The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-22
The ENGAGEMENT 1T sEwELL's POINT.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
From the Norfolk Day Book, May 7o;h

Efpm tES NofIU4k UAy bbVhf Nay AVtH ]
Yesterday Sunday evening, about fonr or
five O'Clock. small schooner from below
passed mp, and when near the Mon liceilo ehe
fired gun which passed over the battery. 1t
Is not known positively whether she nrsd at
the schooner or at the battery, laOu5 n IL Is as
sered by some that the schooner was setting
IN the capacity of a look out for the steamer.
and had sent boat alongside OF her before
she fired the gun. The idea Is, hat the
schooner got as near the fort IS possible, and
sent n man up on her masthead 10 spy IN TO
the fort, those inside bei0g UNCONSCIOUS OF
" nat was going on, and deeTning her friend.
However. that first gun was taken ss oan-
ter and the battery were,i IL with ts IN ncn
spirit and rapidity as convenience wouin al
low, the second ball. wa understlud, taking
effect In her rigging, much OF Waich was euE
away. The Hiring continued Tor some Consider
able tine, by both The steamer and the bat
terry.
The two rife-cannon, IL is said, done the
most execution, a shell from one OF which II
is report ted bursted on striking The steamers
rigging, though it is not known whether II
proved fatal. The steamer was struck In her
hull several times, nearly amidshlps, anu one
hole we unders tand WAS knocked into her
side, large enough for Honr barreI TO enter.
The steamers battery was Eaally suenctd,
aad about that lme the two <iitee steamers,
the Iankee and the Young America, csme
up, both Of which we unders taud fired q few
balls at the tort. They all three then star ted
on down the river, towards Old Point.
II Is the genera! lTI preston that the Montt-
CEADpiSU,
IN which she was chTeened over when she
left, anC probably from hBr having ceased her
fire quick.
The shot and shell from the steamers flew
over the battery many OF them striking p mile
in The rear. One shell bursted near the bat
terry without injury. il piece OF f., eighing
four or dve pounds, va saW last night. The
tUps of the pine trees in the neighDornood
Uers pretty we'll cut down by the shot and
shell from the Yankees, and the boughs aud
splinters were scattered about win a good
deal OF activity, though with no bad rcsuits
except the scra tchIug OF the hand OF one Of ths
stan officers who was present.
Ii gives lis pleasure 10 hear 50 glowing re-
port OF the spirit of bravery which was
brought out in tAts engagement. We fAri 81 l.
istled that cause IS in the hands OF the
| right kind OF ulea.
Daring tue cannonaiing, We understand.
| some OF The infantry sailed oot on the beach
aud discharged their small arms, Minnie ri
| Hes, we presume 81 tha Mont.cellO, she be
| lag, what was considered at the time, within
range, 1t is said that every man engaged on
shore acted the part OF d hero ihs only re-
| gret being HAT they were not more thorouE hly
prepared Tor the occ ikiUn, by having tnelr
| heavy ordnance In better condition tor the re-
| ceptiGu OF Ihe enemy.
| Inc only injury, wa understand. with the
| exception OF tne an officer, was that rece,S-
| ei by SIR. " N. Morris, OF shs " oOdis hitit
| corps, who got his ankle bruised by he re-
| bound Of one of the big guns. We understand
! the injury Is very slight. Not Il SHOT of the
enemy STRUCK III" v ElB- 10 ibluEN tDeiil, mos
! of them passing far over head. "Eobody
| hurt on our size, Though We don't believe "
| can say the same tniag foc the enemy. The
| apparent confusion on board seemed 10 init
| cate otherwise.
| 1t is thought by come that this attack on
| our battery IL intended as a russ to dTa " oui
| attent ton from some point OF more importaBcs
| 10 the enemy. However this may he, they
| VIII likely lind It nnayailiug, ~ eur people
| uoW begin 70 realize that Jhey ara at war and
| have got hZhllng 10 do, whlch, judging from
| th9 eagerness displayed by " the boys" they
| will do 10 perfection II the Yankees uiu only
| give chem Il chance.
by others IL 10 surInised that the attack OF
that unfinished battery was intended merely
| 70 dem0ish il; that they did not know It Wa.
thers tili they discovered il Oh SATURDAY Y
| whilst ia pursuit OF the steamer kthuhes
and finding - unprepagod to re!urn tnsir tire
they anchored near by 10 deter our folks from
| working on u. We rather Susp pect ne 40 Wei
they got from the - N-ii's Poiug battery sts
| terGAy evening took them eomeWaa by sur
Prise,