The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-06-04

WdsTQ'on, June Z.-by pofmition OF ths
Secretary Of the Navy, | am permitted TO copy
the following official dispatch from ,mmsnd.r
WARD, detailing the second battle at Aqua
Creek, which took place yesterday:
F.oIILtA STEAMER FRrEsoRN,l
PoroMAc RIvsk, Jane !, 1861.
Bin IL have tho honor to report the renewal
Of the bombardmsnt at Aqua Greek, commenc-
ing at eleven O'Clock and tuirty minutes In the
forenoon this day, and terminating, from fatigue
OF the men (the day being very warm and the
firing on our side incssssIt), at four-tbirty in
the afternoon, being duration Of five hours
The firing On shore was scarcely A. spirited at
any time as yes erday. Tho heights were absn-
doned, tho guns apparently bavlng been trans
ferred to the e1thworks al ihs rsuw " terminus
In rsplsoemsnt Of the batteries thsre silsncod
by US yesterday. Daring the last hour Of the
ems assmsnt, only two or thres shots were
thrown from tho shore by few individuals
seen steal hily row and then TO emerge fro
conceslment, and who hastily loaded and fired
a single gun. The bulk Of the party had left
half an hour before aud squads wers observed
from time to time taking TO th-ir hssls along
the beach, with aspted and bottom truly COM
msndable for It's prudence, and highly amusing
to the ssamen. II did not seam advisable TO
permit 90 feeble q fire to wear out ny men.
Therefore discontinued the sngsgemsnt. Sew
sral shots came on boa'd Of Us, causing tho vss-
bei " issk psuiy, Anu, Oosiuts othtr injuries,
clipping the port whe Il ths wrought iron shaft
being gouged by shot which would have shat
tered 1t ~ Of cast-ifon--A point considsrsd by
ne In sslecting this vessel for purchase. For
tunately have again nei her killed nor wound
Cd TO report, though the shot at times fell thick
about Us, testing the gallsn'ry and stesdiness
Of my pf opls, which ! consider Of standard proof
for any emergency. proceed to Washington TO
repair ana ages and refill my exhausted msga-
Emo. Tho Pawnss rsmsins mean time bsl,S,
TO supply my place In the blockade. Ciptaia
Rowan, Of that ship, joined me last night re-
plenishing my exoausted stores. and most gal
lanily opened the hIe this mornis1 q, having
Guow,d my lead In shore 70 wards the b itta les.
His ship received numerous wounds. b0'h Ne-
loS nd aioft Ol aGSouft of hsr slz,, she
be,np moIe sa lily hit, she appeared TO b, their
f,vorite marb and vas herself oftsn a shset OF
fsm-, owing To the rapisitv os her repeated
charkss. J. hsvs Instructed Cap. Rowan 70
repo,t c,scumst .nt'any direct to tho depart
m.Dt. The enemy set fire to the Ia'gs pas
sengsr and freight d. pot on the end Of the long
pier, a, we were approaching, probably 10 re-
move II as an obstruction 10 thar aim, but were
not permitted 10 extinguish tho flames during
the whols i've hours cannonAde. Consequently
nearly Tho whole pier is destroyed leaving only
the charred piles remaining above the water to
mark Its former position My gun carriage
endurss Its continued test admirably. The
pivoting arrangement Of the after ono gave out
in the last hour OF the action, when the gun
was fought on Its trucks which had neither
| besn removed nsr in any manfor intsi forred
with In the construction. The recOi, how
ever, became severely racking 10 the vssssl !;
4 the gun Was served more slo Wy and with less
! accuracy, and with greatly increased awkward
ness as we'll as fatigue to ths men. Though
not sssuming to DO proper Judge OF my own
invention, II Is possible the officers aad mar,
especially the guns crews, are conpstsat to
speak, Attar the several caAnonadss In which
We have been engaged, amounting altogether
| In the two weeks we arc commissioned
| TO tsA hours nius Of II under lire returned
upon US with moro or bss vgor aud effect.
More than one hundred shots have fallen aboard
and around US any ons Of wa.ch would have
struck irigsts. We have had more than
thousand shots discharged at us within range
and have ourselves 6red upwards OF three hun
dred shot and sh.lk, With sevsntssA hundrs,
pounds Of powder. Whal damage We have in
hictsd re mains to DO seen. That We have 70
ceived none, not sasl repaired. Is truly re-
malkAbls. Tlis Aoacosta and Rsliancs waI
not peIGittod 10 come undsx damaIing fir'
their support having been Ree sssary to en-
bolden these engaged, by giving them conf
dsnce that If disabled In the mAchiaory ASST
!. i tanes was at hand TO drag them out.
! am, sir, very respectfully, yoar ob,disl
JAMES II. WARD, Senior om,cr on u
PotsmAc.
70 HoI. GIDEON ws'tss. Secretary Of u
, Usvy. -