The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-06-12
From the Warrington cisy Sunday Morning
4 bronicls Jnns 2. , =.
@ THE WAR or KNI
important Hnseiligenee--Nnyai En-
gageHnemt at AQuia Creek e
OmciaI Repors.
U. s. SrEAMRR THos. FREEsoBs.
OF Aouia Creek. Nav 81. 1861.


OF Aqua Creek. Nay 81, 1861.
Sra: My immediate commanding officer. Nsg
oficer Stringhaln, not being present to receive
lii, communicates directly 10 the department
the report efa service connonade made by this
vessel; supported by the ABacostia and ResolNte
steamers. upon the batteries at Aqua Creek
this morning.
After an incesssnt charge, kept up for two
hours by both our 32-pounders, and the expen-
diture OF all the ammunition suitable for distant
firing, and sileRcing completely the three bat
teries at the railroad terminus, the firing from
shore having been rapidly KEEP. up BY them un-
Ill SO siienced, having been RECOMMENDED from
the new batteries on the heights back, which
reached US in volleys, dropping the shot on
board and about us like hail for nearly an hour,
but fortunately weunding but one man, | haul
ed the vessel off, as the hoights proved wholly
above the reach Of our elevation.
Jndging from the explosion Of our ten second
shells in the sand batteries, two of which were
thrown by the Anacostia, it is hardly possible
the enemy can have escaped considerable less.
Several others Of the Anacost,as shells dropped
in the vicinity Of the battery.
cannot speak in too high terms Of the off,
GERS aud men, whose coolness and activity un-
der great exposure are beyond praise. As the
former are all civilians, having volunteered from
civil life, none but myself being of the regular
navy, beg leave TO ask for thema favorable
consideration by the government.
The long 32-pounder in use is Of the old pat
tern, cast in 1919, and cannot be excelled in
precision. Both the guns were on carriages Of
new construction, devised by myself and an
swered admirably, working with such ease that
the crews came out ofaction wholly unfatigued.
To the extreme sweep OF 14O degrees which
these carriages have, together with the ease and
rapidity of movement, enabling the vessel to
constantly change position, yet keep up accurate
fire, which impaired the enemy's range and di
rection, he firing always with rified cannon, is
to be materially attributed our escape without
loss of life or damage to the vessel or machine
ry. The men say they are as free from fatigue
as when they entered action.
We cannonaded for an hour before the same
batteries the day before yesterday; but the tide
being out, neither party reached with any con
siderable Ger ainty. doubt iii is possible to
reduce the batteries now established on the
heights from ships, nor Is it at all importan', /,
considering that they are remote from the ship
channel of the river and command only the
railroad terminus
Yesterday landed in persan. with Acting
Master Budd and Masters Mate Lee, and
sma II party Of seamen, and made Q most minute
exploration, extending over the whole OF Mat
thew's Point. am, therefore, able to speak
with ocular certainty, and to say that no, sign
OF q movement, the cutting of sapling, driving
a stake, or casting shovel full Of earth towards
the erection Of battery, exists. The jungle is
very thick, but We penetrated n belt OF il 800
Yards wide from the shore and three miles in
length, assuring ourselves of The iacts as stated
in This report.
l have especially to ask for the steamers Reli
ance and Resolnte, Of this foiilla, each q small
r,fed canron, in addition to the smooth bored
gun with which they are provided. For the
want of rifled gun in them, was obliged to
forbid their coming closely under . fire to
which they could not reply with even an ap-
proximate effect.
It. Com. N. Collins, Of the Anacostia, will
make his own report.
have the honor to be, sir, your, ob't,
j. II. WARD, ON. U. s. N.
Hon. GIDEON WEILEs,
Secretary Of Navy.