy, and recovered the body. Contrabands come through the enemy lines from Richmond constantly, and gi much information us to the designs force spirit of the rebels. Jeff Davis is still Richmond. The enemy lie in imment from the borders of the creek to within this miles of the city. They appear to have formidable fortifications, but assert that they will so cut up our troops that they will never get across the Chickahominy to return. Great consternation existed in Richmond, and most of the leading people had moved back of the city to a wait the issue of the battle. Our army is again in motion this morning Care are running over a part of the ra between the Pamunkey and Chickahominy and pontoons, mortars and lifeboats are sc of the instrumentalities of death that west around and about us. The country between headquarters and New Bridge is woody, well watered, and broken into ridges. The roads are good and favorable to the passage of artillery and commissary teams. All facts point to a desperate battle when our troops pass beyond the Chickahominy though the rebels have boasted before th they meant to fight, and have afterwards treated. Meantime our army is united and confident. Their regard for McClellan amounts to positive worship. The General will proceed cautiously, leaving no avenue open to deafest; and I am sure we shall occupy Richmond before another fortnight. The Pamunkey it now filled with shipping, and munitions of every description are arriving by thousands o tons daily. The army has been rapidly advanced within the past two days. We are on the eye of our greatest struggle.Guerrilla bands the mountains
Strasburg, May 19.
--It is currently reported and credited in military circles that 2.2 rebel cavalry, attached to different command have been disbanded and formed into guerilla bands, occupying the various mountain fast nesses and ranges.
Col. Geary a few days since learned one of those hands were in a cave five miles from Restor town, and made arrangements surprise and capture them.
On reaching cave he ascertained that they had evach it the previous day.
Forty men and horses had evidently been there for some time, the men living ously, judging from the empty bottles, bo cans, It is probable that they were a position of the force which captured Col. Geary guard train near Linden last week, and treated towards Warrenton on Gen, Shield approach.
Col. Geary has been ordered to report to General Banks in future.
He has been believed from guarding the lower portion of the Manassas road, which duty he performed several weeks to the extent of fifty miles.
The Blue Ridge and the adjacent ranges and spurs are infested with guerillas, who watch every opportunity to shoot and our pickets and foraging parties.
Their miliarity with the mountain defiles and passes enables them to elude pursuit.
