Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-24

llI rrH Hn " rom the new 1or II Hefnlu ] TA uf
The First Fisht Between the GovorHuenf
ishiIs. nBd the RebeIs The Rebel BaB
tefJ at sewelrs Point CaBnpnaded. = 4
1870 WAsHNGrok5 Nay 20, 1861.
On Saturday afternoon, at Sewelis Point
Hempton; Roeds, at the mouth Of the Elizal
beth River, commenced the hrst Offensive
operations on the part Of the United statei
% 1 am put IN possession of fhll particulars
by the arrival of the United States steamer
Thomas FFeebofD Comnander james II!
Ward, at this port this evening, with special
dispatches to the Government, She brings
up from Fortress Monroe gehtIeuisn who
went down on Friday on the United States
steamer KsystoHe State on an especial visit
| TO the fortress, among whom were Senators
Wade, Chandler and Morrill,, Mr. 2 Nicolsy,
the Presidents Secretary, and Mr.. Dinsmorel
OF New York, ell Of whom Witnessed with
nnfeigned comfort from the pier at Fortress
Monroe the cannOnading of the unfinished
SeWells s Point battery, in which the free
bora played so important a paFt.r.51.s 10
The battery in question Is the eighth and
last OF the important works which defend
the approaches to Norfolk ALI now in the
bends OF the Secessionists. The one nearest
TO Norfolk mounts eighteen guns; hesecOnd, !
Fort Norfolk, has twelve guns nexb graneyi
Island, mounts thirty guns, while CbeloFI
there are two others, one Of seven, and. the
other Of ten guns all splendldly built and
mounted with The best heavy rified and
, other ordnance from Norfolk Navy-yard, the
least part of which was destroyed in the
partial fire. The heaviest of Dahlgren's
Iited ordnance were at that yard.
/ am informed that the erection of the
eighth work at SewalPs Point is Of less i'm :
portance .as a defense than as an offensive
work, operating on that part of the block.
ade which relates to james River. How
important this u.s., will be seen from the fact
that there are now twenty prizes, tobacco
ladened lying under the guns of the block
adipg squadron, nearly ell taken coming out
of that river. Among them is one British
bark, cargo valued at 100000; also an
AmtEican bark rai1l53 si' rly 2
The United States steamer Star (late Moa
ticelle) at noon commenced canhonadinp the
new work. She fred shell with teneinch
guns, which bufst with effect. Commander
Wards fiotilla arrived from New York at
two O'Clock. Captain Ward, in the steamer
FTeeboTn, was Immediately sent to aid the
Star. The FresboTf opened with thirty-two
pound round shot she fired fifteen rounds
and drove out the engineering or defending
party, commanded by q mounted officer.
She en=hsuled off and reported to the
/ -OODnodore, who dispatched the sFreeborn
iDmt diately for Washington. ~ lH sfr'
andtbe prizes. I Pheyessels are bringiSg oHS in
Brew prizes every hour. The best naval of.
! ficers say that no inferier naval feat can
ventureto approach Norfolk.
p. These eight WORKS are within q space of
six miles. NewaIps Point tbe n,tsrrppc,ss \, y
os,niss from Old Point n 'I0 OV'' -OSS' 10
on The way up the Thomas Er,eborn nj
daylieht on Sunday. fell in with ths steam
ship Baltisuore, belonsinp 10 and bonnTl from
,Bsiti1sore 10 Hayana' sout 81, hef1 oonrse i'm
the Potomac River. near fhe' mos,ti,. : The
PFsebeYn mistook her for an ~, ~, and
,b5aaie ebt ri guns Il, bear on her. She finally
showed the American flag. She was boarded
and found to be aground Efforts were ms e
to pull her off. resulting in partin0 both
.bawseIs, and the, Freedom was Obliged to