The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-16

NORFOLK, Sept. IA, 1861

a.tt NORFOLK, Sept. IA, 1861.
Yesterday afternoon, tho Confederate steam
er Patrick Henry, came down James River,
aud ahchoring about four miles above New
port News, opened her tremendous bat
teries upon the Federal steamer savannah
which was anchored of the point above nam
ed Shells from the Patrick Henry were
seen to pass very near the Savannah, and IL is
hoped she was damaged. She returned the
fire briskly, the balls reaching about half
way to the Patrick Henry. Four shots were
also discharged from Sawyer gun 1T New
port News. &
At6P M. the Federal propeller Daylight
moved up towards the Patrick Henry, when
the latter fired fourteen times At the former.
Some of the balls, it is believed, penetrated
the hull Of the propeller, letting the daylight
com pletely through. The Daylight fired four
shots, changing her position as many times,
and soon hurried away beyond the range OF
the guns of the Patrick Henry. The Safan
nah fired twonty- three shot and shell
After this engagement, which enabled the
Patrick Henry to test her guns, she quietly
weighed anchor and leisurely passed further
up James river. | cannot ascertain the ex-
tent OF the damage, if any. This morning Il
large war ship was towed down from New
port News TO Old Point.
A large war steamer went up TO Newport
News yesterday.
l regret that the Portsmouth transcript,
edited by ID. ID. Fiske, Esq, formerly Mayor
of the city, has been discontinued tor want
Of paper The TrGnseript was y well
Quoted journal, and its discontinuance much
regretted
+, am glad to find that the Old North State
is furnishing our city with good brooms, the
manufacture of which has been commenced
ut the Institute of the Deaf Dumb and Blind
located at Raleigh. The brooms are Of ex-
cellent quality, and can be sold at Reasons Die
prices.
noticed In yesterdays issue of the Dispatch
a statement that there have been general
street fights here. This is certainly Il typo-
graphical error-the word general having
no doubt been printed instead of several"
A complaint has been made by an indiv
al in an earnest, though quiet and gentle
manly way, about Il statement in the Norfolk
CORES pOndence OF the Uispatch, in which IL
might have been well 10 omit the names OF one
or TWO places mentioned. It'll Well known that
statements at all calculated TO give any intor-
nation at all beneficial TO our enemies or
hurtful to the Southern cause ara carefully
avoided in the correspondence as well as i'll
any other department of Your paper. Much
intelligence, exceedingly interesting, but
which mig lat prove serviceable to the enemy
of course is withheld entirely. Complaints
will, nevertheless, sometimes be made, and
when any published statement is respect
fully alluded to, of course it is proper that
the matter should be respectfully needed
The public demands war news and must be
supplied but it is very essential of course
that wise discretion should be constantly
exercised with regard to the probable effect
of any information before it appears in pub
lie print.
A flag of truce went down to Old Point tia 5
morning, and some passengers detained t
Old Point will be sent to Craney Island from
the Fort to-morrow.
There is some movement of troops here
abouts, but the particulars cannot give you.