The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-24
THE FIGHT AT SEWELL'S POINT.

THE FIGHT AT SEWELL'S POINT.
By the Southern mails we have additiona
particulars of the Sewel's Point fight. We give be-
low account published in the Petersburg Eepres'
by one who participated in the conflict. Captain
Cannon, of the steamer Adelaide, which arrived
here from Fortress Monroe yesterday morning,
states that it understood al the Fortress that
an attack upon the Virgnians had been determin-
ed upon, and that it expected that it would
take place yesterday by land and water smulta.
neously. The war steamer Minnesota would lay off
and engage the battery whilst the land force, con-
veyed across the river by small propeers, would
cooperate. So we may expect some stirring news
from that quarter to-day.
! Correspondence Of the Petersburg Ezpressl
NORFOLK, May 20.-The ball has been opened in
this negbb0rhnod and now, it may be, the war
| will commence in earnest.
Last Saturday the steam tug Kahokee took do own
a number of negro abOrers to complete a fOrtii-
cation that bad been commenced on Sewell's s Point
| which is situated Immediately at the mouth 0 f
| Elizabeth river, and from which the entrance into
James river may be commanded. The enemy had
an tmprOUtsed war steamer, the Monticello, stationed
off the point. The Kahokee perceiving, from GER
tain demonstrations on the part of the Monticello
that it would be unsafe to proceed to her destna-
ton, landed her men at Boush's bluff, point some
| two miles this side of Sewel's, where small bat
| terry had been erected =
This had hardly been accomplished before the
| Monticello steamed up and fired two shots both of
| which passed over the tug without inflicting any
| damage. The hre was responded to by the battery
at Boush's Bluff, which had the effect of causing
the Monticello to reliuquish the chase of the Kaho-
kee and dropping to her former position. She
| opened her guns the incomplete battery at Sew
| ellis Point, with the intention of destroying the
| work. She fired in all about thirty shots, only two
| of which took effect, but serious damage was
done. Two companies of soldiers at the
| point with about hundred negro aborers The
| soldiers stood their ground braveIy when the
| shells fell about them, but there was scampering
| among the darkes.
During the night several heavy pieces of artil-
lery and an additional force of laborers were sent
| down from this place, distance of nine miles,
| BY four O'Clock yesterday Sunday afternoon,
| three short 32-poundeTs and two rifle 6-p"unders
| had been placed in position and were ready for
action. They had not long to wait. Some brush
! wood by which the operations had been masked,
was removed, and no sooner was the battery expo
sed to view, than at the Monticello opened on
it. She mounts six guns of the heaviest cabre and
for about two hours threw shot and shell about the
work with fearful rapidty, and often times with
great precision. Our men returned the fire with
spirit but wanting experience, the guns were
served with great skill. Still several shots
from the rifed took effect and about nj ght-
fall the steamer was obliged to draw off, evidently
in disabled state.
The second shot from the battery struck near the
waterline, which she instantly signaed to the war
vessels in the Roads by sending up rocket. Later
in the conflict she sent up another rocket when
TWO steamers, tbe ankee ana the oung America,
came to her assistance. The Yankee took part in
the engagement, but receiving shot in the stern
which raked her deck and carried away her hap-
staff, she prudently withdrew to a safer distance
Her example was quickly follow by the other two
steamers, the Monticello making headway very
slowly and rolling heavily, as if partially filled
with water.
Thus is this first encounter in our waters, victory
remains with u.s. The troops that achieved it were
a company from Columbus Ga. Capt Cnluuitt and
Rifles I ap,h
detachment of the Junior Rifles of this place were
also in the work. The men, all agree, ex-
hlbited the cuoness and courage of veterans. No
troops could have behaved better.
When the affair ended, Captains Colqutt and
Lamb both made speeches to the command, and
cOmplimented them their gallant and sodierly
bearing. Gen. Gwynn, who present during
a rart OF the engagement, also spoke in high terms
of the bravery that the troops exhibited.
As usual, in the battles that have thus far oc-
Cured during the present singular war, "nobody
was hurt" That is nobody on our side, except one
man who got bruised shin from a spent fragment
of shell, and Col Collier, aid to Gen. Gwynn,
who, learn, raped severely over the
knuckles by flying splinter as to damage his
hand somewhat. These, believe, the only
side.
On the part of the enemy the list, it is to be
hoped, presents bloodier appearance.
