Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-09
TINE BATTLE Ar AQUA CREEK !.
Nobody Hurt on our Side.
TwENEY-EIGHR OF THE ENEMY RE-
PORTED KILLED.
From u. rrsderisl.burg Recorder, Jun. !, !,

The fight on Saturday last between the war yes
sells of the enemy and our men stationed in the bat
teries Nos. l. and 3, at Aqua Creek, (where it
emptles into the Potomac was the fiercest that has
yet taken place during the war, if we except the
fight which resulted in the capture of Fort Sumter
About ii O'Clock. June lst the war steamers
Pawnee, the Anacosta, the Harriet Lane, q Tug
Boat mounted with rihed cannon, and Steamboat
also mounted with guns, commenced the attack
and for five hours shot and shell fell with desolating
intent, but their fury was averted by Him whom
the winds and storms obey.
The enemy doubtless believed that this formidable
attack would not only silence the batteries against
which their guns were directed but absolutely an
initiate them. How futile the project There they
stand intact, in all the majesty their strength
laughing at the mad folly of those who essayed
their destruction
The wrath of the enemy was doubtless great as
score after score Of shot and shell rained around
oar batteries, promising their utter desolaton and
yet not breach waslmade, not an injury inflicted
The flag of the Confederate States swelled in the
breeze and waved back defiance!
Nearly 600 shot and shell were fired by the en-
envy. gentleman living several miles off counted
597; whilst one of the men within battery, was
cool and collected that he kept score and marked
573 as the number. What think you of such cool.
ness amid such warm work. Mr. Lincoln?
No man inside or outside, killed, wounded or even
scratched. The only destruction was that of a
chicken coop, in which an old rooster and his mate
were enjoying the salute. One shot struck the
coop, killing the hen. As soon as freed from re-
straint the old cock tapped his WINGS mounted our
battery, and gave crow of defiance; and it is said
that after each fire thereafter on part Old Chan
ticler gave a crow!
The engine house, built of brick some distance
in the rear of the batteries pretty efectually
riddled with the shot of the enemy. They mag
ined that large number of our boys were there as
a place of safety; but not bit of it, the post of
danger is the post Of honor, and there you may 81
ways look for the boys of Fredericksburg and old
Stafford.
The large frame building st the end of the Rail
road wharf impending the fire of our batteries was
set on fire by our men and destroyed. The enemy
thought of their shells had fired it, and gave
huzza from the decks of their vessels, but like
some other of their victories, it not true in
point of fact.
Although the enemy shot 600 times, our batteries
replied with only rs fires. We wanted our pow
der and ball to count, and we are assured some of
it did count. Our own men are satisfied that from
four to six shots took effect and this is verified by
gentlemen who were on the Maryland side during
the fight, who say that some of our balls went
through and through one of the vessels.
All the vessels except the Pawnee went up the
Potomac after the fight, and hands were at work
repairing, on board the Pawnee, all of Saturday
night Sunday morning three patches Of new tim
Der were visible on one of her sides.
The guns in our batteries were manned chiefly
BY Stafford men, and some half dozen from Fred
ericksburg. Where all behaved with so much cool
and intrepdity, including those from distance
it might be considered invidious to name some and
omit others and as we cannot obtain full list we
refrain from all mention of names. The naval off.
GERS in command-and the brave hearted Cunning
ham-award the highest praise to the veteran1ike
bearing of the soldiery who manned the ordinance.
An idea of the pluck of the men at the Creek
may be gathered from the fact that ammunition be-
ing wanted at the batteries, two of the boys from
Fredericksburg, Edward Mcdowell and - He'd
niger ran the gauntlet with hand car for half q
mile. in full view of the enemy. Nine shot and
shell were fred at them, and several instances
the railroad track torn up but they escaped
without even scratch.
The flag of the enemy on the Anacosta was shot
down, and trailed in the water for mile or two,
until the steamer had gotten out of range of our
guns-none on board having the nerve to present
themselves and rescue it from dishonor. The shot
we learn fred from one of Walkers guns that
had been taken to the point. and was manned, we
presume, by Richmond men, who were cool and
collected during the whole battle.
II 600 shot and SHE'LL and magazine OF powder,
is required merely to cripple old horse and kill
hen, how much will be necessary TO subjugate the
Sol tn? Will some of Lincon' mathematicians figure
1t out, send US the answer, and we viii publish it
gratis.
June 3, says: "The Pawnee was injured very much
There is doubt of this she all day yester-
day opposite to our station at IS Point Lieut.
-, and myself examined her with large spy
glass and found she had hole in her quarter, e.
near the water line, under the side of her stern
We also saw men in a boat mending her port side,
amidship. You may rely on this. Our batteries
shot "A shot and shell and struck six or seven
timesn
We are also informed, third handed, that minis
ter on the Maryland side told person who brought
the to this side, that he, the clergyman, was
present, though not officiating, at the burial of %
persons taken from on board the vessels after the
battle of Saturday and who had been killed during
the action