The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-09
OUR NEWPORT NEWS CORRESPONDENCE.


NEWPORT Nrws, Va, Oct. o, 1861.
Ariott Of General Mansfield al Newport Necs-EGe Of
the Late Soyn.--Rcyei Schooners and Sioors-Secmsr
Yorktou1-A Call f,0m SeeesA Lddy-Ccrairatands--
Fire Zouores-Thc M,sneers trom the Rip Ro7s-FayeG a.
Ne,cport Ne,cs--Good order in the Camps, dc.
Yesterday afternoon General Mansfield the new COM
andcr OF this department paid his FIRST visit. IIo is
hale hearty old gentleman, who looks as if no could
serve his country with energy for good many years
come He inspected the Notifications very closely, and
seemed on the whole, to be satisfied with hem and also
with the appearance soldiers who just the
midst Of their afternoon drill The intrencbments have
Uttered considerably by the late transforms, and
Wednesday evening the bridges at the sayports
extreme tanks, entirely washed away; but tho
steady labor of several hundred strong arms will
put all rights again Tho balance of the Ninth regiment
Companies Ky have received orders to hold them
selves in readiness leave this afternoon by the Spad
ing for liatteras
It's matter Of much vexaon to us to see tho mpor
,urty with which schooncrs and soops passing and
requesting every day along the enemy's Shore right in
srh, - re are left without single steamboat and
the large huls of u" Cumberland and the Congress
lie there in glorious inact ty unable to do the least
so.. !. . (. ,.a4.,. /. Tuesday last the Cumber
land So ct one lcr gGnboats in the river, about
midway between tho shores; soop inst then pass
Ing the other side, and Two OF three shots were fred
after hc bat without any effect 1t is much to be de-
sired that proper authorities will fit to send
us what we require couple of small, easily handled
gunhoais of light draught with few riled cannon of
the longest range, and manned by skilfu gunners.
Since the rebel steamer Yorktown paid a visit two
weeks ago she made further attempt break the
blockade This is probably owing the hard usage she
received al hands contrabands who deserted
from the battery on Mulberry island days after the
engagement stated that the hit twice aud
tina, she was considerably damaged by explosion
that occurred on board. This verifes the opinion of
Captain Murray Of the Louisiana who says that at
of the shots being fred by the Yorktown he
usually volume of smoke without any report and
that right afterwards he could the running
around between decks Win lanterns as 10 inspect some
great damage.
On Wednesday last houored by the dstin
cnished visit OF .sccesh" lady, Mrs Schmetz, from
Yorktown who came with an escor. Of colonel and some
other officers, for the purpose OF being forwarded TO
1 General Wool, whom she wished to consult in re-
/ gard 10 negroes that had taken refuge in
\ the fort. She probably expected that we should
/ calamity offer her passage on our steamer to
! Old Point, and thus give her the desired chance
1 to see our Publications and camps. But somehow
other General Phelps didnt it,. and only granted
her an ecor Of an officer and twenty men by the over
land route Hampton, the condition that her
suite left behind She stated that she only wanted
TO get slaves back to them well provided for
during the winter What disnterested bencvolence.
And what sci Of cod-hearted Yankees we must be,
who cannot appreciate such magnaninty. We have
learned what the result Of the intended visit, but
rather think that General Wool WAS not "shcepishn
enough 10 let the negroes return 10 their beloved MISTRESS
| unless they specially desired 20 dos
The number Of negroes which have deserted from the
other side OF the has diminished considerably of
late because ali the boats along the shore have either
been broken up taken inside OF the batteries. On
Tuesday last however, eight colorcd boys managed to
escape such lot OF streng and happy lads IL would
have done any good to sec Having been working
near Smithfed, in Isle Of Wight county several miles
from shore, they could not give us much new nforna
ton they correborated the old statement that measles
and raging 10 fearful degree among the white
population over there We cannot be too grateful for the
boon oil being encamped in such charming aud healthy
spot as Newport News
Well the much talked OF and much abused Fire Zousves
eleventh New York volunteers) have at last arrived
TO tell the TRUTH they not near as bad Is they
| were represented, When the hrst squad Of 100 mer