The national Republican., 1861-06-29
From our second Baisloa Of Yesterday
FIGHT At MATTHIAS POINT /!
CAPT. WARD, OF THE FREEB0RN,
[Na KILLED.
FOUR SAILORS WOUNDED!
Unsucosssfal Attempt to Plant Battery
by Captain Wardl
A NUMBER OF THE REBELS SUPPOSED TO
BIZ KILLED.

A NUMBER OF THE REBELS SUPPOSED TO |
BIZ KILLED.
The steamer Pawnee arrived at the nav,
yard this morning, bringing the body Of Capt.
Ward, Of the steamer Free6orn, who was killed
in an action at Matthias Point, about dusk yes.
terday afternoon.
As near as we can learn, the particulars ere
as follows:
Capt Ward, Of the FFse6orn, which was in
the neighborhood Of Matthias Point on wednes.
day night, sent to Capt Rowan, of the PaUnes,
ct Acquia Creek, for two boats crews, which
we're sent down under Lieutenant Chaplin, in
order to take possession Of the Point and
erect. battery Early yesterday morning .
landing was effected, and the pickets Of the
rebels we're driven back. The number of men
landed Was between 80 and 40, Capt. Ward,
in the mean time, promising to cover the men
with his guns. cs,--.s :, ..V
About this time, contraband slave, be-
longing to DR.. Hooe, q noted secessionist, made
his appearance with q. shirt on pole, as Asg
of truce, and stated to the men that there was
rebel force Of from 900 to 1000 men in the
vicinity; but his story was not believed, and
the men proceeded with filing their sand bags
for the battery. ls-a,s I'D; 49,.
While tae men were ct work at the battery,
the signal was given for the boats to return
from the Frseborn and simultaneously the en-.
emy opened FIRE Of musketry from the bushes,
and the men retreated to their boats, the fire
being meanwhile kept up. The gunner on the
Fnee6orn was wounded in the hip by . ball,
and Captain Ward Immediately sprsng in his
place, and was in the act Of sighting the piece
whsr he was shot in the breast. seq i''if-
Four others were wounded among them
". J. Best, gunner, who was struck with four
shots, and will probably die and Jack VIII
liams the coxswain Of the third cutter, who
was shot in the hip as the boat was retreating.
Immediately on being struck, he ordered the
boat back, and de6sntly waved his flag in the
face of the rebels. The aag is perfectly rid
died with shot, there being nineteen holes
in it. g.-- .r. -E=..E GA
The men retreated with such precipitation
that number Of them we're left on shore, snt
had to swim OF, one Of them bringing OF
his back Mr.. Best, who was wounded, as abov'
stated. t as.t f..t
The Freedom returned the fire, and thre,
, some ten or q dozen shells into the bushes
which were seen to explode among the rebels
and doubtless killed number Of them.
The Freeborn, after getting the men on board
hauled off; and after the death Of Captain Ware
who died about eight o'clock, Zone hour afte
he was shot, his body was sent up to the Pau
nee, on which it was brought to the city.
Some accounts of the action state that whe
the ERE had commenced, the boats were on th
way to the ship to bring off the guns for th
battery, but such could not have been the cas-
as the battery was not ready to receive then
and only some two hundred sandbags had bee
filed. .. ...- -s.r. ra .
On the Rdvnees arrival, the body was r
moved 70 the engine.house in the yard, und
the escort Of two companies Of the sevent
6rst regiment guard Of marines, and Il
sailors who took part in the action, with Il
riddled flag carried in the action, where it WI
laid out preparatory to its being sent to Ne
York for interment. All the flags in the var
and on the boats at the wbarves, were imm
diately displayed at halfmsst. -..a ...
Capt Ward was ffty.6ve years old, or MOI
: he was born in Connecticut, where he has
sided while on shore. In 1898 he entered I
navy. In rank he wss near the head of 1
list Of commanders.
Capt. Ward was brave to fault. he kn,
not the word fear, and hardly saw dang
Fond of his profession, he has written seve
works which are text books in naval matte
Of which the most considerable work is up
the subject Of Naval Gunnery." He has q
written popular treatise on steam.