The Federal on the Peninsula — an advance.
The Federal force on the Peninsula made an advance yesterday and the night before. They now occupy the Cross Roads, in New Kent county, about 5 miles from Bottom's Bridge, and 18 miles from Richmond. The reports received yesterday evening by the York river train state that on Tuesday night a force commenced moving from the White House towards the Cross Roads, and that yesterday morning more troops followed. Gen. Dix had arrived at the White House and taken command of the whole army. Gens. Keyes and Gordon were at the Cross Roads. The Federal have been reinforcing at the White House during the past three days, and it is stated that among the reinforcements was Gen. Peck's command from Suffolk. Tois is, doubtless, true, as the Yankees have been fortifying around Norfolk some time, preparatory to falling back there from Suffolk, and on Thursday last all the "contra bands" at Suffolk were sent down to Norfolk. It is very doubtful whether there is a regiment of Yankees now in town.A gentleman who lives near Williamsburg states positively that not more than 10,000 troops went from Yorktown by land up the Peninsula. Of course he does not know how many went by way of York river to the White House.
The Yankees still hold the White House, or did yesterday afternoon, probably to make it a point to fall back on in case of a disaster to their arms, which, it appears, they think probable — we know to be certain.
Yesterday morning some of Col. Shingler's men went in the rear of their pickets at Tunstall's and captured a Lieutenant and private; but both of the captives were too drunk to answer any questions intelligibly.
It is hardly probable that the Yankees would have left Suffolk in a comparatively defenceless situation merely to make a grand march around Richmond to Aquia Creek, or upon Gordonsville, nor did they need so large a force as they have collected to make a feint on Richmond — a feat they might have accomplished with much fewer men. It is most likely that they really contemplate an "On to Richmond," which will end even more disastrously than the nine marches they have heretofore made upon the city.
