The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-12
Official Reports.
We are enabled to lay before our readers the
following Interesting official reports;
NAVAL BATrsRY No. l,


following Interesting official reports:
NAVAL BATrsRY No. l,
AQUA GREEK, j une I'd, 1851.
SIR On Thursday Z. M, as my telegram
the next morning apprised you, the enemy
engaged MS for short time and then with
drew. The Washington papers state that
one of them had Massachusetts, Regiment
on board for the purpose Of landing. One of
the steamers was crowded with men.
On Friday, at 10 80 2. NJ, two cut of
three steamers abreast of the battery opened
fire upon us, and con tinued the cannonade for
three hours, when they withdrew. The largest
stea mer very much resernbled the CRUSADER.
As they kept at long shot, mostly beyond our
range I econcmizsd ammunition, and only
fired ftty-siX times. One OF the steamers had
q rified gun, the shell from which penetrated
through the sand-bank, and one OF them ex-
p!oded in and completely demolished the
room occupied by the officers and myself.
Upon our part no one was injured; but look
ers-on from the hills and opposite shore state
that the enemy was repeatedly struck.
Yesterday the steamers which had laid off
during the night We're reinforced by the Paw
nee and at 1880 A. NJ. they commenced
brisk cannoEade, which con tinued with little
interruption until about 40 p. M, during
which the Pawnes fired 392 shot and shell,
and the other steamer 2O7 the greater portion
of the latter being rifed shells.
Our sand-bauks not being en- barbette, we
could only fire as the enemy came within
range tn rough the embrasures. This, added
70 the long distance st W hch he kept, and the
necessity OF occasionally repairing damages 10
| the breaStW0rk, combined with my desire 10
save ANN unition constrained me TO withhold
| fire, except when something like fair shot
| prpseu ted The houses la the rear were very
| much Knocked about, and the railroad track
| torn up in three or four places; but, thanks to
| a kind Providence, who seems to smile be-
/ niguly on our canse, no one with Us vas IN
| jured
As the enemy had on Friday made the
! buildings at the extremity of tho wharf MS
| la6 Of sight upon The battery, had ali the
| furniture, &c together with the weather
| boarding, conveyed to the re TT Of the battery,
! and in the course Of the forenoon set fire to
| and blew ny the platform and outer end Of the
| bridge.
| 1 have spoken of Commander Thorbarn's
| zeal in the first engagement, ara cannot too
! highly applaud the spirit and Elacrity, tenn =
! pered by Difference to orders, OF Commander
Cooke and Lieu utenant irobel. With the ex-
ception OF tfunner's Mate Cunningham and
| Masters Mate Larmour, whose services were
| OF inestimaDle value, our guns crews con-
| sisted only of volunteer militia, who stood
| their ground bra vely.
| We had yes terday, in addition to our guns,
| n small rifed one from Captain Walkers bat
| terry, under the Immediate command OF Lieu
| tenant Rober tsou, OF Tennessee, which rem
dered efficient service.
| In connection with the transportation OF
| the Columbiads to the summit OF a lofty hill
| cannot speak in too highly commendable
terms OF the zeal and untirinS energy of Lit
| Chas. T.. SimmS.
| One of the enemy's steamers went up the
| river yesterday afternoon, we think for am
munition or additional force. The Pawne'
| and another steamer remained at anchor al
night, near the Maryland shore, and at this
time, 10 4. M, occupy the same position.
| i am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) W: f; LrScH,
Captain Virginia Navy.
| Capt. s. BrrrOn, Virginia Navy,
In charge of Office OF Naval Detail an
| Equipment. Richmond, Va.
! PIG PpIST BArrgRT,
June /, 1851. !
Commander French Fcrrest, Virginia Navy,
| Commanding Naval Station, Norfolk:
Sin: L have the honor TO report that th
| Federal steamer Harriet Lane stood withi
range Of this battery at Q A. II. to-day, an
, | taking position at the distance of one and
+, | half miles, commenced firing upon us VIII
, shot aud shell from her eleven inch she'll gu
: | aud thirty,two poGnder. She fred abou
, thirty-thr2e shot and shells, many OF theT
| we'll directsi, but no one Of our party wa
hurt, nor did tha forJiiication sustain an
injury. A thiTtY-two pounder shot struc
| the muZzle OF one OF our eight-incn she'll guns
Z | ard cracked IL from the face to the chase rims
| The gun, 1t the time, was run III for loading
| and, although the shot was broken into thre
| fragments in the midst of our men, no on
= sustained the sligatest injury. y number
+ ! shells exploded near and around us, but a
= , fell harmless TO the ground
u | In return, we fred D shot and shell Fou
u | or five wHry - take effect In the hull {
, the steamer, and am inclined to believe. di
:, her some INJURY, from tae manner III whic
: she mo we'd off.
. For men who had never before been in n
. ton, the Portsmouth Rifles We're remarkabl
> cool and self possessed, and after few round
p, got the range of the enemy, and fired admir-;
: bly, we'll. Every officer and man behaved
the most spirited and creditable manner, III
were 50 regardless or danger that l had oite
TO interpose my authority TO prevent their e,
. posing themselves unnecessarily TO the ei
u erny's fire. The action lasted about fifteen
= | twenty minutes.
- aEn, very res pectfully,
= TOUr ob't servant,
h. b, PEaRAa,
Commander Virginia n Nayy.