The New York Times from the Peninsula, 1862- Pt. I

I have collected a few of the New York Times reports from the Peninsula in 1862 which touch upon New Kent specifically, starting with the below . . .

Prince Robert Philippe Louis Eugène Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Chartres

 GEN. McCLELLAN'S ADVANCE.; Our Army Advancing Capture of a Rebel Battery Union Feeling White Flags Abundant Beautiful Weather The Country Beyond Williamsburgh Gen. McClellan and his Staff The Local Feeling The Rebel Retreat.

BERNA ORDINARY,* Va., May 9, 1862 -- 1 P.M.

Gen. KEYES has advanced his headquarters today twelve miles beyond Williamsburg, on the road toward New-Kent Court-house which now lies 15 or 16 miles beyond him. His corps is in the advance, the Second Rhode Island and the Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania being ported over the Chickahominy, near its month, 10 or 15 miles beyond us, with STONEMAN's Cavalry. The rebels are to make no stand here, as was reported, but continue their rapid flight toward Richmond: The report now is that they are to make their stand 10 miles this side of that city.

The Second Rhode Island came up with a battery of four guns, supported by infantry, stationed at one of the fords of the Chickahominy. to dispute their passage. Without standing on etiquette, the brave Rhode Islanders delivered their fire and charged bayonet, putting the confederates to instant route, many of them throwing away their muskets and running as though the which army of the Potomac was after them.

A hospital has been established on the James River opposite Williamsburgh, where some 500 of those wounded in the engagement of Monday have been removed. Yesterday a Confederate vessel, supposed to be the Merrimac, was seen within one or two miles of the place going up toward Richmond:

For six miles beyond Williamsburgh the country was heavily wooded, then we came upon a fine open country, with farms magnificent for size, producing wheat and corn, with some tobacco, though the land is now given up almost entirely to the former staples. The wheat fields are already green with blades ten or a dozen inches high, and present a beautiful sight as they wave in the sun. Streams are plenty, and our soldiers find an abundance of good water.

The country rises gradually, and over the Chickahominy we came upon the level country between that and Richmond. It is an inviting region and shows fewer marks of the ravages of war than any section we have yet come upon. The fences are standing in good order; the houses, as a general thing, occupied and undisturbed. Provisions Abundant, and plenty seems to prevail.

BARBOURSVILLE †, Va., Saturday -- 2 P.M.

At this point we are within five miles of West Point, as I am told by one of Cen. PORTER's aids, who has just come up front there. Gen. PORTER's troops have not got on their way inland, but must be shortly, as our army is rapidly concentrating around Richmond. Gen. MCCLELLAN came up this morning as far as the house of a Dr. JONES¹, just beyond Barboursville, where I am now writing. He remained here for an hour or two, the [???] of his Staff entertaining themselves with [???] intelligent young ladies belonging to the doctor [???]. The scene about the house as I entered [???] for a painter. At one side of the [???] "Little Corporal" stood, in the sun, [???] by several of his Generals, members of his Staff, the Prince De JOINVILLE, in citizen's [???], and a huge fur cap, being [???] among them, sauntering about with his hands in his breeches pockets. On the steps and the porch was a similar group of notables taking their ease at their noonday halt. In the hall [???] several gathered in a little group about several [???] standing in a side doorway, and conversing with great animation, receiving and imparting new [???] prevailing in the two sections toward each other. Among those here were three young [???] officers, and the Duc De CHATRES, whose younger brother came in while we were waiting, hot and [???] a long ride he had taken with a message from Gen. MCCLELLAN. I saw the young nobleman driving about in hot haste during the fight of Monday, so it would appear that he is a useful, as well as an ornamental, member of the General's Staff. Your correspondent [???] himself with his own seedy condition by the discovery that this scion of royalty was in an even more dilapidated condition as to wardrobe.

What I learn of local feeling, thus far, in my journeying into Virginia, increases my hope of a peaceful restoration of this State to the Union, when we shall have driven the Confederates away from her borders. State pride and local feeling is strong; but there appears to be little bitterness of feeling toward the North, except such as is engendered by an entire misapprehension of the purpose and animus of this war. Nothing will do so much to remove this misapprehension as intercourse with Northerners in the person of the officers of our army. The ladies in the family, as the result of to-day's conversation with our officers, tell me that they have either been greatly misled us to the sentiments and feelings of the North, or the gentlemen of Gen. MCCLELLAN staff cannot be true representatives of Northern opinion.

I have seen reason to somewhat modify my first opinion of the demoralization of the Southern army, based upon such hasty statements as I received from others. Their retreat, as a whole, seems to have been conducted in the masterly manner for which JOHNSTON has distinguished himself. Near Williamsburgh, there were many evidences of the hasty flight of the rear guard, in deserted artillery, mumtions of war, as well as in the knapsacks, tents, wagons and other things strewing the way. But to-day there are no signs of anything but deliberation, the roads being so much better as to enable the army trains to pass without difficulty.

I learn here that JOHNSTON and MAGRUDER separated at Barboursville, one taking the right and the other the left. It is provable that Gen. FRANKLIN was attacked by the advance guard of JOHNSTON at West Point, as he must have been very near them in passing. They expected another fight on Monday. being determined to make a stand to delay our progress, and their scouts reporting our troops to be rapidly advancing upon them. As we did not come they continued on their way without stopping for us.

I have omitted to mention before, that on Thursday last,Gen. KLEIN, of Gen. CASEY's Division, made a reconnoissance with two squadrons of Sixth Cavalry, Capts. HAMILTON and GUY, and a section of artillery. He advanced to York River, where he found a good landing fix miles from Williamsburgh. Four prisoners were taken. Many of the inhabitants subsequently came to his headquarters, demanding protection for themselves and property, including, in some cases, negroes; but such of the latter as wished to go down the peninsula were not molested, their owners being left to the civil authorities for the recovery of this species of "portable property."

-New York Times, May 15, 1862


*- Burnt Ordinary


†- I'm assuming "Barhamsville."


¹ Dr. Jones lived about a mile west of Barhamsville