There is yet nothing from
Yorktown indicating an immediate fight.
The enemy, now believed to be under
McClellan, had, instead of attacking, after sending a few shot at long range, commenced throwing up breastworks!
It was supposed that an
invading army, whose duty it was to obey the
last mandate from
Washington, to crush rebellion in
ninety days, would have marched boldly on to attack our forces, which were so much inferior in numbers to his own; but like an elephant at a bridge, however rapidly he may have approached it, he pauses to see whether it be safe to go further!
May-be he will not cross it at all, and then all the goads of the keepers of the animals can't make him venture upon it.
In this position of matters at
Yorktown, it is not plain what the enemy is after and how long he will remain stationary.
He may be forced to do yet what he has no intention of doing.
Of one thing he may rest assured, and that is, that our cause at
Yorktown will be maintained by as brave and determined an army of patriots as ever shouldered a gun.