The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-21

for the night, being not thought advisable
to venture further In the darkness On the 18th,
At four A. n, We gos under weigh; arrived At hvs r ~
~ Sswals Point got the and stores on board and
quantity Of COAL also some shells for the rsd guns Al
ten r. H. We got under weigh for the mouth Of the Man
ssmond; passed Pig Point battery st eleven O'Clock r.
NJ ran up the river about four miles; got aground on
sand bank low tide had wait till return OF high
water. tried to collect all the information could from
bands coming down tSs james river, in large Soas,
with their families Two Of them volunteered to stay
with me and after having supplied the remainder with
70 report st Fortress Monroe. The two remain
ing on board volunteered all tho informati n
tnsy nsd 70 gve assisted the boats crew. and conduct
Waiting for the tide, got tho cutter and the small
boat under weigh and isconn0itsred the frst Of
both shores for about mils Above H. ON the eastern
shore foundthrse battsries respectively Of two one
and ave gun commanding the stockade, but Al aban
The exact location will be shown In the map.
a. soon y tho steamer vas aaost stacked the
dsd feet wide, when da kness made further work i'm
possible, which, however was resumed at daylight and
more. .tNN
We then proceeded up the river, guided by William
coored and fres), who had joined the boat Voluntarily
the previous night. This man, being resident Of this
eighb rhood had thorough knowledge Of the river,
the location and the nature Of the obsrucfons IT, and
subsequently his services became very valuable.
About twelve thirteen miles from Pig Point 1t the
mouth OF the western branch We found second OBJ
s,ras.ion consisting or arow Of piles driven in cams
by heavy chains. Behind these logs the huls Of small
vessels, loaded with heavy materials, we're sunk; also
the channel below The TOPS Of the pes cut on
as to be visible only at low water At hikh tide vessels
drawing from six to seven foet Of water can be
forced around edges near the east Shore the bottom
beipY soft mud.
Above the mouth of the western branch was maskcd
battery for ve guns, which, however, had been hddsn
Being Unable to do anything in this place as long as
Oh water lasted pr ceeded up the river 20 suffolk and
reported my arrival verbally 70 General Manseld and
per telegraph 10 MAJOR General Dix.
At pcon as the tide had facn sufficiently, returned
TO the obstruction nepr the mouth OF West Branch and
removed of It much possible till the return OF high
water forced me TO abandon tie work.
At five P. NJ. Ireturued to Suffolk and embarked Com
Sanders, Of the Third New York Volunteers all under
command of Major Abel smith; for wished to make q
reconnaissance UP the west bank OF the river left at
nine O'Clock T. N. Az Haoway's Point, about half
way between Suffolk and Pig Point largo substantially
built pier ar rdcd accommodation for landing to .
steamer. Accordingly, at hafpast ten o'clock disem
bxrkod the whole force, with the exception II
and o corporal OF the Third New York Volunteers,
six men and corporal Of the Ninety ninth New York
Volunteers, TO serve artillery The road to Chuca
tuck village distant about Ave and half miles, Is
country road, but in good condition, and only the
quarter OF mile u . little improved artillery and
transportation OF tho heaviest kind DO passed It
without any dculty Proceeding toyk the necessary
precauion TO prevent intelligence Of approa being
sent 10 the enemy, Who as was informed, in the
habit Of sending at night mounted scouts ~ the village
The people for The part what volelt
their expression rebel scnnent bit argu-
ments and kind treatment had good effect thslp and
when left there next morning felt convinced that
considerable revuscn in thor iaeas had taken place
for they certainly could not hep admire the good
discipline OF the troops and thu gen,leanly, soldier
like conduct of the officers AT about one o'cock
A. N. tie column reached Chucatuck village, Al the
head Of Chucatuck river. posted de; achnens all
the roads leadnqSto and from IT, and surrounded the
village with chain of sentineis. The whole done
quietly that no dog barked After posting tho
necessary pickes, az also the enient
positions ! directed my Coiurei guide, and also
negro whom found sleeping in the po ch Of house,
to collect al the negroes in the village, Tor believed
them tho only ones willing to give reli bic Information.
From thom learned that The last scout Of tie enc
my's troops had visited the p week previous, but
that four residents Of the village very active
spies aud In ether arious practices Their
miior, and George Willis Duder, also resitiit tho
western shore, and Mr. Lewis, who lives about five
miles above Bsrrel Point lhe road from ChGeatl,
village TO ietcrsburs Is good turnpike, and WAS
told the distance Of at least twenty miles
strncted. kverctts bridge is stl uLburnet probably
also the connty bridge Back river, whore the
enemy's scouts pass in and out OF their lines
as daylight appeared returned board, where tho
coumn arrived ut fvc clock A. NJ can hardly speak
IN te. ms Of sufficient mnedaon OF the services Of
Captain Lee, Ninety ninth New York Volunteers, whose
practical experience Of the greatest value in
ing aud removing the obstacles: Aso ,he nien unesr
hs command, VINO were inieiatigab 0, having worked
hard from day light III dark. ana alter that making
forced march during the greater part the night.
The detachment Ui the Third New York Volunteers
behaved likewise splen dly showing the highest
Of discipline and the most soldieie ins thy
whole time they with me.
Maj,r Abel Smith made ali the disposition OF his crm.
mand on tbs march IN the abcst and most thorough
manner, showing all tho skill and discretion which
are absolutely necessary for the
noissancss
Captain Elllsr, Of the s,eamtug P. Smith, was inds-
ftgsbs in Ito perforl Of his duty ard handled
his boat with tho greatest ktnd dsxtcrty Ia steering
her through the obstructions
The Scoree plot William, rendered the most valuable
service en- the river and guide the maj ch TO
Ctncae,ck ~iliage; also in collecting inlormatson.
Hoping 10 be abs 10 report the entire removal of
all obsfructns, remain very respectfully your most
obodisnt servant, II. hYNER, Capsain Vol. Top. Eng.