The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-26
THE POTOMAC FL0TIlLA.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
UNITED STATES STEAMER YANsEF,l
rOroNAC RIVER, Dec. II 1851.

UNITED STATES STEAMER YANsRr,l
Fo7oNAc RIVER, Dec II, 1861.
The Yankee Makes a Re,onnoissance-The Re,t PicletA
Large Body Of The Enemy BeEoo Cockpit Poin,-7ne Ian
kee Preaeas Her Compliments TO the Eneny-FhgAt Of
The Ciioaly-The Rebel Fighting Fzag''-Bia paeaoss
Cseofae Cross of 81. Andrtw. dc.
This morning, after breakfast tho Yankee weighed
anchor and stood down the river for the purpose OF
connoitring little above Cockpit Point we stood in
towards the Virginia shore, ard when about milo dis
taEt sued round, presenting stern towards
shore, and backed in Several musset shots fred
by the rebel pckcts, ut whether at is doubf
sdcring tho slim chance OF tho baets reaching US at
that distance When about three quarters OF ric from
the shore number of the rebels seen close TO a
small white house Some were perceived by
another house lower down. Each house was n Ill.,
about a quarter Of a milo from the beach. The
glitter Of the sennos' bayoncts could be distinctly
with the naked eye, and the themselves were
visible without tho aid Of glass. Judging thu, the
great body OF the enemy further back woods
Captain Eastman called the of the twelve pcunef
rcd brass howzer quarters, and gave the gun which
- mounted stage ascrn, the greatest elevation Of
which rs capable and fred percussion shell. At ths
first sight Of the smoke and before the sound could have
travelled that distance the rebels by the second named
house. in range Of which the grn aimed scsmpered
Oft with zeal truly laudable The shell have gone
right into the woods for saw where il fell
Having thus in his reminder that saucy Yankee
around Captain Eastman gave orders pu, about
towards Alaitawoman creek. On our way we
large body Of rcbcs--evdently two three hundred
strongon hill below Cockpit Point Their pickee we're
distinctly seen scattered considerable distance along
the coast while further back the smoke Of their camp
fires was seen Issuing, like black vapcr, above
the tops OF the forest trees. little below Free
stone Point two cavalry soldiers were seen galoppg
down hillside, and there various other symptoms
that the enemy had taken the alarm and We're ON the
alert.
Passing close in shore Stump Neck the Yankee was
put about, und stood again towards Virginia.
When about the same distance before the ried how
itzcr again brought to BEAR but with less elevation
A one Of the houses with n flag
hxed 10 the point of his bayonet and waving it deany
ut Tho iae was OF The same device mentioned
by your Bulds Ferry ercspon'cnt-nnm.ly a black
st. Andrews red field. This ms lent of the
holy emblem of faith is equivalent to thu satanic ma
Of this rebellion The rebels call their Fighting flag
foIsoob. Such flag might have been used by the
OF reyoed angels when tcy daringy aud inipousy o.
fered battle to Onnipotencc himself under the leadership
OF the first great sccessons, Satan Why don't JEFF Davis
Nil up the Of his impiey once and boldly rsa
the St Andrews nanotr shapeiameiv the cross
bones Of the pirate hat lie stn field sable, and
mount his by tho grinnng Deaths hcadg Such
bunglng parody OF the praca flag h. has assumed
would DO contemplate but for Its highandcd sacriegc
Captain Eastman treated tie taant with tho indi.fe-
renee IL mericd 1t was for him TO choose his time and
mode Of astsing rebellion, under the orders of his
siperors and not for the rebels themselves dictate to
him. and perhaps lead hn into u snare. So he cooly
ordered the boatswains mate to pipe dinner. This
meal over we again went about and ran down to Cock
pit Point, close that Sharps rife shot fred by way
Of testing the distance went OH shore Several
seen on the beach near Cockpit Point, and soon
gronp OF rebels made their appearance close by
attached 10 the premises belonging 10 tho house over
which the shell had been thrown couple OF hours before
These men gaZed at rs with much apparent interest.
Captan Eastman now brought his bow CUBAN eight inch
smooth borc-to bear on the gentlemen. While thus
engaged heavy gun fred from tho rebel battery
Quantico Geek towards the Maryland shore and soon
after it was followed by another, which struck the
water, close in to the point, which shut
out Budd's Ferry from view. Captain East
man, determined on showing that he could do a
little shooting too, gave ORDERS to fire. 1t was done, and
the smoke had cleared away (Which before tho
shell landed the chiyalry est. They had
shed rapidly as thc shell was projected from the gn
The shell lifted with ten seconds fuse Exp
in excellent line with the objects aimed at but went
distance beyond The elevation for fifteen hundred
yards. Had it been for hundred, 1t might have
done damage. Bot II is not easy matter 10 judge
Of distance for nrs shot.
This second edition or our compliments having been
duly delivered returned to anchorage at Indian
Head but did not remain long. was writing this letter
the warGroom, when the shrli whistle Of the boat
swains mate heard, Immediately followed by his
grutf voice, shouting, Gan hands up anchor and
at stump Neck; but whether shall remain for the
night am unable to say but suppose ahall learn in
the course of few minutes pending which information
We are again returning to Indian Head after conmuni
eating with the Harriet Lane and tho Mount Washington
UNITED STATES STEAMER YAxsgE.
MArAwoMAs CREEK, PoroMAo RIVER, Dec, 10, 1851.
A New ReJel Battery in Course Of ConStyactior--E IS
iSieted ~ tic Asdcotid-f2ghtg Of the Reels h1ot1er
Ne,o Battery Of Siege Guns and Field Pieces at cccpd
Ioint-H Jnmdsts and Opens the Anacostia--Sae Is
No1rly Ha--The Ccur de Lion Runs the Blockade-She
and the Stepping Stones Fired UpctEghteei' Sailing
vesSJs Pass Jaopposed-Mdn-of War Discipline, dc
A, ha past eleven O'Clock yesterday morning tho Ana
Costa which lying of Stump Neck, proceeded
towards the virginia shore to reconnoitrc Pcrceivng
number of rebel troops hill, Captain Austin closely
ohp mon yrar ii,
tho attitude asd going through the movements Of uslug
shoyels and pick2xes, and the former implements
observed 10 eis,er IN The sunlight u now became evil
dent that The rebels erecting new battery Ae FAR
as have been abls ~ ascertain, from conversation
had board the Cocnr dc Lion wish Captain Hamilton