The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-28
EXCURSION TO FORTRESS MONROE.
EXPERIMENTS AT THE AQUA CREEK BATTERIES WITH
JAMES RIFLED CANNON, ETC.

JAMES RIFLED CANNON, ETC.
WASHINGTON July q, 1861.
pieasan, trip the Potomac was INDUCED in today
by distinguished party who left here this morning in
the Coatzacoalcos, returning this euening The
party consisted Of Mr. Secretary Chase and daughters,
Governor Sprague, Bishop Mcvan Of Ohio George Ash
num- Esq, large number Of Congressman and several
other prominent citizens.
The main object Of the excursion the trial Of Of
James eighty four FOUNDER ri1ed When oppo-
site to aud four miles distant from Aqua Creek, where
the rebels have their battery the gun put in position
and fred The she struck the shore, and burst the
rebel battery The firing repeated several times with
great success proving not only that this great gun all
that II is claimed to be, but that the COazacoacos is
thoroughly adapted for the carriage Of guns that
mense caibre
Gen. James personally supervised the gun, and 1t is be-
keved by all on board that laboratories of Aqua Crock
could been easily senced had the operation been
tempted But Secretary Chase advised that being oay
private party in private steamer it would do to
make the attack.
A grand dinner provided by Marshal o. Roberts,
Esq whose liberal hospitality ample justice DONE
expected that the dischargng OF large agun
James s4pcundsr would shake the vessel from TO
stern but the contrary the conclusion board
scarcely felt.
When opposite Aqua Creek the Pocahonas hove TO- aud
her commander Captain Dove the Coatzacoalcos
He informed that battery was
yesterday completed by the rebcis at tho
Creek, and another-being the fourth--was being
erected The rebels there he added extremely vig
laat though they did think it best to tie big
gun d the Coatzacoalcos today.
Captain Howard Of the revenue service was detailed
by order Of Secretary Chase to superntend the exped
tton There were also detachment of thirty from
the Second Rhode Island artillery, under Captain Reynolds
who managed the gun in admirable style,
After the second round had been fired an engine with
several attached made its appearance through tho
gorge Of the mountains the road from Aqua Creek to
Richmond On the discharge Of the third gun the rebe
engineer reversed the steam and put back post haste
for Richmond, evidently for reinforcements That
there was "big scare the part OF the rebels their
scampering fully demonstrated
The party retupaed To Washington about eight O'Clock
all delighted with the excursion
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA.
MURDER or A NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AMONG THE
TROOPS.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July o. 1851
most wanton murder was committed here to-day
about teu O'Clock, by William Murray, Of Company F.
Second New Hampshire regiment The victim was an
unsurtunate girl named Mary Butler, living
IN the lower part OF the city Murray
and aes exchanging few words with her. deliberately
shot her with his mnsket The ball passed entirely
through her body, and caused her death few mo-
mens, Murray will be tried by martial on Mon
| day.
The last Of the troops stationed in the city went into
nup to day much the relief Of the citizens Up to
the present time the Provost Marshal destroyed upwards
OF ftty barrels of liquor Notwithstanding which the
I drunkenness among the troops Is still fearful.
IMPORTANT FROM CAIRO.
| CAIRO, July 90, 1881.
The trains coming North the Mobile and Ohio Fnil.
road were stopped on the 2 by order OF General Polk
The rebe gathering tn largo numbers in Southern
Mississippi and their camp al Putnt Pleasant reported
| 1900 strong, and endorsements daily arriving,
Gepsai Watkins, the rebe. Commander in Checof Caps
ahaaieau county, is at West Prairie and at Swamp Road
! with m aggregate Of 900 men.
cd Abe Hunter, another Zig gun Of South Missouri,
with abou fifteen hundred Missouri and Arkansas rebel
troops is encanped On the bank Of the river, opposite
/ Island No. s.
Kitchcn Watkins, adutant is within few mites o.
| Moomfed, on Custer run, in command Of some three
thousand troops.
In the Union camp at Hamburg, sder the command of
Aor Abby, there about 600 Loyal Missourlans who
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