Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-01
The Potomac Canuonade.


TO citizen of South Carolina, who was in
the Confederate camp ut the time, VIC are in
dcbted for tho following particulars Of the
cannonade on Wednesday last, between q
Confederate battery and some Of the enemys
steamers
The scene Of the engagement was at Free
Stone Point, which is few miles above Cock.
pit Point, mentioned in our last. 1t is at the
mouth OF Neabsco Creek, and ten miles South Of
the village Of Occoquan, and, perhaps, half
that distance below tho mouth of the Occo-
GUAM River. a battery had been constructed
at this point by Hampton's Legion. Oom-
mencing 'on Friday of the preceding week,
they completed it on the following Tuesday
evening. 1t was built uudcr tho screen Of a
pine thcket which stood On the river bank, so
that the enemy were ignorant Of what was
doing until Wednesday morning, when, the
pines having been cut away the night previous,
the guns stood unmasked. About eight o'clock
on that morning, one large steamer and two
small ones appeared opposite, and the former
and one Of the latter opened fire upon our
battery with shell and round shot. Nine shots
were received before the fire was returned from
our side. Our battery then opened and threw
eight or nine shots nj the enemy's vessels
Three Of these, from the "iong Tom," took
effect in the large steamer, and one in tie
smaller; and both the steamers seemed much
crippled thereby. They all then moved oil.
or the shots from their guns, two or three
struck nur battery, but inflicted no important
injury. One Of the shells burst within twenty
steps Of Col. Hampton, covering himself and
his horse with dirt and gravel One Of the
soldiers was STRUCK and stunned by a fragment
of she'll, but was not seriously injured. There
WAS no further casualty on our side Nobody
hurt"
The enemy subsequently, and from points
beyond the range Of Our battery, commenced
Il aies,.itory driug upon the surrounding coverts
in the hope OF striking something or some.
body. One Of these shells few inland mile,
aid burst not fer irnm where the infantry an.l
cavalry Of TIamptoh'S Legion were drawn u?
in supporting distance Of our battery. This
firing continued until orc informant left the
ground, which was ah2ut two o'clock that al-
terAoon.
The battery was unLtr the command Of
Captsin Lee, OF lialnptons Legion. Several
other steamers were cruising III the vicinity,
and our troops were anticipating an attack on
Wednesday night. Other troops on our side
were near enough to support the Legion, in
case Of necessity.
The Fredericksburg Herald" of Fyida.'
evening, in reference to the same affair, makes
some remarks from which We take the follow
ing:
! CAPT. wALkER nISABLES 4 WAR VESSEL.
There are srne fifty vessels, il is said, large
and small, but believed mostly tu be Vessels
engaged in trading between the Northern cities
and Washington, now lying in the Potomac
river, from Acquia Creek up some ten or fifteen
miles The trading vessels appear to be stop
ped by two of the Lncnln war steamers when
they reach the vicinity Of AcQuia Greek, and
we suppose are detained because Of some
scheme Of the Linconites, or because they do
not consider the navigation of the Potomac
altogether safe experiment.
We hear of an encounter with one of the
enemy's war vessels and Capt Walkers park
Of artillery, on Wednesday last, which wc
suppose is regarded in the light Of an 'eye'
opener" by these crafts.
Captain Walkers artillery are "about il
Spots" il would seem, aud wero at Freestouc
Point, on the shores Of the Potomac the To-.
cality We tio not know, but understand it tu
have been nut far from where the Ucccquall
cnlp,icS into the river. \ Lincoln War stes'n-
er, in passing, determined to oust Capt Walk
er troln hls camp, but, like many Il Dragging
wrestler, ,sas itself thrown, il, indeed its very
bones walc not crushed ard broken.