Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-05
LATEST NEWS by MAIL,

LATEST NEWS BY MAIL
The BALTIMORE Smsrieaa Of Monday copy OF which
reached US yesterday, contains the back-repubcan
sion OF the engagement at Aqua Creek from which
take the following extracts II scarcely necessary for
Us to remind readers that the alleged destruction of
life at our battery is totally untrue and other adverse
statements on the authority no doubt equally
destitute of truth.
THE ENGAGEMENT At AQUA CREEK.
WASHINGTON, June by the arrival at the navy
yard OF the steamer Resolute, Lieutenant Budd COM
handing we have full particulars of the attack on the
batteries at AQUA Creek yesterday morning.
AS soon as the vessels bad xtd their range, they COM
meneed firing she'll with marked effect several Of them
falling into the batteries In few minutes their small
batteries we're completely slerced. The main battery
on the hill, supposed to be armed with ten rhed can
non, now opened terrific FIRE upon the hoil!a, to
which the Freedom ard AnacOsa replied with consld-
cradle effect. The Anacosta took up position and
PLAYED upon the depot with rapidly, firing thirteen
shells three OF them taking effect and causing much
CONSERVATION among the rebels, The ResOlute did not
use her guns, owing to The fact that their cabre vas
too small to do any effective service. Ony one shot
struck the hotiA. IL a riccchet shot, striking the
Free born on the gunwae and passing one OF the
sailors arms, doing him harm, then striking gun
carriage, IL tell upon the deck.
No one was killed or wounded on on" side. On the
Confederate side the damage was considerable, men
seen conveying the dead and ded TO places OF
safety. We have no means Of knowirg the exact loss
on the Confederate side.
A. ten minutes of - o'clock the firing esssed and
the hJalli hauled of.
Tue R,soute arrived here at noon, having in taw
coal boat, TO Obtain fuel for the squadron.
The PaWoee was passed last night e' route for the
scene OF action. The hotlla is ut anchor within five
les of Aqua Cret K
lt Is believed impossible to silence the third battery
as II i OF fled cannon-Ni bout landing force.
WASHINGTON, June , -Yesterday the engagement at
Aqua Cre Was renewed For the first two hours the
fire from the shore batteries very brisk, but was re-
turned With expedition BY the PaWnee During the
engagement she fred hundred and sixty shells one of
which seen to explode Immediately over the heads
Of the Coniedeates who working the battery The
observer through telescope saw number OF the bod
les Ethem carried away in wagons. During that time
the shore movements exceedingly brisk and the
Freedom cdgd three shells in succession in the beach
battery perceptby damaging the works which had the
effect Of greatly diminishing the lire.
The Freedom received two Shots Of which passed
through the cabin damaging some crockcry but not the
vessel except making passage through tine bulwarks OF
slight consequence.
The Pawuee received eight or nine shots but all too
high to Ih'ct much damage. Que struck her maintop-
sail yard which thereby unsluug another gtazei
the mzenmast head, aud one passed through ths ham
mock uettiug%
Itis the opinion of the officers on board that had the
Cluladeraes been provided with good gunues the
sels M ght have been sunk. Some Confederate shots
passed the masthead 20 the Maryland shcrs. The
AuscosJa returned here this morning. the PawnCe ard
Freedom hauling eli beyond the range OF the enemys
Ere.
The Yarkce, which went down on Friday with des-
patches fred few shots ouly not being prepared for
long contest Toe railroad depot buildings shore at
Aqua Greek destroyed.
The damage TO the beach battery il not considered
permanent as the Conlederaes repair it, It ia
safe TO say that At least twelve killed on the
part Of the COutederates. Il is not known how many
we're wounded. AL the officers engaged in the fgh; con-
cur il the opiuioa that the Confederaes have ride
uOn perhaps several and IN all II supposed about eight
guns.
We condense the following from the official report of
Fsidays cannon aiding;
UNITED SrArSs STEAMER THOMAS FRunoRN
OF Aqua Creek, May 81, lsGl
Sir-My immediate commanding officer, Flag officer
S.ringham no, being present TO receive It, commune
cate directly 10 the Department the report of a serious
clnnonade made by this vessel supported by the Ana
costa and RsOlue steamers upon the batteries at Aqua
Creek his morning.
Alter An ncessant charge KEEP. up for TWO hours By
DO h our 32-pouuders and the expenditure of all he
amma,i lou sua le for distant frag, and silercng
completely the three batteries at the railroad terminus
the firing frCm shore having been rapidly kept up by
them until 50 sileuccd and having been recommended
from the batteries on the heights back, which
reached us in yoeys dropping the sho: on board and
atOU. US like hail for nearly an hour but fortunately
wouuding but Que man, hauled the vessel of, the
heights proved wholly above the reach Of cur elevation
Judging from the explosion of our ten second shells
il the sand batteries Of which thrown by the
Anacosta II hardly possible the enemy have es-
clUed considerable loss Several others Of the Anacos-
tAs shells dropped in the vicinity Of the battery
We cauuOnaded for hour before the same batteries
the day before Yesterday bu, the tide being ou neither
PARTY reached with any considerable certainty doubt
II il ia possible 20 reduce the batteries established
on the heights from ships IS 1t st all important con-
sid.rug THAI they remote from the ship channel OF
the river AID command only the railroad terminus.
Yesterday landed in person, with Acting Master Bud
and Masters Mate Lee, and small party OF seamen and
made a most mnute exploration, extending over the
whole Of Mathews Point. am therefore, able TO speak
with ocular certainty and say that moss sign OF move
ment the cutting of sapEng, driving stake, or casting
shovel full of earth towards the erection ola battery,
exists The Jungle il very thicA, but We penetrated
bel; oft 500 yards vide from the shore and three miles
in length assuring ourselves Of the facts stated in this
report.
hsye especially to ash for the steamers Reliance and
R,scu,e OF this h)t4 each small ra cannon, in ad-
ou 20 ;he smooth bore gun with which they are pro-
yded For the wan; OF rh ID gun in them, was
OBLIGED 20 forbid their Comirg closely under ire TO
which they could reply with even an approximate
eject .
L. Com. n Collins, OF the AnaeOsta, will make his
own report
mi have the honor to be, sir your obi,
j. II. WARD, Com. U. S. n.
Hon. Gideon WeLes,