The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-31
TIE LOWER POTOMAC.
OUR LOWER POTOMAC CORRESPONDENCE

OUR LOWER POTOMAC CORRESPONDENCE
UMrSp STATES srsxxa yAN9rs, orr INDIAN HsAp,l
foroNAo RIVER, October "a, 1891. J
TIE fdnkee Vtstts Aatiau0maa Cyeek-An Eacurao~ on
Shore-A Long March and Ditto Ride--7As Casal,y and
lfantyy Regiments Military Apeaities--fiiie attack
Of IL 3coe' Steamer Page Our Troops--An Unsuceess
.fat Asempt al Landing-A Tartar Nearly CaagAt--
Foolish Act Of Soldier--His Shocking Death, and tho
Wousldins af His Comrades, de-, de-, dc.
This morning. after breakfast Captain Eastman recov.
cd orders from the Commodore proceed to Mattawo
man creek, taking tho Reliance and Resolute
with him, to visit the encampmcnt OF the Union
troops in the neighborhood, and communicate
something to tho commanding officer which must remain
a secret for tho present. Accordingly, we soon
standing down the river and in short time cast anchor
In Eatawoman creek. Captain Eastman ordered the gig
TO be manned and the to be armed and thus equip
ped went Shore running the boat up on the beach,
She was afterwards secured however, 70 wafer fence
that about hundred yards into the creek We pro-
ceeded examine the lay Of the land in order to discover
road loading to Bndds Ferry, further down the
river. We soon found several negroes driving an OK
wagon along road skirting cornneld Ihcy readily
gave the desired information; but whether they de-
signedly msled US, misunderstood their not very
luminous direction described considerable circuit,
instead Of going direct Passing through wood Of young
there of larger growth, whose glowing tnts, from
bright gold through all the gradations Of pink scarlet
and crimson conrasted beautifully with the dark green
Of the pines, emerged into Some open fields, where
found the persmmon laden with It's golden fruit, and
only waiting for the first frost TO rpen group Of negro
cabins attracted attention, and Captain Eastman
sent one Of force to bring any Of the inmates to be
found TO him. The returned with an old negro
man and two boys one mulatto The old fellow resd
y consented to pilot to the cavalry encampment
Budds Ferry; but the boys were equally acquainted
with the locality, we employed them.
Passing through some corn1eds ready for the harvest
guides brought to the residence Of elderly white
man. who informed us that the camp only hundred
and 6fty yards off, at the time telling us VIC were
the right track, which afterwards found to DO
correct. little beyond the old mans house. on gentle
ACTIVITY, group of houses Of greater prctensions
Captain Eastman here called halt. as he deemed 1t
prudent to be cautious in approach to the camp lest
might be mistaken for enemies and BIO fired at by our
own friends. To request from Captain Eastman, the
master Of the house-a sonewh hat stout farmer looking
man-accompancd by visitor, leading his horse by the
bride, came down tho hill and accompanied to the
camp While were waiting for these gentlemen, we
caught glimpse Of soldiers through the intervening
trecs-a musket having been previously discharged in
that direction We learned afterwards that the com
picket Of the approach of a small party of rebels.
for which he took ushe naval uniform not being fam
liar to the Western lad
We found the cavalry encampment in an open field
cose to another Of ripe corn and few rods from Mr.
Poseys house, Budds Ferry The soldiers were biz o-
acking the open air for the tents were lying on the
ground not having yet been erected Near by were
several packages containing the soldiers rations and
their camp neccssaries. 1t was tho dinner hour, and
Captain -, of the First Indiana cavalry, by whom we
coureosy received, invited to partake Of SOL
diers fare, and march Of i've six miles had sharp
ened our appetes readily complied. Nor were the
scamcn forgotten They had been halted outside tie
camp but on receiving the invitation they march
ed inside the enclosure under the command of Masters
Mate Lawrence, and for few minutes oil dcepy
engaged in the discussion Of good dinner.
