The national Republican., 1861-11-27
.YHTGIFv 4,.
Y,S.sTELE EGRAPH.
Expedition from Fortress Monroe.
DESTRUCTION OF TWO REBEL CAMPS
ON JAMES RIVER.
Louisiana and Georgia Regiments Routed.
kxPLOIT OF TWO aUNBOATs.
FoRrREss MoNRoE. VIA

An intelligent desrrter from the Tenth Gpnr.
gia regim ut reached Newport News On the
morning Of Friday last, and was taken to head.
quarters at Fortress Monroe, whore, npnn he
ing interrogated, he made known the location
OF number Of important rebel camps on the
right bank Of the James river. ~.
Acting upon this Information, an expedition,
consisting of two gunb"ats, was prepared on
the junction Of the james and Warwick rivers,
about Ave and one half miles above Newport
News. The Cambridge led the way and stea m.
ed without interruption until reaohiGg the
point designated, where the white tents Of the
enemy could be plainly discerned on n low
wooded triangular piece Of land. This was
near midnight.
Almost before the rebel pickets coul give
tne alarm the gunboats we're In position, and
had opened Are upon the camps, the guns fol
lowing each other In rapid succession.
No effectual resistance was made by the enc.
my, and the discharges were continued for
more than an hour, Al which time the o ,mps
appeared nearly deserted. The darkness of
the night and the want Of sufficient men pre-.
vented landing being effected. Indeed, this
was not the object Of the expedition, the sole
aim being to destroy the camps by an efficient
cannonade, and this was successfully accom-.
plished. 1t is believed that the less Of life on
the part Of the ssSsls was heavy ewing to the
lively defenoeless state.
After the exploit the eunboats' returned to
Newport News and anchored in the stream,
the result being communicated to Gen. Wool
and Commodore Goldsborough. The cannonade
the night, and created much inquiry among
those who were uniformed ~ to the expedi
ton, It being generally supposed, from the
sound, that some Of the rebel batteries OH
York river had been attacked by heavy Union
force.
In order to fully comprehend the position Of
the rebel camp and their, force, the following
statement of the deserter already alluded TO-
will be found necessary:
Interesting Statement OF a Deserter-
$4,000 Rebels Nssr James River.
The dessrter was a lad Of twenty years of
age, clad In thick grey uniform, apparently
new. He managed to elude the vigilance Of the
outer rebel pickets, and followed the sandy
shore Of James.rivor from the camp which he
was desertiDg to Newport News, where he was
met by Ave men OF one of the Massachusetts
occasions he was obliged to hide in the woods,
and to swim small streams. he desired to re.
turn to his parents in Boston. He was a sailor
by profession, and at the time Of the blockade
annah. Owing to the blockade, she was una.
BILE to get to sea, and the lad found himself
without employment. He finally visited Au
gusta, Georgia, and being entirely destitute of
money, and attracted by the plscards cover.
lars per month to those who would enlist he
became member ~ he Tenth Georgia rcg.
mont, Colonel Cul -.
The regiment :, =, armed principally with
smooth, bore mushots, a few companies only
composed Of sailors and the laboring men of
Augusta, and, after It's organization, was 10.
GATED st many different points without seeing
active service, until finally, about two months
ago, 1t left Richmond and came down the James
river to place known as Young's Mills, in
Warwick county, Virginia, on the banks Of
Deep Creek. Here camp was formed, and in
this Same neighbOrhood were, and still are,
Except those scattered by tho gunboats,) the
Tenth Georgia, Colonel Cummins; Second
Louisiana, Farnow; Fifteenth Virginia, Second
Florida, Tenth Louisiana, Sixth Georgia, Louis.
lana Zouaves. Ave hundred cavalry, and one
battery Of eight pieces.
The Second Louisiana Regiment had the most
exposed position, the camp being on the point
Of land at the connuence Of the Warwick and
James rivers and Deep creek. 1t WAS this
regiment which sustained the nre Of the gun
boats, as already stated. The men are French,
Irish, and German, and our informant says thai
the confusion which sometimes reigns is most
amusing. On the point they have thrown up
an earthwork, and procured two howitEers for
Its defence. They have also brought number
Of old canal boats down from Richmond, and
sunk them across the entrance TO Warwick
river, a stream one mile in width at its mouth.
The Tenth Georgia camp adjoins that OF the
Second Louisiana, being further up the shore
Of Warwick river. AdjoiLing these, and still
further up, is the Tenth Louisiana. Beyond
these, and one mile distant from tho river, a,
Tabb's fields (near Warwick Court House,) is
the Second Florida, the men of which, accord.
ing to our informant, sustain the climate re-
markably well, the fact being that but Il small
portion Of them are really from Florida. The
Fifteenth Virginia command the road leading
from Newport News 10 Richmond, and have
thrown earthworks across 1t at point about
aye miles above the News. They have also
ditohed it. and erected an eight gun battery
field pieces and one a riAed cannon. A squad.
ron Of fve hundred cavalry is stationed with
this regiment, and used for scouting purposes.
The Sixth Georgia regiment is at yorktown,
where formidable earthworks have been
thrown up with the assistance Of negroes. i'm
pressed into the service. The Louisiana z III.
aves are at Williamsburg, exactly sixty miles
from Richmond.
Nearly all of tho rebel troops are erecting
| winter quarters, there being no design of ad-
roe, although this idea was entertained some.
| time since. General Magruder has % 600
troops In his department, comprising the dis
| tricts of James and York rivers. He visits the
camps at long intervals, and is addicted to hard
| drinking. He is, however, strict discipline.
rian, and, in the language Of our informant, Is
| not In favor with the men, because he won't
give them furloughs." The tents in use are
generally very poor The rations consist Of
bacon twice, and sugar and coffee twice.
There Is plenty Of food, such as 1t Ia, the pro
visions being brought by steamers from Rich
mond.
Two weeks ago, the Tenth Georgia regiment
| received new clothing, each man being obliged
to pay twenty four dollars for his suit-this
| sum being deducted from his wages. THIS
| created much dissatisfaction among the sol
| diers. Two months ago, three other regiments
| reosived new clothing.
The Second North Carolina regiment went
home two weeks ago, many OF the men posi-
| tivoly refusing to serve under General Magru
| der or Brigadier General McLaus.