The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-07
The Engagement NJ Aeuia Greet.

| ake W our battery ls concerned, Is apparent
enough, while he doubtless underssates the
| damage to the steamers:
First Lieutenant Thomas NJ Caah states
| that the Freeborn was engaged In tho can
nonading at Aqua Greek on SATURDAY from II
O'Clock A. NJ. until Z. NJ, during which
time she ifred @uo shot and she'll, nearly every
one of which did execution
During her three engagements with the
enemys battery, the Freeborn was struck
with six shot, only one of which penetrated
and severely damaged one of the wheels
Another passed through the side about twenty
feet abaft the stem, Gu ting off one of the
maindeck beams, then striking a large knee
and cutting IL compile ely off, bolts and all
The fourth shot passed through the bulwarks
The fifth and sixth struck the port yard, aud
bounded overheard, Two or three shots
struck so close to the vessel as to throw M
water sufficiently to administer a refreshing
bath TO the gunners.
The Pawnee fired $50 shot and she'll. but.
strange to say, the shelf exploded a consid-
cradle distance short of their mark The shot
did good execution. She was the recipient of
h'e snols from the enemy, none of which did
material damage.
The Freeborn and Pawnee were the only
TWO vessels actively engaged in the fight yes
terday. The Yankee, Anacosta and Reliance
were laying off, firing oAly occasionally.
Lieutenant Cash says there must have been
quite II number Of the Confederates killed as
ney could be distinctly seen from the deck of
the Freeborn carryifg OF many of their num-
Der on filters. He says all the guns of the in
land battery had been removed 10 the sand
battery on the shore the night before, from
which the entire firing proceeded.
The shot from the enemy were altoge Their
from rifed cannon, which accounts for their
ecaritying effect.
One OF the enemy's shot struck the Paw
nee's smoke stack another took effect in her
miZZen topmast and another penetrated her
maln- yard.
All the enemys guns were silenced save
one, which was discharged only at intervals
n lfssC and fFn1 ca1
firing altogether.
As the enemy's firing ceased they applied
the torch 10 the railroad depot in the vicinity,
which, together with the entire length of the
wharf, WAS consumed.
1t is presumed that in view of the formid-
| able appearance of the Federal troops, and
| the great execution they have accomplished,
| the Confederates anticipated q landing OF
| troops from the vessels 10 make sure of the
work we'll done, and We're determined To
des troy as much us possible before their arri-
val.
Ny informant says the depot was complete
ly rlddied with shot, and presented the APP
pedrance OF pepper box.
Not man ON either the Pawnee or Free
porn WAS Injured in the least Saturday,
ana the greatest en- thusiasm prevailed among
ooth officers and crew during the engage
ment.
Tne Freeborn carries two 80 Founders and
a smaller brass piece. The Pawnee has five
guns on each side, and Long Tom. The en-
gagement yesterday with the Aqua Greek
battery was the third i'll which she had been
L participant She opened the ball on Wed
nesday at +. NJ. con tinuing her firing un til
dark, reSumlng operations on Friday at 10 A,
N :, and continuing her firing until II NJ.
The shot from the enemy which struck the
Frerborn have been preserved by the crew as
mementoes of the engagement They are
about two and half inches in diameter
about eight inches in length, and weigh eight
pounds.
fine President, accompanied by Secretary
Seward ted the N1VV-fari a Il n'pIppk
| this evening, and went on board the Free
| born escorted by Capts. Ward and Dahlgren
| The Presiden. shook the hands of the gunners
| with great cordially, and cUmplimented them
| for their bravery. The enemy's rifed cannon
| shot were handed him tor examination, at
| his request. On his passing one of them to
| Mr.. Seward, / thought observed a scarcely
| perceptibe shrug of the Pr, mier's shoulders,
| AS he held the death dealing instrument in his
| tiny hands. One of the Seventy first through
| his eagerness TO watch the movements of the
President from tie pier, fell overbo trd, bu t
| being An excellent swimmer soon reached ter
IA nrma.
| OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
The following is the official report from the
| commander of the steamer Freeborn:
| FLoTILLA STEAMER FRREBoRs,
PoToMAC RIVER, June /, 1861
| SIR: / have the honor TO report a renewal
| of the bombardment at Aqua Greek. com
| mencing at IL O'Clock and 80 minutes in the
| forenoon this day, and terminating, from IA
| tlSue OF the lHtu-lHe DeiHR very W;tT1O,
| and the firing on our side incessant-at 40 i'll
| the afternoon being duration of five hours.
| The firing on shore was scarcely rs spirited
| az any time yesterday. The heights were
| abandoned, the guns apparently having been
| transferred TO the earthworks at the railway
| terminus, in replacement OF the batteries there
silenced by US yesterday.
During the last hour of the engagement only
| two or three shots were thrown from the
shore, by few individuals seen steaithily
now and then to emerge from concealment,
and who hastily loaded and fired a single gun
| The bulk of the party had left half an hour
before. and squads were observed from time
| to time taking TO their heels along the beach
with speed and bottom truly commendable
| for it's prudence, and highly amusing TO the
| seamen. II did not seem advisable TO permi t
| so feeble fire to wear out my men, therefore
| discon tinued the engagement Several shots
| came on board of us, causing the vessel to
| leak badly, and, besides other injuries, clip
ping the port wheel, the wrought iron shaft
| being gouged by shot which would have
| shattered it if OF cast iron-a point cons idered
| by me in selecting this vessel for purchase
Fortunately have again neither killed nor
wounded TO report, though the shot At times
| fell thick about US, testing the gallantry and
| steadiness of my people, which consider Of
sta ndard proof for any emergency.
l proceeded to Washington to repair DANA
ges and refill my exhausted magazine. The
Pawnee Tema ins, mean time, below 10 supply
my place in the blockade. Captain Rowan,
of that ship, joined me last night replenish-
Ing my exhausted STORES, ana most gdlItntly
opened the fire this morning, ,haying followed
my lead in shore towards the batteries. His
ship received numerous wounds both below
and aloft, inflicted by the enemy's shot. Oh
account of her size, she being more easily hit,
she appeared to be their favorite mark, and
was herself often II sheet of flame, owing TO
the rapidity of her repeated charges. ! have
instructed Captain Rowan to report circnm-
stan TALLY direct 10 the department. The
enemy set fire to the large passenger and
freight depot on the end OF the long pier, as
we We're approaching. probably to remove it
as an obstruction to their aim, but were not
permitted to extinguish the flames during the
whole five hours cannonade. Consequent y
nearly the whole pier is destroyed leaving
| only the charred piles remaining above the
water to mark its former position.
We have had more than thousand shots
discharged at us within range, and have our
selves fired upwards of three hundred shot
and shells, with seventeen hundred pounds of
POWDER What damage We have inflicted re-
mains to be seen. That we have received
none not easily repaired is truly remarkable.
| The Anacosta and Reliance We're not permitted
| to come under damaging fire, their support
having been necessary to embolden those en-
gagged by giving them confidence that if DIS
abled in the machinery assistance was a. hand
| TO drag them out.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, JAAEs ii WAkD,
Senior Officer on the Potomac.
To Hon. Gideon Wells, Secretary of the
Navy.
LATR FOREIGN INrELLIaBScB.-Th steamer
| Prince Albert arrived Al st. Johns on Friday,
| with Liverpool dates to the 2lst. Political
| news unimportant.
The Queen of Spain has signed the decree
| for the annexation of San Domingo.
An amendment to the budget will be moved