Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-25


bow Of the Smith to warn her to lay TO, but as the
Smith disregarded the warning the Monticello then
fired shot which missed its mark. Capt Young at
Boushs Bluff Battery, then fired or two shots at
the Monticello, Que of which it Is believed struck
her. She then backed out and opened her fire on the
earth works now erecting at SewslPs Point which,
it is believed, she destroyed. So far nobody hurt
Repeated firing has been heard from below SINCE
the above took place.
LATER-ADDiTIoSAL PARTTULARs.
We gave in our Saturday afternoons second edI-
ton the above outline of the first battle in this
ton. which we find, in the man, correct; since
which time we have gathered the following partic-
ulars from an eyewitness.
The steam tug Kahukee, Captain Baylor. mot the
J NJ Smith, as reported,) started down on Saturday
about half past II o'clock. to carry one hundred
negro laborers TO the battery in the course OF
erection at Sewalls Point. When she arrived in
that vicinity she saw the steamer Monticello lay
ing well over in the month OF James river. The
Kahukee took her position as near the earth works
as prudent, lowered her yawl and sent 1t ashore
with many of the laborers SIS it would carry
these were landed and the boat was about return
ing for another load, when the steamer Monticello
which had steamed away from the mouth OF James
river and gone in the direction of Old Point as
those on board the tug thought, came round the
point of woods at the extrsme end OF Sewau
Point. in chase of the Kahukee The latter was
now about three miles below BOush's BuH the
| only place where there are any guns mounted IN
that immediate vicinity, and seeing the Monticello
about coming after her. steamed up the river 70 es-
cape.
The Monticello then fired shot after her, which
not answering the purpose of stopping her, she re-
peatei by firing a she'll, which we understood ex-
ploded about fifty yards in advance Of her In the
meantime, the chase had become so exciting TO
J those in command of the Monticello that she was
about getting into good position TO be cracked at
| by Captain Youngs battery at Bsush's Bluff cap
| tain Young having now gun to bear "n
her, though atlong range, let fly at her with tnat
which was grape shot and scattered about her ike
hail stones. The Monticello Immediately backed her
engine and without turning round got out of harms
! way. She then dropped down opposite the place
where we are erecting battery al Sewalls Point.
She here opened her fire on the unfinished breast
works with the intention of demolshing them this she
| continued until, as 1t supposed, her ammunl-
ton was exhausted. and in the meantime the little
| steamer Yankee came up to her aid. They two.
together kept up the bombardment for about three
| hours. say from TO O'Clock.
They were still firing when another title steamer,
supposed to be the Young America, came over from
! Old Point when they ceased. The two small steam
| ers, the Yankee and Young America. then left for
Old Point and Monticello kept her position IN the
| neighborhood until our informant left.
| These steamers were about a quarter OF a mile
from the unfinished works. during the time they
l were hammering away at them so, but we learn
! have scarcely soiled the works, the only damage
beng the starting of log of one OF the emoFa-
sures Out of about thirty shot and smell only one
| took effect as above.
The women and children living in the neighbor-
hood were very much alarmed and left their houses
| and sought safety by fight.
| There was no one on the place armed. white
| man had Sharp's rife loaded with which he stood
upon the work, took aim and fired; though 1t is
| not known with what effect Another man had one
of Aliens old style pocket pistols which he had lett
near the beach in the crotch of tree. He men
toned the circumstance to a negro who volunteered
to GO after it for him; he told him not to do so.
The negro, however. watched his chance between
fires and darted the tree and got 1t; thus evinc-
ing remarkable degree of fearlessness.
I The Eahukees boat, then at the shore. put of for
the steamer and the battery at the Bluff mistaklng
her for one Of the enemys boats, fired shot alter
her, which caused her TO put back. This shot we
understand was line shot but the distance was
too great to do any damage.
/ The hands at the works were strongly tempted 70
scamper off, till the first two three shots IRON
the Monticello were fired, but finding their ability
to dodge them finely, they held their places IN or
der to see the fun. Many of the shots took effect IN
the trees limbs from which were cut of, which was
| the most dangerous feature of the whole affair
| They however kept clear of the trees and avoided
| the danger from that source. The ball and shell
mostly fell in the of the works in bog the
mud from which some OF them would scatter Ike a
hail storm.
ball struck among a flock of crows in the
!, neighborhood, who rose en- masse, and ascertain
ing that it came from tie id Yankees" lett II
disgust"
! ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT-THE MONTICELLO CRIPPLED AM
/ WITHDRAWN.
