The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-22
OPERATORS IN THE CHESAPEAKE.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
D,.rE MoNpnp j a

The R,tels Aaae 7aes.ssloe: saayce-7Ae Baae.y Des
roied and a Gun Observation-Disclosures P,isa:ea,-
Capture Of Ebicco Vessels BY the &ar- sec<ssioa
r ooDs in the Nei9sbrhooi-7he 7hom1s Ffee,orn Re.
ceiSss Good Cimpany-OG fw Wasaingson, DC, DC.
The gunboas Thomas Freeborn AMI tho Rean:, o. the
Chesapeake Hotla, under the command Of Co nmandsr
james W Ward Of the receiving ship North Car ,lius,
arrv here at two O'Clock this afternoon the Res,ute
having been left behind the Brooklyn Navy Yard In
consequence Of having line foul OF her propeller with
orders to follow after us the rifng damage
should be repaired. No sooner bad arrived than
We had an cecssion for little ball practice at
sand battery in course OF erecton were lite 10
luck
Our from New York was unmarked by any inciden.
worthy Of notice. The weather delightful and both
steamers showed their capabilities to perfection sh ougn
each hampered with heavily laden schooner, which
she towed behind her
On nearing Cape Henry, this morning, we
the steamer Quaker City q. distance, just a. tho
entrance OF the Chesapeake, overhaung a bark. She
soon after passed us, asd Immediately in pIrsut
Of another vesse which she overhauled sscundm
On living abreast Of Fortress Monroe Captain Ward
went on board the Minnesota. While he gons heavy
firing heard in the direction Of Elizabeth river, and
It apparent that steamer which descriei at
distance, was somehow other, the Cap.. Ward
was not away many minutes when he rs.urned,
his face considerably frightened in anticipation
of having an opportunity OF testing his celebrated
gun carriage, upon which he had been busy during
last evening and the whole OF this morning m9unug his
forward gun--a heavy thirty-two FOUNDER His first
care, returning, to order the Reliance anchor
with her schooner to the other schooner which he
had ordered TO be cast OF from the Freeborn Then
ing TO his first officer Lieut. Cash he said ave Just
there -aludng to The direction from wht h We had
heard the csnnonading He then ordered full mead Of
steam to be made and stood for the steamer already al
uded to- in the direction Of the Elizabeth river about
three miles distant from We were alongside the
steamer which turned the Monticello the name
Of which has been changed to the star Captain Ward
went on board Of her. and in short time returned with
he was away sever the officers the Freeoorn were
busy with their glasses and their attention
and white sandy beach front, little below and to
the lett Of tho spot where the secessonss sunk the
vessels in the channel u Norfolk and one gentleman
after steady look, declared that he Q num-
Der OF men among the trees Tais turned out
to be true and further appeared that they
when plainly dscornbie N the opening sm1ng the
trees On either side OF the battery wooden fence,
which had evidently continued along tue spot which
formed the point OF the battery closer scrutiny
| veaed dismoaated gan, apparently thifty-two
FOUNDER
lhese interesting facts had hardly become known
when Captain Ward returned, accompanied by Lieut..
rebels erecting battery which, doubt, they in
tended to be formidable. Immediately all was hustle
ana activity on beard the little Fre,orn: inc
bear, with breechng secured, sp,nges and rammer
reaay and all hands at quarters while Lieut. Cash has
tened open his and to serve out several tanks
Of po~der Surgeon }. Moore got out his ,sruments,
lint &c but happily he had no occasion TO use them
the gun having been brought ITO bear the masked
batters the word given 6re and tho tntsty
pounder Dlched forth from As iron throat in voice Of
thunder; but the thick smose prevented those board
seeing what effect tn. shot had the object aimed
better position taken by the vessel and again
the iron messenger was sent forth ON ts e.rard sr
desucttD The sho. effect in the water, close &c
the rand snd rccchetet clear tue bang striking
The battery and damaging embrasare. All nanos op
/ a ar q
ecessonsts mot liking the appearance OF the iutruders
nibed Shot followed shot 10 rapid sucossson, =
often a. the gun could be brought to bear. Sometimes
/ fy about in clouds; but more frequentIy il would
i hit the battery with telling effect, and by the
| ime fifteen rounds had been expended most Of
he embrasures had been completely destroyed.
| All this time the Freedom had been gradually
creeping nearer and nearer in shore, till We were within
about hundred yards Of the battery and In quar-
er less three fathoms water II was fortunate crcum
tsnce Tor perhaps that the rebels had small arms,
using them, expert marksmen could have picked some
OF us on from the Of the with good Mimic
The firing entirely confined to the bow gun. The
after one had not been placed in position, and
deck was not used at ALL On !. the whole, our
ball practice excellent and the with which the
Row gun worked demonstrates the superiority OF
Capt Wards carriage the old arrangement though,
doubtless sufceptible Of rome improvements, and
Capt Ward 10 just the man - make them - they
suggested by experience.
| While we were engaged at our pleasant pastme the
commander Of she Reliance and his were chatting
under the restraint in which they KEEP. at their dis
anchorage just before hripg she was
discerned coming 10 our assistance but the game
ended and che too late TO take any part In It, aud
returned In company, bringing up between Fortress Mon
roe and the Minnesota.
Lieut.. Braine reported while he was on board the
Freeborn that the n,ng We had heard little while be-
oae was from battery little higher up and the Star
battery opened upon her from the shore but as The star
beyond range, the shot fell short She subsequently
threw shells into the battery upon which the Free
i bOgO
mounting the gun seen by US, but in consequence
70 1o sbsq s 1, e nos
officer further reports that there three steam tugs
prowDg around in that vicinity seeking whatever they
can pick up They are probably the same that were
waiting weeks ago for the steamer State Of Maine,
when she landed the Massachusetts troops at Fortress
Monroe but they had TO make port at Smiths Island,
The whole line Of coast ON scweps Point, where the
battery being erected which the Freeborn fred TO
CraLey bland and beyond being thicfly studded with
batteries, which are erected principally during the
Yesterday the star captured the schooners HAxa and
Cransbaw and the bark OTTAWA, from Richmond, laden
with tobacco supposed to be worth $3.50 ooo The oc.
port and the Haxal bound TO Baltimore. The three
vessels are lying opposite Fortress Monroe.
The following incident, which would be Incredible,
not subetantated shows the principle, or rather
total want Of principle, on which the secession
small steamer was desps.ched from here
TO Norfolk yesterday, under flag Of truce 20 nego-
tAte respecting the carrying Of the mails bu. despite
the emblem peace which abe bore che seized BY
| the rebels
Secession troops about this part OF the Old Do
mipion As n an be ascertaned, they said 70
number follows
At Craney Island $500
At Bush Point 800
~ Norfolk $500
Al Pig Point. 500
Al Jamestown ........................ 1900
Al Fort Powhatan. $500
At Richmond. ......................... 1000
Total..................... ia, 500
far as Richmond is concerned, 10 previous reports
70 he believed the number must be much underrated,
urlese several thousand have other
point
There now At pton Roads the following vessels
OF wsr-Seam frisaie Minnesota, Captain Van brunt,
bearing the flag OF Flag Officer stringham; soopof war
Cumberland, Captain Marstoa bearing the nag OF rag
0cer Penderersst brig Perry Captain Parrott steam
or star Captain Eagle; steamer Key state Captain