Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-23

We take the following account of the attack by the
federal steamer Monticello on Sewels Point Battery,
from the Norfolk Day Book Extra, of the goth inst
Later accounts by telegraph and by the papers assert
that some six or men on board the Monticello were
killed and several wounded in Sundays engagement,
and the steamer seriously injured though the latter ap
to have been repaired as she was of the Battery
the next day in company with the Minnesota, and also
the day following by herself:
The steam-tug Kahukee, Captain B. Taylor, started
down on Saturday about half past twelve O'CLOCK, TO
carry hundred negro aborers to the battery now In
course of erection at Sewels Point. When she arElV-
ed 10 the vicinity she the steamer Montlceo laying
well over in the mouth OF James River The kahukee
took her position the earthworks as prudent
lowered her yawl and sent it ashore with as many OF
the aborers it would carry these were landed, and
the boat about returning for another load, when
the steamer Monticello which had steamed away from
the mouth of James River and gone in the direction of
Ole Point, as those board the tug thought, came
round the point of woods at the extreme end OF Sewes
Point, in chase of the Kahukee. The latter was now
about three miles below Boush's Bluff, the only place
where there any guns mounted In that immediate
vicinity and seeing the Monticello about coming after
her, steamed up the river to escape The Monticello
then fred shot after her, which not answering the
purpose, of stopping her, she repeated by firing shell,
which we understand exploded about so yards in ad-
vance of her. In the meantime the chase had become
exciting to those 10 command of the Monticello that
she about getting into good position to be crack
ed at by Captain Young's battery at Boush's Bluff.
Captain Young having now one gun to bear on her,
though at long range, let fly at her with that, which
was grape shot and scattered about her like hail stones
The Monticello Immediately backed he engine, and
without turning round got out OF harms way. She
then dropped down opposite the place where we are
erecting battery at Sewes Point. She here opened
her fire on the unfinished breastworks with the inten
ton of demoshing them this she continued until as it
was supposed her ammunition exhausted; and in
the meantime the little steamer Yankee up to her
aid They two, together kept up the bombardment for
about three hours, say from to o'clock.
They still firing when another little steamer sup
posed TO be the Young America came over from Old
Point, when they ceased. The two small steamers the
Yankee and Young America, then left for Old Point,
and the Monticello kept her position in the neighborhood
until our informant let.
These steamers were about quarter of mile from
the unfinished works, during the time they were ham,
merng away at them so, but learn have scarcely SOL
led the works, the only damage being the starting of log
of of the embrasures Out of about thirty shot and
shell only one took effect as above.
The women and children living in the nighborhood
very much alarmed lett their houses and sought
safety by flight.
There on the place armed. white man
had Sharps rife loaded, with which he stood upon
the works. took aim and fired; though it is not known
with what effect Another man had one of Aliens old
style pocket pistols which be had left the beach in
the crotch of a tree He mentioned the circumstance
to negro who volunteered to 60 after it for him; he
told him not to do The negro however watched MS
chance between fires, and dared to the tree and got it,
thus evincing remarkable degree of fearlessness
The Kahukees boat then at the Shore put of for the
steamer, and the battery at the Bluff installing her for
one of the enemys beats, fired shot after her which
caused her to put back. This shot understand
line shot, but the distance too great to do any
damage.
The hands at the works were strongly tempted to
scamler OF, till the first two or three shots from the
Monticello fired but finding their ability to dodge
them finely, they held their places in order to the
fun Many of the shots took effect in the trees, limbs
from which cut of, which the most dangerous
feature of the whole affair They however kept clear OF
the trees, and avoided the danger from that
The ball and shell mostey fell in the of the works in
bog, the mud from which Of them would scatter
like bail storm.
A bail struck among flock of crows in the neigh
borhood who rose en- masse and ascertainng that it
came from the id Yankees" left in disgust.
Another Engagement--The Monticello Crippled and
Withdrawn.
AS will appear from the above the steamer Monticel
10 kept the position the breast-Works, where she
hitched buoy, on Saturday after the firing She
remained there until yesterday watching the operations
ashore, and i'll order to keep them from going with
the works The battery is a sand bank and very
much higher than the steamer she consequently did
see everything that going on, Notwithstanding the
strict watch for the boys al work like moles
some of them understand having to lay fat their
stomachs to perform some part of their labor.
) On Saturday evening VIII the firing ceased, there
was not gun the oewe!ls Point battery, but by
men fighting for their rights hercuean eats be per-
formed. Three short 80 Founders were carried down
from the city and got in tolerable condition for tenn
porary use. Besides these two sx-inch field rife pie
ces, the guns Of the United, drawn up in position
the whole concealed from view of the enemy
Yesterday Sunday evening about four or five
o'clock, small schooner from below passed up, and
when near the Monticello she fired gun which passed
over the battery. 1t is not known positively whether
she fired at the schooner at the battery though it is
asserted by that the schooner was acting in thu
capacity of lookout for the steamer and had sent
boat alongside of her before she fred the gun The ides
is that the schooner got near the fort possible
sent man up on her mast head to spy into the fort
those inside being unconcous of what was going on
and deeming her friend. However, that first gun wa
taken as banter, and the battery answered it, with
much spirit and rapidity convenience would allow
the second ball, understand, taking effect in her rig
gDg, much of which was cut away. The firing con
tinued for some considerable tme by both the steamer
, and the battery.
The two rifle cannon it is said done the most execu
ton, shell from of which it is reported bursted
striking the steamers rigging, though it is not known
8 whether it proved fatal The steamer was struck il
her hull several times nearly amidships, and hole
understand was knocked into her side, large enough 70
a dour barrel to enter The steamers battery wa
finally senced, and about that time the two little steam
ers the ankee and the Dung America came up bot
of which understood fred a few balls at the fort
They all three then started of down the river toward
Old Point.
1t is the general impression that the Monticello i
: seriously crippled, from the manner in which she wa
creened over when she left and probably from her hav
q ing ceased her fire so quick.
The shot and shell from the steamers flew over tn
battery, many of them striking mile in the rear. On
shell bursted near the battery without injury. piec
: of it weighing four five pounds we saw last night
The tops of the pine trees in the neighborhood wer
pretty well cut down by the shot and shell from tn
about with good deal of activity though with no ba
results except the scratching OF the hand of one of tn