Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
Fight at Matthias Point.

The Fredericksburg Herald, publishes the
following report of a fight at Matthias Point,
On Thursday night, but does not youch for
its accuracy
1t IS stated that a party of the Federal
force landed from one or more vessels, with
sand bags, apparently for the purpose of put
ting up some d~efenceS.
After landing they were attacked by the
Sparta Guards and Caroline Grays, and re-
pulsed. We are informed that 6 of the Fed
cral troops Were killed, som II or IA drown
ed and that from Is to 20 Had taken to the
WOODS, where they were lodging about like
scared partridges.
The only damage on our side is said to be
a tesh wound on the cheek of one of our
men.
The guns of the vessel we're not fred lest
their own men might be killed.
The Fredericksburg News makes the fol-
lowing statement
The enemy landed at Matthias Point last
night large force, with sand bags to erect a
battery. Our boys routed them killed six,
drowned ten, and the rest escaped, leaving 20.
IN the woods, and the troopers are still Lun-
ting them like wild turkeys.
LATER.-AN ACCOUNT FROM A NORTHERN
SoURcE.-The Washington National Repub-
llcan confirms the statements of the Freder-
l%cksourg papers, and Supp0SeS that a number
OF the rebels were killed and wounded.
The steamer Pawnee arrived at the Navy
Yard this morning, bringing the body of
Capt Ward, Of the steamer Frceborn, who
was killed in an action at Matthias Point about
dusk yesterday afternoon.
AS near as we can learn, the particulars
are as follows:
('apt WarJ on NalporI,,, -;-IE oooE IL
Capt. Rowan, of the Pawnee, for two boats
crews, which were sent down under Lieu
tenant Chapman, in order to take possession
Of the point, and erect a battery. Early
yesterday morning a landing was effected,
and the Pickets of the enemy were driven
back. The number of men landed was be-
tween thirty and forty, Capt. Ward in the
mean time promising to cover the men with
his guns.
About this time, a "contraband' slave, be-
longing to DR.. Hooe, a noted Secessionist,
made his appearance with a shirt on a pole,
as a flag OF truce, and stated to the men that
there was a rebel folc e of f. ON 500 to 1000
men 10 the vicinity but his story was not
believed, and the men proceeded with fill.
ing their sand bags for the battery.
While the men were at work at the bat
terry, the signal was given for the boats to
return from the Pawnee, and simultaneously
the enemy opened a fire of muSletry, from
the bushes, and the men retreated to their
boats, tie fire being meanwhile kept up.
The gunner on the Freeborn was wounded in
the hip by a ball, and Capt. Ward immedi.
ately sprang in his place, and was in the act
of sighting the piece when he was shot in
the breast.
Four others were wounded, among them
w. j. ResS, gunner, who was struck with
four shots, and will probably die, and Jack
Williams, the coxswain of the third cutter,
who was shot in the hip as the boat was re
treating, Immediately on being struck, he
ordered the boat back, and defantly waved
his flag in the face of the rebels. The flag is
perfectly riddled with shot, there being nine
teen holes in it.
The men retreated with such precipitation
, that a number of them were left on shore anC
had to swim off, one of them bringing on his
back Mr.. Bess, who was wounded.
, The Freeborn returned the fire, and threw
. some ten or a dozen shells into the bushes
which were seen to explode among the rebels
and doubtless killed a number of them.
The Freeborn. after getting the men OF
. board, hauled off; and after the death Q
Capt, Ward, who died about eight o'clock
Zone hour after he was shot, his body wa
I sent up to the Pawnee, on which 1t wa
] brought to the city.
Capt Ward was fifty five years old. or NOR
!, He was born in Connecticut, where he ha
: resided while on shore. In 1923 he entere
the navy. In rank he was near the head c
s the list of commanders.
RUMoRED PARTIAL EVACUATION OF CAIRO
n Capt Morg. Bateman, of the steamer Mar
Patterson, arrived from Cairo yesterday
y He brings the intelligence that Cairo h;
been drained of all the troops stationed theI
Of with the exception of 5000. Their destin
il ton was Missouri.
The steamer City of Alton left Cairo
- Sunday night under sealed orders for Cal
rs Girardeau, with one thousand men. 1t or
MS ceeded several miles above the point al
"A Landed, when the fact was communicated
a Missouri force in the peighborhood. i
Missourfans surprised the party, took t
he steamer and made the one thousand CaiI
a. ties lay down their arms. The rumor W
;; currently reported at Columbus when t
: Mary Patterson left, and generally bell,
n ed.
he Another rumor prevailed to the effect Il
of a scouting party OF one thousand Lincolni
-. had left Birds Point for the interior of NJ
souri,. Up to Thursday evening nothing h
been heard from them, and the belief "
universal that they had been taken prison,
10 by the triumphant Missourians. We tr,
ON that these rumors ale correct, and the soul
as from which the intelligence is derived incliI
he US to- believe it.-Memphis ApGlanche.