The following is transcribed from Harper's Weekly, Journal of Civilization, dated April 26, 1862:

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The Advance Upon Yorktown

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          Colonel Spear, with his cavalry, dashed down the road, carrying every thing before them. The two columns, having joined near Big Bethel, soon found themselves withing sight of the works where the heroic Grebel fell fighting at his gun and Winthrop breathed his last cheering on his men. Finding nothing to oppose their march, they were soon inside the works of Great Bethel, and found that they were mere sand batteries, with embrasures for about sixty guns, mounting light field artillery. The enemy, at theapproach of our tropps, fled and carried off the guns which were there. The force behind these intrenchments was at leasst 1500 strong, including a company of cavalry. Our troops destroyed the work and proceeded onward to within eight miles of Yorktown. In an open field of about eight or nine hundred acres, above the Half-way House, some infantry were drawn up in line of battle. It was deemed inexpedient to bring on an engagement, and as all was accomplished that was undertaken, our troops took up their line of march toward camp.

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          At seven o'clock a.m. the divisions left Cockletown. The order of march was the same as on the previous day, excepting that the Fourth Michigan regiment, Colonel Woodbury, led the infantry. Colonel Averill's cavalry and Berdan's Sharp-shooters kept the advance of the column For about an hour in the march a heavy rain fell; but the troops apparently did not heed it; neither did they seem to mind the bad and muddy road, extending three miles through a region of swamp. In some places the mud was up to the men's knees. The artillery had hard work to move on. At intervals the roads were blocked, impeding the progress of the troops. About four miles advance and the marsh was passed, and the column came into good roads, and in a cultivated and beautiful section of the country. It was inspiring to the troops.

          Passing by Cheeseman and Goose Creeks and Grafton Chapel, our column came in sight of the earth-works of the enemy, and York River to the right and beyond. General Heintzelman was present to direct arrangements. In the excitement soldiers forgot their weariness. it was believed a battle would soon be fought. Colonel Averill's cavalry and the Berdan Sharp-shooters kept ahead, on the vigilant look-out for rebels and masked batteries. General Porter's brigade steadily advanced toward the earth-works, although there were no supporting troops behind for some distance, and wholly ignoring the thought of the force the enemy might bring against them. 

          The brigades were put in position. Captain Griffin's and Captain Weeden's batteries took places on the brow of a hill in face of the rebel intrenchments. On the right, in a piece of woods, lay General Morelll's brigade, to support the batteries. Beyond the woods, in a peach orchard, were the Berdan Sharp-shooters; they were eight hundred yards from the intrenchments . Our artillery was fifteen hundred yards distant from the enemy. At ten o'clock the first shot was fired. It came from one of the regel works to the right. The shot went over our field-pieces, and came near where Generals Porter and Morell and other officers were standing. it struck heavily in the sand did not explode. A quick response followed form Captain Weeden's battery, which brought and immediate rejoinder. This second shot, a solid one, struck one of the gunners, named Reynolds, on the right leg below the thigh. The limb was amputated; but he died fifteen minutes after the operation.

A continuous firing was kept up an hour and a half; subsequently intervals of from fifteen to twenty minutes occurred between the shots. The enemy fired mainly heavy guns, from twelve to twenty-four pounders.

          Only four of the enemy's shells burst. Out boys did not seem to mind them much, but rather enjoyed the thing. One shot struck in the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment, ricocheted, and wounded two men of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania Regiment.

          General Morell and staff and General Martindale and staff were in the foremost places of danger with their regiments. The Berdan Sharp-shooters made fearful havoc among the enemy's gunners, picking them off by the dozen. Colonel Berdan says they killed at least fifty of the rebels and wounded a hundred. Toward night the enemy commenced shelling them by running a gun out from behind the left end of the fort, discharging it and then dragging it in to load again, the only way they were enabled to work the gun. They tried the plan of covering the working of guns by running a plank upon the parapet, and turning it upon the edge; but they did not seem to like to trust it. The attempt at shelling was not long continued. As soon as a gunner showed himself the aim of the unerring the rifle would enforce on him the propriety of retirement. At first the rebel sharp-shooters attempted to shoot our men from rifle-pits; but they found even these places too hazardous, and were not long in withdrawing to safer positions behind the intrenchments. During the afternoon a small mounted party, led by an officer wearing a white shirt, the bosom of which was distinctly visible, ventured outside the fort. A member of the sharp-shooters, who goes by the scubrigust of "California Joe," observed that "he was best at a white mark.' He quickly drew up telescopic rifle took aim fired, and the man reeled in his saddle and fell to the ground apparently dead. 

          At half past four p.m. the enemy opened  heavy firing from earth-works on the left of where the above shooting occurred. They made Generals Martindale's brigade their target. Our people were ready for them. The Third Massachusetts battery took a position, and returned the fire with splendid, and, as is believed, most telling effect. The rebel gunners showed more skill in sighting their pieces here than was shown from the other portion of the intrenchment. The sun was shining on our pieces, which gave the enemy a great advantage.

          Before the firing ceased General Hamilton's division arrived on the ground. Captain Randolf's Sixth Rhode Island battery relieved during the last of the firing the Third Massachusetts battery.

          The rebels had fine range of the best locations for our artillery and the grounds on which we were encamped; but the casualties were very slight indeed compared with he injuries which our sharp-shooters inflicted upon them. Whenever they made a good shot they would utter unearthly yells. The principal portion of our troops which had arrived were located in the large fields on either side of the road, nearly surround by woods. In front, where our pieces were planted, there is an extensive field and then a lower ground, a large plain, in front of the rebel works. The Yorktown turnpike runs through to the centre of the fortifications, which have dense woods behind them. 

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