Previous to sitting down TO the meal, We had full
view Of the batteries at Shipping Point and beyond with
the rebel steamer George lying at anchor under the
ut Shipping Point.
cncnmpcd, and kindly offered Captain Eastman and
your correspondent horses TO take there and
company himself, and longer required the
seamen, being fully assured that enemy was in tho
neghbohood they back the boat under the
command OF Mr.. Lawrence.
Mounting our horses, and attended BY an orderly We
route for the encampment OF the Third New
York Volunteers, under the command Of Colonel Tay
Of four miles through pines oaks and other trees
evergreen and deciduous brought to tho camp, stu
ated slightly rising ground at the foot Of which
rippled purlng brook. The extremely pic
turesque, the white tents Of the soldiers aordng an
agreeable relief to the autumnal hues OF tho
foliage OF the surrounding forest. Captain East
mans business was soon transacted with Colonel
our return to the point whence we started. But it
easy mattcr in such labyrinth OF bride tracks,
long way above the place where we landed and after
crossing small arm OF tho crock, up to- the horses
knees, We were prevented from proceeding further
this direction by the muddy nature OF the ground and
compelled to strike inland for another road. At
length, after numerous mistakes and bringngs up on
high precpous banks overlooking the creek found
landing place, but the boat gone. Concluding
that Mr. Lawrence In search of along the Shore
Captain Eastman sgnacd the Yankee for another boat
yrh me- n n beau opa tab of
military friends whose number had been augmented by
several of the cavalry picket returned board where
soon joined by the Of the other boat and
q short time after weighed, and stood up
the river towards anchorng ground closely followed
by the Reliance and tho Resolue, and arrived at about
hall past four O'Clock without any further incident.
We learned, during visit 70 the cavalry encamp
men that the nine shots heard from the yeste
day wore not from the batteries but from the Page She
was full Of rebel troops and audacious enough to
lower boat or Rudds Ferry for the purpose Of landing
them. Our troops were, however, prepared for them
and anxousy awaited their landing One man, however
ncautiousy showed himself upon which the rebels took
the alarm and the boat very prudenty put back Tho
Page took position and threw In nine shells but for
tunatcy hit Of troops One shell, however
went through the corner Of Mr. posey's house.
But though the shells in their flight did injury 10 our
men, one Of them, belonging to the New York Third
Volunteers caused his death and the serious wound
ing of several Of his Commissioning Of whom likely
to diehrough his own stupendous folly In playing with
Of these dangerous missiles shell Of largo cabro
had been found, when, the cap being taken or,
about pint and half Of powder was taken
from the cavity. The unfortunate man, supposng the
she'll empty actually put live coal into it, upon
which II exploded with loud noise in the midst of
group who examining it with much interest and
curiosity The fragments scattered all round wounding
fewer than twelvefve Of them scaerely that the
who did the mischief died shortly after Is
probably dead by this time and three not ex
peced to survive. An occurrence like this scarcely
be placed among tho category Of accidents. II Ia bad
enough to be blown TO pieces by the enemy in the ordk
nary way Of business but there something iuexpress
bly, shocking in such death as that / have described
Traitors abroad on the Maryland shsr Last night
three signal lights were seen flashing up in succession from
certain house, and they were answered from the vr
ginia shore.
was amused at remark by the orderly who accom-.
panied US to-day He was the man who gave notice in
tho cavalry encampment Of approach. He said he
did like looks at ALL was not aware that our
appearance was so ferocious.
UNuED STATES STEAMER YANKEE, OFF INDIAN HRAp.l
PoroMAc RIVER, Oct %, 1851. !
The Battery al Matthias Point Myh-RgnnnQ the Blcc,
ade-Part Of the Flotua Return to Aqtia Creek-Widh
1Me River at Shipping Point-Edsy Chair C,i.ics-A
Sua9eicn-Visi Of Assiaant Secretary For to tie Com
modoe-Comnsodore Craucn Visits ne Sickles Encamp
ases,t, de-, dc, &c.
After all it sccms that the eighteen gun battery said to
have been erected by the rebels Matthias Point is
myth. hardly believed IL, and therefore did not tele