Last night, four of the heaviest guns and
force OF nearly thousand men moved down
to the point. 1t was expected that warm work
would occur there this morning but up the pre-
sent writing 90 A. ny every thing is quiet.
Among the troops moved last night, were the
five Petersburg companies heretofore stationed at
Ferry Point, and the Richmond Grays all under
command of Col. Wesiger. Let these boys have
a chance, and they will surely give a good account
of themselves. They marched with the greatest
alacrity. and shouted when the order was given
They all have the proper metal.
Nichols, LeweIlens and Branch's companies are
at Cranev Island, from which point they had fine
OF the Yesterday. tOO list
to participate.
Capt, Fishers company of Cavalry are stationed
at "lse's store, on the seaboard road, about l6
miles distant from Portsmouth.
Later.
Especial Despatch to the Petersburg Express
THE MONTICELLO BADLY DAMAGED-sIx MEN KILLED
SEVERAL wOUNDED-''SoMEB0DY HURT' AT LAST
NoRFoLK, May 20, 8 p. M.
All is quiet here tonight.
Between 1900 and 900 Confederate troops were |
concentrated at SeweiPs Point last night but the
Yankee mercenaries did not return as apprehended |
and our men, who were actually eager for the
fray, had nothing to do
AS promised in my letter of yesterday to give |
you Information to-day in case should be able to
ertan the fact whether any of the enemy were |
killed or wounded by fire from the battery at |
SewelPs Point, on Sunday last, report upon the |
authority OF a gentleman who went down to Fort
Monroe yesterday Monday }, in the steamer which
carried under flag of truce, the families of those
who desired to go North, that board of the
Monticello there were six men killed during the
ry. 1t was reported that several others had been
wounded, but to the truth of this he could not
learn. The dead bodies OF the six killed, or part
OF them, bov ever, he ready for interment.
The Monticello is so much injured that she will
not be fit for service for time.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Times writes that resident of Norfolk arrived in
Washington on Wednesday, vino declares that there
are four hundred cannon mounted on the banks of
the river and that the batteries extend for five
miles below the city. He boasts that the guns are
of the heaviest cabre and most improved construc-
ton, and commanded by the best army and navy
officers of the Old Federal Union. They believe
the combined fleets of the world could not capture
Norfolk by sea. He adds that Old Point Comfort
also securely fortified as to be impregnable
to an attack.
The same correspondent says:
Gen. Mansfield issued orders to day, quite late in |
the afternoon, for all the troops to load their guns
and supply themselves with fifteen rounds of cart
ridge. The order promptly carried out, and !
tonight all the soldiers within Gen. Mansfied's
military district sleep their loaded arms with |
fixed bayonets. There is much anxiety at the sew |
eral camps to know the cause of this order but no
one except the commanding officers knows anything
of it.
A CAPTURE BY THE CONFEDERATES.-A gentleman |
who reached this city yesterday from Wilmington,
n. c., informs us that large shp-name un- |
known-got aground on the Frying Pan Shoal on |
Wednesday last. Her boat came into Smithville |
n. G., for assistance, when tug boat to her
aid. She assisted off by the tug, her Captain |
representing that she was bound a whaling voy- |
age but from the very large amount of provisions |
board, the suspicious of the North Carolinians
became excited, and they had reason to believe |
that she is Goverement transport bound to some |
military pest the Gulf, perhaps to Pehsacola. |
They have consequently taken possession of her, |
had her cargo taken out, and have taken the ship |
into Smithve. The supply of food board is
said to have been immense, the ship drawing
wenty-one feet of water when taken, and she is re-
ported to be large and fine vessel.
p. S.-Since writing the above we have received |
the following despatch, for which we are indebted
to the courtesy Of the editors of the Daily Jour
nal:
"The ship Thomas Watson, Allen, from New |
York, brought in here to-day. She is from |
three to four hundred tons burthen. The charac |
of her business in these is yet ascer-
tanned She is now lying at the wharf, leaking |
badly."-Ch hGrleston Courier.
Provisions FOR ALEXANDRIA SToPPED.-Colonel |
Ellsworth having discovered that provisions were |
surreptitiously conveyed from Baltimore by water |
to Marlboro, and thence across Maryland to the |
Alexandria ferry, by which they were put in pos.
session of the Secessionsts took, last evening,
hundred ZOuaves, and marching down six or eight |
miles, blockaded all the roads in the vicinity. He |
found undoubted evidence of the regular trans
portation of supplies, and learned that the last
wagon-load was carried across early Yesterday |
tha pio nd