As will appear from the above, the steamer Mon
| ticeo Kept the position near the breastwolks
where she hitched on buoy Saturday after the
| firing. She remained there until yesterday, watch
ing the operations ashore, andn order to keep then
from going with the works. The battery Is on a
sand bank and very much higher than the steamer,
| che consequently did not see everything that was
going on notwithstanding the strict watch tor the
l bows were at work like mOes, some of them, We
understand having to lay flat on their somachs tt
/, perform some part of their labor
On Saturday evening when the firing ceased, there
was not gun on the Sswalfs Point battery, but By
men fighting for their rights herculean feats can be
performed. Three short 32poundeTs were carried
down from the city, and got in toerable condition
for temporary use Besides these two sx-inch heie
rifles pieces, the guns Of the United States were
drawn up in position, the whole concealed iron
| view of the enemy.
| Yesterday Sunday evening, about four or five
: O'Clock, a snail schooner from below passed up
! and when the Monticello she fired gun which
passed over the battery. 1t is not known positively
whether she fired the schooner at the battery
though it is asserted by that the schooner wa
acting in the capacity OF look out for the steame
, and had sent boat alongside of her before she hr
| ed the gun The idea is that the schooner got al
/ near the fort possible and sent man up on hel
mast head spy into the fort those inside being un
: | cOncous of what was going on. ard deemng ner
friend However, that first gun was taken as
| banter and the battery answered it. with mucl
spirit and rapidity convenience would allow; ths
second ball understand, taking the effect In heI
= | rigging much of which was cut away. The hrlns
continued for some considerable time, hy both the
y steamer and the battery.
The two rife cannon it is said did the most exc
| cution a shell from one of which, it Is reported
burst on striking the steamers rigging. though it Il
not known whether it proved fatal. The steamel
! was struck in her hull several times nearly amid
| ships and one hole. we understand, was Knocked
i intp hap aid a
a ter The steamers battery was finally silenced; anC
about that time the two little steamers the Yankee
: | and Young America, up, both Of which, we
| understood, fired a few balls at the fort. They al
three then started off down the river towards VIC
: ! Point.
Itis the general impression that the Monticello il
| seriously crippled from the manner In which sht
was creened over when she left, and probably from
! | her having ceased her fire so quick.
The shot and stell from the steamers flew ovcl
the batteay, many of them striking mile IN the
: | rear One shell bursted near the battery withou
, injury piece of it weighing four or five pounds
we last nIght.The tops OF the pine trees IN the
= neighborhood were pretty well cut down by the
4 | shot aud shell from the Yankees, and the bough:
and splnters were scattered about with good dea
of activity though with no bad results, except the
scratching OF the hand OF one OF the stan onlcers
e | who was present.
Iteives us pleasure to hear so glowing a report
\ of the spirit of bravery which brought out II
4 this engagement We feel satisfied that our cause
is in the hands of the right kind OF men.
4 During the canponading, We understood. some OF
the infantry sailed out the beach and discharged
: | their small arms, (Minnie rifles, we presumed a
| the Monticello she being, what considered a.
the time within range. 1t is said that every mar
engaged on shore acted the part of hero; the only
regret being that they were not more thoroughly
! prepared for the occasion, by having their heavy
ordnance in better condition the reception Of the
$ enemy.
= The only injury, we understand, with the ezceP
: ton of the staff officer was that received by Mr.
VIM Horris, of the Woods Rifle corps who got his
ankle bruised by the rebound of one of the big
= | guns We understand the injury is very slight
Not shot of the enemy struck the works to iDjurt
: them most of them passing far overhead. No
/ body hurt"-on our side, though we don't believe
| we can saw the same thing for the enemy, as tht
apparent confusion On board seemed to indlcat'
| otherwise
IS 1t is thought by some that this attempt on oul
battery is q ruse TO draw attention from som'