The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-20
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.

UNrn STATES STEAMER MOUNT VERNON, J
orr THS RAPrAnANSocK RIVER, Va, July 15, 1861.
Affairs on the Rappahanmock River, and OF the Different
Points in the Immediate Vicinly-A vsst to Urbana-
The State Of the Inhabitants in Middleseg Coumy-E,en
the Women Armno for ire Fray-Great Scaycityof Gro.
ceresThe Arrival Of Sin Slaves Direct from their Osp,.
ers-7heir Observation-Disclosures Treatment Of Whites
Supposed 10 Favor the Onion Cause, de-, dc.
The blockade Of port important river by which
we are enabled to- starve out the enemy or otherwise
bring them 10 terms has been for ages OF the mos.
successful expedients resored to by the great
ments Of the world The navy, alone employed on this
service apt 10 be forgotten unless the historian Of the
day takes cognzance Of the importance Of the work At
the present time there are 30 many "mportant move
ments Of troops" and "briant skrmishes" 10 be re.
corded that those engaged the high sea guarding the
coasts and protecting the rights Of the true and faithful
apt to be regarded secondary the great effort TO
sustain the government in all its usefulness and pcndor
Incidents rauspirc apparently of little Importance ana
yet serving to complete plans hi,her'x but roc
sketched Light engagements, whether b. land or sea-
give celebrity to the whence they derive their
known only TO the coasting trnder and Inhabitants In the
immediate vicinity become the OF heroic conduct
acts become stars on the pages Of the worlds history
Our own opportunities have been very limited. Still we
accomplishing the duty assigned TO u.s. and we feel
pride in doing that to the best Of ability The tedum
is sometimes unbroken for days The distant horizon il
scanned with the most watchful care vessel this d
recton Is discussed with the utmost interest," and as she
looms up do hopes and expectations se conjec
turing the news from home and oil sanguine Of moro
brilliant attacks from "0ur sidc."
We arrived here from Hampton Roads on the I'd Of
July. Everything was quiet until few nights since,
when heard from the shore the sound Of the drum that
marshalling rebel companies to their quarters
Their led anticipate an attack from
the st. Nicholas, which was up the river previous
our but to be one Of the rsa,
great amount Of wind before undertaking the least task
before them. believe furnaces now constructed
with patent bellows attached these fiery rebels must
Of necessity be well ventilated ere they can blaze forth
Whiskey Is their natural source Of fuel. few days
since boats crew was sent IN charge Of the master %
truce seen flying from house the border Of the
wood about a mile from the beach. We had seen IL
from the vessel, and believed 10 be only trap and
therefore did not notice IL; intelligence brought to
US recently confirmed our suspicious. visited, soon
is about two miles from Sting Ray Point What cassi
cal namely The building was deserted. The lenses oil
and other OF the had
moved By the keeper Immediately after the secession Of
guide the entrance Of the Rappehannock river Until
the concluded United States vessel carrying few
guns will answer the purpose much more eflectualy.
On Saturday. the 18th, we went up the river as far as
tx Hs esm Sss
Their was delightful Everything appeared in nne state
Of cultivation and the crops certainly promise very ne
harvest II was difficult TO imagine the people Of this
beautiful district engaged the most deesabe of all
crimes-treason and rebellion.
full history occurred this morning About Two
O'Clock A. N. the officer Of the deck discovered some
men in ,r, the lighthouse and their Boa some
armed, and sent to bring of the belligerents. We
supposed they had gone the house for purpose,
and through carelessness had allowed their boat TO r on
the sequel will show that were mistaken About nine
O'Clock the boats came aongsde besides own men
fGspe were SIX az men Their as
Hunter owned by Joseph Moore Peter Hunter by
Crittendenthe Hunters are all brothers; David Har-
rio hui 49,
"a nulAtto) owned by Robert f. Carter From Franklin
obtained the following statement of Affairs they
the same condition Of things all along The borders of The
State. The negroes ali belong in Middlesex county
Franklin is an Intelligent young man, and reading H.
tie, enabled to exercise some influence other
negroes plantations In the noghborhood The free
groes removed time since by fcrco work on
state All the poor men (whe) were drafted into the
service Of the rebels the rich men taking command Of the
companies so formed.
negroes and In case an attack should be made by any
armed vessels The slaves were TO form the 'advance
guard" and otherwise cover the wbite cbvary" This
the negroes did not appear to RELISH and contrary ad
vice and hreats they deliberately left their homes about
two O'Clock on Monday morning, and, depoetng them
selves in canoe, made for the lighthouse reported
Union stronghold II was firmly believed on shore that
we had forty men stationed there with two howtzers.
Their desire to themselves from forced fight
and their plan well conceived ard successfully
red out As they reached the house they let the
canoe so adrift in order to dsarm suspicion from the
shore, and as soon as day dawned they appeared to
US, making signals for assistance.
To-day has been apart for the organization Of
peny for home protection they have but few muskes
and small number Of shot guns Busipess is. Of course
entirely suspended. They have sugar, coffee, tea
salt the latter article they manage by boiling down salt
water and thep using the refuse The traders 10 the
county nearly rid Of their goods and since there
no prospect Of their being able to epenish they exact
enormous prices, and the richest families are unable to
procure anything any longer uness they have the specie
TO pay with al the time Of delivery almost think vir-
gna has already learned important lesson: thing
10 certain they compelled TO live within their
utmost anxiety and fear. They have made up their
minds that we are going 10 land some fine evening
aud steal everything they have. Even the women
have resolved to shoulder their pieces and enter
into the contest For my part think they had better
refnan behind their breastworks. One lady, Amazon
ike has sworn TO kill Yankee Videttes posted all
along the shore when steamer arrives at night from
Hampton Roads then do they anticipate attack, and
extra sentnes placed In every direction The negroes
have been taught TO believe that the Yankees(n this