The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-15
OPERATIONS ON THE POTOMAC.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE
UNITED STATES STEAMER RELIANCE,
Potomac RIVER, Oct. a, 1861

OUk NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
UNITED STATES STEAMER RELIANCE
POTOMAC RIVER, Oct. 4, 1861 !
The Navigation Of the Potomac Not Cqosed-Mouemenof
the Reance-ShengtA Of the Squadron or Freeaone
Ioint-Reminiscences Of The FeeIorn-7he Late Captain
Wards Long 7om-Dama0e 10 the Jacob Bel--Rua Doaa
the Rircr-The Provision Boat-7he Aqia and Potomac
Greek Bateries-The FSeestone Poins Battery Abandon
ed DC, de-
AS has been roundly asserted that the rebel bate
res have closed tho navigation Of the Potomac beg to
state most emphatcaly for the benefit Of the shipping
interest," that such very far from being the fact and
what is more the navigation Of the river is not going to
be closed Tho unceasng vigilance of Commodore era
ven and Of the officers Of the squadron under his
mand, will cectualy battle the designs of the rebels in
this direction. We are now lying off Indian Head the
Maryland Shore in sight, and nearly within range of the
guns Of the rebel battery Freestone Point and although
feet Of small sailing vessels is continually passing up
and down. not has been fired since the slight brush
asst week. The opinion prevalent among the squadron
that the rebels cannot afford to waste powder passing
vessels with the chance Of shot in forty fifty tax
ing slight effect The fact that such Of their hollow shot
have been secured contained powder in their cavi
ties confirm the idea that the rebels
| Of ammunition
The Reliance left the Navy Yard at Washington about
midday Sunday the Yankee (lagship) having left
| he previous evening Lieutenant Mygatt having been
detached Master Hannum has command at present Of the
Reliance. On arrival here, Sunday afternoon, the
Commodore sent back to Washington Immediately with
dispatches We returned on the following day, and next
day again sent back, returning the (Tucss
day afternoon since when we have been lying idle here,
calm prevailing the whole time, and the weather
being exceedingly mild and pleasant for October. Our
officers and seamen are beginning to get impatient for
brush at the enemy but whether they will BIO graft
fed in their longing am not in position to say.
The squadron or Indian Head Of the following
vesseS-Yankee (fagship), Com. Craven; Pocahonas,
Commander wyman; Seminole, Commander Glis Pen
| gum Commander -; Union, Lieut.. Com. Harrel
Valley City Lieutenant Commanding Chaplin; Jacob Bell
| Lieutenant Commanding McCrea; Island Belle, Master
Commanding Harris; Rescue, - commanding; Herbert
-, - murray Masniiman commanding Mcnensey; re
Commanding Foster; and Satellite. Thus our squadron
consists of various descriptions Of vessels from the
smart and powerful soop-of-war Pocahonas to
those tiny twin sisters Resoute and Reliance each
mounting one brass twenty four, and arc probably
the smallest men ofwar in the world. Besides these
there are six large launches, each armed with either
twenty -four FOUNDER howzer riled cannon Of the
same cabrc.
ndmng the foregoing vessels have by no means OK
hauscd the catalogue There are number OF gunboats
further down the river guarding the entrance to Aqua
creek, and keeping sharp lookout Matthias Point and
other suspicious places Among these is the Freedom,
which, under the command Of the late gallant Commander
Ward, OF much service in keeping the navigation
Of the river clear during the earlier period Of the present
struggle. Apropos Of the Freedom, while at the Navy
Long Tom-the thrty-two FOUNDER that showed much
metc (no pun intended) at Aqua creek and Matthias
Point. The old gun is superannuated, the being
completely worn out. II was mounted on the carriage
and surrounded with the peculiar apparatus invented by
Captain Ward, and which proved complete success
during the few short weeks Of the Captains command
As gazed on the old gun could not help almost regard
ing it as living favorite familiar had its honest
thunder tones been 10 my Alasl those tones
hushedl No more shall the Virginan rebels quake with
dismay at its deep voce No shall the chivalry Of
Tennessee race from the deadly missile hurled
| 6 I'M
Its place has been taken by shell gun Of heavy cabre
In naming the vessels aioned OF Indian Head / do
not convey the idea that they all stationary
at this place. Now and then particular vessels
up down the river, to carry dispatches or commun
cate with other vessels composing the squadron, and
sometimes the Commodore himself takes short cruise
He has just left for up the river. Other vessels are
absent at this moment. In fact half of the
squadron away at present. There two other
sells fitting out at Washington to be added to squad
ron. They are the Underwater and the X. B. Forbes
two very large tugboats from New York. Each will
have very powerful armament, and will be valuable
acquisition. They may arrive at any moment
In giving slight idea of the of the squadron be-
fore the batteries at Freestonc Point deem it proper to
omit the strength Of armament for obvious To
conceal the number Of vessels would be useless the
enemy can see for himself and perhaps make pretty
shrewd calculation Of our force.
The night before last the Island Belle and the Jacob
Bell came into collision, when the latter much IN
jucd that the former had to tow her up to Washington
for repair of damages
Since writing the foregoing the Underwater, command
ed BY Lieutenant Lowry, arrived at rendezvous and
after communicating with the Commodore proceeded TO
Fortress Monroe route for tho Atlantic squadron.
| ocroppp ( 1se,
| .. re-, ,.L ~
A'er olhhef yesterday AFTERNOON Two auliches came
alongside the Reliance, with their crews in charge of an
officer from tho commodore with nstructons n Canto,
| " p
hahuuih 70 W" tne iaunches oo"h 10 the Wyandank,
lying at Wades Bay, on the Maryland shore, and little
above aoua creek and there "a Thorn for tho nroSen,
We we're soon under weigh and as the Reliance IS very
swift we were quickly alongside the Wyandank thirty
mes from ony achorage desn;to boad ~ mi md no.,
tide Tho Wyandank was one of the Tnion line ferry
boats between New York and ookIvn md has hoon on
yerted into store shin for The SQUADRON she Il com
petey filed with provisions clothing and other
stores Of All DESCRIPTIONS sufficient 10 last three hundred
men for six months Mr. Foster the Pavmaster an hoard
| and Mr. Tyrrell the purscrs steward have neither
Of them s,necuro Offices as tho constant nppvinp OF so
many vessels with provisions and other and
their officers and crews with money whenever pay dav
arrives keeps them continually busy The charge one
Of great responsibility The arrangement is an admra
bic one az there is nothing more isagreeabe on board
small yesscl-and the squadron is mainly composed Of
such-than TO be numbered with stores which though
necessary in time there is present use for The sta