THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN: The Rebels Becoming More Wide Awake; The Great Bombardment About to Open (4/30/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 4/30/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

HEADQUARTERS OF THE POTOMAC, BEFORE YORKTOWN, Tuesday, April 29.

To the Associated Press:

The rebels are apparently just realizing the fact that Gen. McCLELLAN is making extensive preparations to open the second siege of Yorktown. Up to yesterday, the works of our troops have steadily progressed, directly under the enemy's eyes, without any response from their guns, except an occasional shot sent to inform us that they were still there.

Our earthworks are now beginning to present a very formidable appearance to the enemy, and all day yesterday and last night they kept up a brisk fire on them, with a view to driving them out. Occasionally, a shell would come so close as to make it unpleasant, when they would lay close to the ground until it had passed over. No one was injured, and the work progressed as though no enemy were within range.

This morning the rebels opened with increased vigor, for about three hours, from their batteries near the river, but receiving no response they ceased.

Yesterday Gen. HANCOCK went out with a portion of his brigade, for the purpose of driving the enemy from a piece of timber which they occupied in close proximity to our works. Our troops advanced through an open field on their hands and knees until they came within close musket range.

The rebels, who were secreted behind stumps and trees, were anxious to get our men on their feet, and, to accomplish this, the Captain in command of the enemy shouted at the height of his voice to charge bayonets, supposing that our frightened troops would instantly jump to their feet, and run -- but they were mistaken in the men. The command being given the second time, the rebels arose, when our troops poured into them a well-directed fire,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4058869/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Siege of Yorktown: The Rebels Becoming More Wide Awake – 2
News from Fortress Monroe: No Merrimac – 2
The Capture of New-Orleans: Surrender of the City Without Resistance – 2-3
Important from New-Mexico: The Texans in Full Flight from the Territory – 3
The Mountain Department: Intelligence from Staunton – 3-4
From the Mississippi River: No Change in the Condition of Affairs at Fort Wright – 4
Department of the Shenandoah: Gen. Banks Pushing Steadily toward Staunton – 4
From Gen. Halleck’s Army: A Successful Cavalry Skirmish Near Corinth – 4
Gen. McDowell’s Column: The Difficulties of an Advance – 4-6
News from Washington: A Message from the President Regarding Gen. Stone’s Case – 6-7
Editorial: The Revenue Question-How Shall Taxes be Levied – 7-8
Abandonment of New-Mexico of the Rebels – 8
The Rebel Forces at Corinth – 8
A Great Naval Haul on the Mississippi – 8-9
West of the Mississippi – 9
From the South Atlantic Coast: Skirmish with the Rebels at North Edisto Island – 9
General News – 9
News from San Francisco – 9

[x]

General Lovell was a curious character, a competent engineer but a military failure who was eventually charged with incompetence.

New Orleaneans wanted somebody else as commander. Maybe if they'd gotten their way history might have been different. Probably not.

He seems to have been more of a Bostonian or New Yorker, so how he ended up in the Confederate Army must have been quite a story.

[x]

Mention too of “Albert Pike and his cannibals.” Pike, another Boston Confederate, is a very controversial figure. Mason, Know Nothing, poet, Klansman, and some say satanist. His Indian troops were said to have taken scalps, but “cannibals” was probably an exaggeration.

[M Kehoe]

Good morning Professor.

Let’s say I’m a NYT reader in the north. I’ve been reading the Times for the last two years. It’s now April 1862 and I’m wondering why the Rebels are still around after all of their defeats.

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Sure, it’s taken a little longer than expected. But mark my words - Gen. McClellan is going to pound Yorktown into submission, march to Richmond, and wrap this thing up in a hurry. The boys will be home to celebrate 4th of July this year.

[M Kehoe]

LOL!

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Mention too of “Albert Pike and his cannibals.”

It took me a while to find it. (I finally had to do a search at the NY Times site). "West of the Mississippi," page 9.

[cowboyusa]

🤣🤣🤣

[BroJoeK]

"Let’s say I’m a NYT reader in the north. I’ve been reading the Times for the last two years. It’s now April 1862 and I’m wondering why the Rebels are still around after all of their defeats."

By my count Confederates did pretty well in 1861, winning most battles, both in the Union and in the Confederacy.
But 1862 is a different story -- of 29 engagements in 1862 so far, Confederates won only five, and three of those were minor engagements in Union New Mexico Territory.

In 1861, Union Gen. McClellan did well in West Virginia, where most curiously, both RE Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson did relatively poorly.
So Lincoln put McClellan in charge of the Army of the Potomac, and so far Little Mac seems to have a good plan.
But can he execute it?
Can he adapt to changing conditions & opportunities?
Well, here's a clue: McClellan is a Northern Democrat.

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of May 2, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
South Carolina	1	1	1	3
Virginia	5	11	7	23
North Carolina	4	1	0	5
Florida	1	0	0	1
Louisiana	2	1	0	3
Tennessee	3	1	0	4
Arkansas	1	0	1	2
Georgia	1	0	0	1
Mississippi**	1	0	0	1
Total Engagements in CSA	19	15	9	43

Engagements in Union states/territories:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
Maryland	1	0	1	2
West Virginia	9	2	2	13
Missouri	11	9	1	21
New Mexico	4	8	0	12
Kentucky	4	3	2	9
Oklahoma	0	3	0	3
Total Engagements in Union	29	25	6	60
Total Engagements to date	48	40	15	103

** Includes ongoing Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, "predicting" Union victory.

[x]

The Civil War may have been similar to the World Wars. You might have victories in peripheral theaters of war, but a stalemate or defeats in the main theater.

Times readers were in the East and saw little change in Virginia. News from Tennessee and Arkansas wasn't as important to them.

So to in both world wars: news from Mesopotamia or Egypt wasn't as important to the American public as what was happening or not happening on the Western Front.