The following article is transcribed from the New York Times, dated April 28, 1862:

​

CAMP WINFIELD SCOTT, Near Yorktown, Va., Thursdays, April 24, 1862. Day and night the rebels continue to work on their intrenchments with the utmost vigor, and with- out suffering any serious molestation from our guns. Their miserable flag, which flaunted in proud defiance over a parapet on the day of our arrival, is less con- spicuous to-day. The infantry and cavalry that our fire forced to precipitately retreat to the extreme rear of their works, are now assembled with additional numbers in the position which they previously occupied. Above the earthworks prancing steeds and active men, which two weeks ago cautiously avoided the least exposed situations, indicate a boldness engendered solely by our own philanthropic forbearance. Numerous rifle-pits, of sufficient depth to conceal from view the marksman within, have been recently formed by the enemy, who have taken special care to remove the excavated earth, so that the ground at a safe distance may not have the appearance of an unbroken surface. The sound of the tattoo at night, and of the reveille at morn, is wafted to us from the rebel camps, and occasionally throughout the day lusty shouts and cheers emanating from the same quarter can be distinctly heard. The progress our own army has made in its preparations to annihilate the stronghold before it, including the intrenchments, rifle-pits and other barriers that have lately sprung up to increase the strength of that stronghold -- to bring to a plebeian level the lofty arrogance that marks the bearing of rebellion leaders -- to change the seeming exultant spirit of rebellion followers that vents itself in loud huzzae, to a real sentiment of feeling that cries equally loud for clemency, your correspondent at present is denied the privilege of transmitting. The exigency of the occasion requires that the strictest silence should be observed upon all subjects connected with the movements of the army, It is not unreasonable to suppose that these movements are important; consequently the impatience of the public to be informed of their nature and extent may become doubly enhanced, but it is to be hoped that every patriot will admit that the injunction placed upon correspondence by Government is wise and opportune. As fair exchange, the journalists here respectfully submit that their letters be allowed to pass through the mails without detention. If this course is adopted, a letter, when published, will be its own monitor, and the public will be served with the latest unprohibited news. In referring to the movements of the army it may not be a breach of confidence to state that under the careful guidance of its able [???], all the preparations essential to meet and conquer a large opposing force have been made. When the siege is once commenced, it is presumed that facilities will be extended to furnish the public with particulars and events as they occur. Within the past three days on exchange of two or three shots at interval has become quite a common affair. At night we are not unfrequently awakened by the whiz and explosion of a rebel shell, which, passing over or through a wood, increases the reverberation, and gives one the impression that it was rather familiar, especially for the lateness of the hour. These outbursts of the enemy however, are now getting to be generally regarded as a common nuisance, instead of a common danger, and the boys are often heard calling upon the Corporal of the guard to put under arrest the missile chat falls within a few yards of their feet. Last week a daring, but reckless act was successfully accomplished by a private in the Seventeenth New-York Regiment, who, upon observing a shell strike quite near him, sprang forward with a paid of water and extinguished the ignited fuse. A sensation, if not a complete surprise, was given to a party of [???] the other day, by the descent of a 32-pounder in their very midst, After a brief consultation it was decided not to leave the pool until their ablutions had been performed. In the morning it is the usual practice of a regiment returning from picket duty to bring to their camp as trophies two or three shot or unexploded shells, watch the enemy had volunteered to distribute among them the preceding night. A large variety of these projectiles have found their way to many of the brigade or division headquarters, where they attract considerable attention. It is a singular fact, not lightly to be commented upon, that so few casualties have occurred among our men during all the irregular and promiscuous firing of the enemy. It is true that dozens of their shells do not explode, but even in that case they are liable to have the same effect as a round shot; and bursting and falling as they do, above, among, and on every side of our regimental picket guard, it is almost inconceivable how they escape injury. Another drenching rain has made the roads so fearfully deep with mire that passage across them is next to an impossibility. Various absurd rumors, such as "the enemy evacuating Yorktown," "the fall of Richmond," the capture of rebel Generals," and other rumors of similar import, have been current to-day, but will probably be superseded before sundown by some startling fiction of tremendous magnitude. WHIT

​

​