The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-29
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP RoAsoKy

Orr FORTRESS MONROE July rs, 1861
Capture Io Fqe7 Of Rebel Vesse-7toelpe Of Them De-
ayoyed, and One taken to Fbrtrss Mnroe-A Successful
Espedi,ioa to Back Riwr-The Rebels Flee into the
Woods, dc,
In my Yesterdays letter spoke of the expedition tcd
oaf Tor reconnaissance up the Back river wss the
FIRST one that our boats had had opportunity To Join
In, and was hailed with joy throughout the ship The
miniature feet composed of two small propellers
Fanny and Anthartic, each towing five launches and
cutters two of the launches from ship three from
the Minnesota each with q IL pound howitzor, and
men marines, provisions and ammunition sufficient for
one day. the other Eve boats with detachment Of troops
from Fortress Monroe, principally AcCnespey Zouavcs
Tho whole force consisted Of about four hundred
officers and men HIS morning, about four O'Clock they
returned after successful twelve hours work. which
may be rccapitulated o. follows.
The aotila moved up the shore 10 the mouth Of Back
river, where short time ago a rebel battery Of some
Eve hundred troops, with large pieces OF artillery,
was located and made attack Of our scouting
parties. The expedition In charge Of Lieut. LETTERS
Of the Roanoke, an officer in every way competent for
such an enterprise rs brave and efficient he cool
headed and thorough In his discipline They met with no
pedhms NJ, on sns' way up until they arrived Of the
little before, when the rebels opened Are them from
some twelvepounders The attack quickly returned
by the pivot gun from the Fanny, at which the rebels
took to their heels and beat hasty retreat The shore
ut this point is low and marshy for distance back
and the shot from the rebel battery was from the woods
back OF the marsh The otiila kept its way up the
river for some distance where number Of small sail
sells were seen at anchor The vessels all deserted
and some OF them contained old household furniture.
The best portion of it WAS taken OUT and FIVE Of the yes
sells scuttled and burned One OF them, q trim little
schooner, named the Sherwood, of New York, loaded
with household effects, was taken by folks and
brought away with them, and she is anchor here
IT was evident from appearances board the Sherwood
that the crew had left very suddenly ahe dinner table
was set and the ham, Of which there nice broied
platter full on it, still Our boys awaited them
selves Of the opportunity to take hot bite. NotwIth
standing the Sherwood bears her the words New
York" the painting looks If 1t originally read "Nor-
folk and as all the letters but had been newly painted
There was another little craft that not moested the
owner or captain having on board his wife aud family,
WITH WITH what little household effects he cog gather o his
e s pss EsS h ssh s Sis s. ySs
work for them other places and no doubt she was able
~ get out without assistance.
The expedition then went up Harris creek another
small stream that enters about the same spot that Back
river does, but runs off in different
ing triangular piece of land whore it is
supposed the rebels rctrcatcd some of their masked
batteries in the under brush and trees perhaps
pectaton Of decoyng forces into ambush to
practise their guerrilla mode of warfare. This late
the evening, and by ten O'Clock five small yes
scis that lying in the shallow water and mud were
scuted and set Oh fire. In all twelve craft de-
stroycdthat Is, burned-and allowed to escape and
another called the Sherwood brought here This may
leaving Harris creek several Shot from muskets
fired at them from the woods n distance harm
was done.
On Harris creek where the vessels burned
small hudde of dwelling houses the occupants of which
fed in CONSERVATION at the approach of the expedition
men, women and children taking for the woods; bat be-
fore they left they hoisted American flag No demon
stration made toward them.
AS the wife of the captain of the little vessel have be
fore spoken Of that finally left unnoested came over
the side, poor woman, she terribly frightened. and
asked she was going to be killed. When assured she
hah r,,a hpr 1r,k
Rugged her little one closer her bosom with all fond
mothers devotion 1t appears that permit had been
spected
number Of small skins brought away from the
spot by our launches, Of which will doubt af0rd
some pleasure to Jack Tars and perhaps usefulness
in this vicinity.