The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-05

rug VI the depot bursting in mid air. The Ana
costa now opened fire from her solitary thirty-tw
t po'uinnder, but the shot fell entirely short.
'Ha, ha, hap laughed Captain Ward; "that
: b hne ol their new guns, eh? Why, my old GU
Deats II completely" "Captain,' observed one
the officers "the Anacosta's gun is like bran nev
sailor who had never gone to sea before" At thi
Si'y there was general roar of laughter. Th
rreeoorn now fired number of round shots still
from her forward gun-for the after one had no
yet opened-just to get the proper elev alton. On
vi Two feil short in consequence of too great de
preston, but the greater number went clear owe
the pier and the battery itself, one of them pitch
'ng INTO small white house on the beach. Tn,
proper elevation having been obtained, she'll wa
nreu % right into tie depot, where it burst. 1t wa
Ioio"ed by another Immediately after completely
sna'terlng considerable portion of the building
An"'ner shell exploded right into one of the bat
ies =" 'he lett OF the depot, doing great damage
hpng oetore this the soldiers seen clearing ou
VI ,ne depot, which they had occupied as barracks
ana, oy the aid of our glasses bodies were seen car
rleo away on litters bv the soldiers but whether o
men Killed by our shot, or simply wounded we
were OF course unable to ascertain.
we had fired about eleven rounds before the
enemy opened fire. His first shot was a round
tmrty-two pouuder, which struck the water and
iIcp"eheting, skinned along the surface, buryipg
| tsei az some distance from port side. His
| next shot approached within about thirty feet Of
our DOW, but the force being spent it sank The
| ahacosta occasionally put in a shot or she'll
ohe or the latter struck of the depot
"h'ch IL completely tore away. The engagement
no" became general. Shot and shell were poured
ID on Doth sides; on our part with considerable
eHect, while those from the enemy generally fell
snort. Singular as it may read, some two or three
| OF our shells actually burst under water, throwing
| up the spray to a considerable height do not
pretend to explain how this could be on any prin-
! cple of physics. ! simply state fact that, per-
| haps every man on board witnessed and can youch
| for.
All this time was en- the hurricane-deck near
the pllot-house, marking the effect of the shots
anc exchanging remarks with pilot Lewis, who
was near me. The Anacosta's pilot-whose name
L regret to say have forgotten, as he deserves
credit for his GOODNESS and skill-was at the wheel
assisted by pilot A. B. This gentleman has re-
quested me not to name him, as if do the seces-
sonists may hang him if he ever falls into their
clutches was beginning to congratulate myself
on the absence of danger, when, whz a ball went
right over our deck, between the pilot-house and
the smoke-stack, and right over the head of Mr.
Lewis and myself 1t was decidedly new sensa-
ton. "HallOa," exclaimed Lewis, as cool as
cucumber, ''they have a big fellow there" dyes"
responded. "and we must take care of our heads
or we may chance to lose those indispensable
articles"
The sight was solemn one, but not devoid of
sort of terrific beauty. The smoke from the enc
mY's guns, the flight of the shells occasionally
bursting in mid air, leaving beautiful wreath of
smoke where the explosion took place; the rcochet
OF the shots, skimming along the surface of the
CLASSY smooth river, all made up tableau that
should be seen to be appreciated. 1t cannot be un-
derstood by mere description The programme |
iohowed was this:-On seeing the smoke from the
enemy's gun, would wait for the report, and then
look out for the shot, which was easily avoided at
mat distance, so long the enemy fred from his
lower batteries, but it afterwards became quite
alHerent affair when he opened from the hill
There was no lodging those shots, for in avoiding
one-if you could see it-you might perchance
run your head against another, the fire was so in-
cessqnt.
The sound of the guns, breaking on the air in
notes thunder nd yrhi g .L. L.t.
were no less worthy of notice than what met the
VISION The reverberation among the distant hills
was grand and terrific.
After we had been engaged for about three quar-
ters OF an hour, the enemY's batteries-there were
three OF them-near the depot were completely
shenced, and we were congratulating ourselves on
having done our work rtfectually, and as being
out OF danger t ON the battery on the summit of
the hill to the left. when we soon found that we
were quite mistaken. wreath Of smoke is seen
from raVlne, just below the hill already men
TONED, and at the foot of smaller hill adjoining
and, bv Thor q bali came whzzng Just astern of
u.s. The sound was most peculiar, resembling the
sharp shril chirrup of a cricket. 1t was apparent
that this was from ri1ed cannon, perhaps from
the hedplece, which was seen being dragged up
the hill but little while before.
