The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-24
THE CHESAPEAKE FLoTlLlA.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.

me Cue3APeAke flUIIllAs
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Orr CEDAR PoisT, PcroxAo RIVER, June IT, 1851.
Hoso Matthias Point and Tobacco Crsek are Situated Visit
to s. Tncmas Church Intcrestino Conversation nth a
Jssat-Adrytand Beauties-Restcnce Of the Gentlemen
in Reference to the Present Troubes-7he Reliance Does
Stroke of B,sinas-search for a Channet-An O.d Ac-
quaSntance-7he Rseborn in TroiJe--She Grounds IN
ae Vry Aida Of the Enemy and Breaks Her Rudder-A
Volant NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Oondnc. Of the ChipaJy--
Their Tricks de-, dc.
Since sending my Inst communication have had an
other opportunity Of visiting the church and parsonage
st. Thomas at the entrance to Tobacco creek, and
the village OF Port Tobacco Tho entrance to the creek
very difficult, and does not TO be generally known
As much interest is likely to DO attached to this neigh.
borhoo in consequence Of the presence Of rebel troops
at Point Matthias opposite and In view OF the annoyance
which passing vessels might be made to experience
battery to be erected this point, and the burning
loyal schooner near by, by tho rebels, on Saturday
last may not DO amss to be somewhat particular
describing the lay Of the land both sides of the river
Matthias point, measured the chart, is forty nvo
miles below Washington, although is somewhat further
follow ing the channel Of the river The point terminates
northward in bold bluff. On the Maryland side, oppo
site, is Upper Cedar Point, lying little to the Of
northward, and four miles distant from Matthias Point.
This is the entrance to Tobacco creek About midway
between the two points tho ghtboat formerly kept by
Mr. Pye, and which burned by the Maryland rebels,
was stationed Three miles little to the southwark Of
west point Of land the eastern entrance to Nangemoy
river and which about the distance nearly north
from Matthias point Thus will be that the throo
points form isocees triangle and the river between,
with the mouths of Tobacco creek and Nangemoy river,
expands into the dimensions Of email bay. In going
up the river from Matthias Point, the Potomac river
bends away to the westward.
From Upper Cedar Point Tobacco creek runs inland to
the length Of about three half miles, at head
is the village OF Port Tobacco. About mile within tho
entrance Of the creek is landing, where are three or
four small houses, above which on hill and TO the right
you epter the creek the church and parsonage
On Sunday morning Captain Ward expressed his in.
church Of St. Thomas and the doctor, purscr,
Mr. Frederick Ward son Of the captain, who joined us
q and n 10 ,a n%
lead De Kept gong all tho tie, and cast anchor nearly
opposite the pier On reaching the church we foun th.
who spoke English with strong but not unpleasing
ferega aqQn being in III? piaalQ Of bis sermon on the
difference between mortal AMI vcnial Bin. The good
frs: blush, for while discriminating between these two
sorts Of sim he assured his hearers that though venia
n was dspessng to Cod yet od not make nia our
veniai SIM as pretty certain to lead to the
serious offence.
observed, what had often read Of before, and had
witnessed in years gone BY in other than saveholding
countries, how completely tho whites were separated
from the blacks. Tho former were seated below, Will
the latter had the gallery all to Themselves consider
able number Of tho slaves assembled outside the
church. but whether from conscientious scrupes against
entering Roman Catholic place Of worshp or mere in
difference to any worship at all, was unable 10 deter
mne Certainly there restriction against their
uniting their payers with those Of tho congregation
inside
rave already sad In former letter, TINT the church
is plain brick edi1ce had opportunity OF OBJ
serving that II was equally plain IN tho interior Save
the candlestcks the altar with the crucx, and an
image of the Virgin aud that Of another saint. there
were decorations
ously invited into the parsonage by tho officiating priest
aJeeuit named Father Viglante, Neapolitan We had
long and interesting conversation together which, as
matter Of course, carried principally by the
captain and Father Vigiante The latter said Father
Barber in attendance the Bishop OF Baltimore,
who was on visit TO another church near by. Tho con-
versalon turned the present troubles when the good
father spoke most emphaticay In favor OF peace which
it was his mission to preach &c told captain ward thst
Baltimore paper in which the writer said proposals for
peace likely to be shortly discussed between the
contendipg parties Captain Ward inquired upon what
BAGS upon which the Father said II supposed that
the North would yield TO the demands Of the South At
this Captain Ward smiled, and said no desired peace as
much as any man. but TINT he did not believe was pos
sibe uponnny such basis. Neither did no wish for any
submission from the South to the North. All that was
required was for the constitution to be nc Cd up TO,
as it had been for upwards Of fifty years past, and
there would be OF agreeing to any temporary com
promise now, to require further compromise alier
another revolution some years hence. AS it was with
individuals whom God sometimes corrects III mercy, 80
il was with nations and he doubted not the uplifting OF
the national pride, through unexampled course OF
prosperity had brought this chasement on the land,
which would eventually rebound to her benefit IL was
somewhat amusing 10 witness the ado manner IN WINCH
implicit Obedience and the good humored way IN wmcn
the argument was carried on IN both sides. ny TINS
20 not desire insnuato that the Father expressed
smypahy with rebellion. He went no further than ths
advocacy Of peace at any price short OF bloodshed
Having badc adieu TO Father vigane, prepared to
t,Noyd hrtu-p
passing shower, which gave US an opportunity OF Cd
serving some Of the members of the congregation who
were similarly detained. The women OF Mary lana are
celebrated for their beauty and most of those We saw al
St. Thomas certainly deserving CT the PAIN tha'
has been accorded TO their State while notns coa OK
Geo the simple good taste in which they were dressed
number CT the other sex were aso present. many Inc
gentlemen carrying riding whips white several carriages
Cutsdc were waiting for the ladies' ana sucn Q, lneir
ale friends and relatives that had accompanied them 90
church Some Of party conversed with rev OF tne
gentlemen, who were found to exhibit great retcence
reference TO The present civil war by no means sympa
timing with the government but too prudent 10 say any
thing in favor Of the secession movement though OF
course they were at perfect liberty TO express them
elves freely on either side OF the que stion Ovort acts
of treason and attempts 10 violate the blockade are all
that tho lying 0otilla can take cognizance OF.
ON returning OF board anchor was weighed, anu we
began prepare to leave the creek but as We round on
former occasion, go 1t now IT YVES much easier 70
cter tls to leave While thus engaged, tho Reliance
Was dscerned on Matthias Point, and from the frequent
pulA OF smoke from her bowor ho report was heard
It evident tina. Lieutenant Mygatt was DONG some
thing in the way Ct busness-perbaps paying his re
sIccts IN his peculiar way to the Virginia troops, OF
whom ] srokc IN q former letter. As Captain Mard wa!
gasrou OF speaking the Reliance, he made the signal
for tia. purpose with the Freeoorns whistle; but as
we did not hear his shot, it was clear that nc did
not bear our whistle, upon which Captain Ward
lned two blank charges from his bow gun to attract
his attento which bc!rg also dsegarded round sh,t
was tired owar ds the bow OF the Reliance Ins AID tot
however have the desired effect and shortly after the
little propeller sheered or and proceeded up the rvc
We now resumed out OF ihe creek. follow
ing tho chanrel VIC had stakcd out former occasion
but presently brought up all standing by the leas
man al nonLcng fath0m Backing out VIC fed again
and after general Uts channel was CT Lass found ina
can away be rencd in future. The nitake all along
wae in stretching directly scIoss from Nj Grimes bous
IN VIRGINIA. Of which spoke 10 former letter In refe
and