Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-04
Fight at HIathiaS' Point.


The Fredericksburg Herald of the 2Sth ult., pub
fishes the following report of fight at Matthias
Point, on Thursday night, the 9th, but does not
YOuch for its accuracy:
1t is said that party of the Federal troops land
ed from one or more vessels with sand-bags, ap-
parently for the purpose OF putting up some de-
fences
After landing they were attacked by the Sparta
Guards and Caroline Greys, and repulsed. We
informed that six of the Federal troops killed,
some twelve or fourteen drowned, and that from
fifteen to twenty had taken to the woods where
they were lodging about like scared patridges.
The only damage on our side is said to be flesh
wound on the cheek of one of our
The guns Of the vessel were not fired lest their
own men might be killed.
The Fredericksburg Ne,oS makes the following
statement:
The enemy Iaaded at Matthias Point last night in
large force with sand bags to erect a battery. Our
BOYS routed them-kied six, drowned ten, and the
rest escaped. leaving twenty in the woods and
the troopers stlll hunting them like wild tur-
keys.
LATER-ACcoUNT FROM A NORTHERN SouRcE-THE
CAPTAIN OF THE FREEBoRN KILLED AND SEVERAL
SAILORS WOUNDED.
The Richmond Dispatch is indebted to gentle
man of that city for a copy of the Washington
National RepuJHean, of Friday evening, the 28th
ult which confirms the statements of the Freder-
rebels were killed and wounded.
The steamer Pawnee arrived at the navy yard
this morning, bringing the body of Captain Ward,
of the steamer Freedom, who was killed in an &C
ton at Matthias Point about dusk yesterday after
noon.
AS near as we can learn, the particulars are as
follows:
! Capt Ward, on Wednesday night, sent to Capt
Rowan of the Pawnee for two boats crews, which
were sent down under Lieutenant Chapman, in
der 10 take possession OF the point and erect bat
terry. Early yesterday morning landing was af-
fected and the pickets of the enemy were driven
back The number of men landed was between
thirty and forty, Capt Ward in the meantime prom
Ising to cover the men with his guns.
About this time, "cOntraband" slave, belong
ing to Dr. Hooe, noted Secessionst, made his ap-
pearance with shirt on pole, as a flag of truce,
and stated to the men that there was rebel force
of from 800 to 1000 men in the vicinity: but his
story not believed, and the men proceeded with
filling their sand bags for the battery.
While the men were at work at the battery the
signal was given for the boats to return from the
Pawnee, and simultaneously the enemy opened
fire of musketry from the bushes, and the men
retreated to their boats, the fire being meanwhile
kept up. The gunner on the FTeeborn woun-
ded in the hip by a ball, and Capt. Ward immedi-
ately sprang in his place, and was in the act of
sighting the piece when he was shot in the breast
Four others were wounded, among them W. j.
Bess, gunner, who was struck with four shots, and
will probably die, and Jack Williams, the coxswain
of the third cutter, who was shot in the hip as the
boat was retreating. Immediately on beng struck,
he ordered the boat back, and defantly waved his
flag in the face of the rebels. The flag is perfectly
rddled with shot there beng nineteen holes in it.
The men ret'eated with such precipitation that
number of them were left on shore and had to
swim of of them bringing on his back Mr.. Bess,
who was wounded.
The FFeeborn returned the fire, and threw some
ten or dozen shells into the bushes, which were
seen to explode among the rebels, and doubtless
killed number of them.
The Freeborn, after getting the men on board,
hauled of and after the death Of Capt Ward, who
died about eight o'clock, Zone holr after he was
shot) his body was sent up to the Pawnee, on which
it was brought to this city.
Some accounts of the action state that when the
fire had commenced, the bOsts were on the way to