The after gun-a short thirty-two FOUNDER sery-
ed by Masters Mate Lee, under the direction of
Lieutenant Cash-nnw opened fire for the fist
time, pitching the shot right into the hill battery
but without doing much apparent execution inf
distance helpht q
the battery. All this time il must be remembered
that the Freedom almost stem on to the bat
terles near the depot, and that the forward gun
was trained sharp forward. slight variation
was, however, made now and then, by bringing
the vessel nearer broadside AMI the gun bear
more amidships, so as to get without the range of
the enemy's shots. On the opening of the hill bat
ter7 these tactics were altered. The Freeborn
was placed o. 1adsiae on, as to enable both guns
to be brought to bear on the enemy, the after gun
firing at the hill battery, while the forward gun
served by Captain Ward himself, ably assisted by
Masters Mate Gray, who, though still suffering
from a sprained ankle, was as nimble as lamp-
lghter-hred few rounds more at the depot bat
teries, so as to render the destruction complete
When this had been done to the entire satisfaction
OF Captain Ward, he trained his forward gun to
bear on the hill battery and blazed away.
The enemy fired in voeys: gun succeeded
gun IN such rapid succession that had to close nv
note book, in which | had been, to this moment
recording every shot from ourselves and the enc
my. The balls or rather sIugs fell around us,
across the bow aud the stern, and over our deck
as thick hail One ball went so close to nv port
ear that felt what had often heard and read of
before-the wind of the ball The enemy in fact
fired with admirable precision. One bali struck
the ugly old long boat that we captured the other
day, and which we have appropriated as a coal
barge, and glancing off fell into the water between
her starboard side and the Freeborn to the mort
side of which she secured-thus doing us ad-
mirabe service breastwOrk
Another ball struck the water close to our port
bow, and ricochetng, went through the planking
of the bulwarks, tearing off pretty large splinter;
glancng thence, it grazed the wrist of John Vick-
ers, ordinary seamen struck the gun carriage, and
fell upon the deck. 1t proved to be a sugar loaf
shaped concern, about three four inches in diam
eter and from nine to ten inches in lepgtb-an
customer. 1 distinctly saw it come on board for |
was on the port side, the pilot t-house, and
really thought it had killed or severely wounded
some OF our gallant ellows who We're working the
bow gun, and inexpressibly pleased, OF inauir-
ing, tn find that such not the fact.
1t now became apparent that it was of no m an
ner OF use our firing at a battery that our guns
could hardly reach, while the shallow water pre-
vented US from going in close; therefore Capt.
Ward ceased hring-an example that was followed
by the Anacosta-and we lay motinnless on the riv-
er for some time, receiving the enemys fire, which
we did not return. At length the word was given
and we sheered off. The magazine which had been
attended to by Mr. alters closed and the action
at end.
Like SewalPs Point, after several unsuccessful at
tempts to take it, the Lincoln army will probably
find that no advantages to be gained by its cap
ture, and will therefore let it alone. The ashing
ton correspondent of the New York Tribune says:
Unless Aqua Creek be held by sufficient land
force, there is to batter the batteries.
There are plenty OF guns at Richmond, and plenty
of gunners who need practice. The injury to the
ships is to be serious than to the earth
works, in such There would be advan-
tage in landing troops until ready to the rail-
road to move on Richmond.
THE FAIRFAX SKIRIISH.
Lieut.. TOmpiSins' Account of the Affair.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-The following is the re-
port OF Lieutenant Tompkins to Colonel Hunter,
his superior officer:
SRI have the honor to report that pursuant to
verbal instructions from the Colonel c0mman anding
| left on the evening of the 3lst in command OF
Company B, cavalry, to reconnoiire the country
in the vicinity of Fairfax Court House. Approach
ing the town, the enemy's picket was surprised
Several documents
on them, which | enclose. On entering the town
of Fairfax my command was fired upon by rebel
troops from windows and housetops. | charged
and drove the mounted rifles from the town. I'm
medately two or three additional companies came
to their relief and fired upon US, which returned
Perceiving was Outnumb bered, deemed it dvisa-
| bic to retreat which did in good ordrr with five
prisoners, fully armed and equipped and two horses.
NV loss is three missing. three slightly
wounded, and six horses lost The loss of the
rebels is from twenty to twenty five in killed and
wounded. From observations, | should Judge that
| the rebels at that point numbered fully 1,500 men.
| Captains Carey, Fearing, and Adjutant Frank of
| the New York Fifth. accompanied me, and regret
to state that Capt Carey was wounded in the foot.
| Lieut.. Gordon, of the Second Dragons rendered
valuable service. The prisoners, horses, arms and
equipments, have been sent to Genera al Mansfield.
Yours, respectfully,
CHABLEs Il. ToMPKISs.
Confederate Batteries on the Potomac to be
Silenced by Contract.
Ueneral James, the proprietor OF the celebrated
rided cannon, proposed two weeks since to take
| or more of his Oneh hundred-pound shot and shell
| instruments, and go down the Potomac and silence
all the batteries that could be discovered on the
| Potomac Chesapeake Bay, but the proposition
| was refused The proposal was made az ain to day,
| and the Secretary of the Navy accepted General
James proposition, and the General has left for
| New ork to execute his pledges. The twelve
pound riaed cannon is more properly for field SER
vice.
| The English Upon Privateering.
| The debate in the House of LORDS is all unknd