The New York herald., 1862-09-14

nne opportunity for shot-the Union cavsary ana
"Eirsr The friction primer failed. Then the rebel
ocsr rode o some twenty rods, 70 whsre his
about the same time, gave again the order 6re This
tae the piece went on and its contents had the elect of
mot only staggering woandns and killing many ,o sne re-
nent and keep out Of harm's way, regardless OF dsci
plins military order This piece or artillery was then
worked briskly for quite little while during which
peiod the rebels brought against pieces OF
their own artillery This action was at Short range in
fact, short that Lieutenant Fields could the muz-
zles Of their guns and the men when they pulled the
anyards of tho gunocks The enemys first shot wounded
one Of our and sSss IL on 1 s so
took Lieutenant Fieids' horse from under
him After an engagement o. several minutes longer
OF the enenys pieces. After this steady cannonadiug
more on our side than the enemys-was kept up Tor
over two hours. Another pece OF battery under
mand Of Lieutenant ONe engaged the enemy for three
quarters the main street, at the entrance 10
the long bridge, Pamiico river, Lieutenant o'Ne
with this gun engaged the enemy till every man. except
one shot from his post He then with the assist
ance Of the remaining man sergeal. King: and some me
piece on 10 place and position Of safety.
Tho two companies OF the Firs; North Carolina
regiment which composed OF natives, with the excep
tlon OF the officers, fought with the most undaunted
bravery, and reserved much praise and commentator
post While referring Colonel Potter, may well
cord the that he had his horse shc. unaer him. and
narrowly escal ed serious injury, not death while d.
rcotng and overseeing the movements OF lis command
a auNRoAr woR6.
As soon portion OF the streets could be cleared
Colonel Potter gave orders TO the commanding ocer OF
the gunboa Louisiana shell portion Of the city which
he at the time designated The gunboat accordingly
commenced with shell, but got throwing grape
and canister This the rebels could not stand They fell
back after two three doses of iron compliments
The shells from the gunboat tore several OF the houses
and trees in most conspicuous manner, and tho
smaller shot soon rendered the buildings-cspcelal
ly the quarters Of the Twenty fourth Massachu-
setts regimcntitc better than large sized sirainers
and stoves for rain and dirt. rbee officer, while
in Of the houses referred was stunned by tho
falling Of the chimney and passing shot that he
carried insensible and taken away in ambulance
The gunboat did very well indeed and helped us mate
rally.
DESTRUCTION pICkEr.
In the beginning Of the fight the gunboat Picket which
lay above the bridge, and in the the upper
portion Of the town. prepared to engage the rebels just
they brought the artillery and infantry to the edge Of tho
city. In an instant am explosion was heard, and lrag
cnts Of wood and humanity to fiji the air
Then IL was known That the gunboat Picket had been
blown up. either through csresssness Or design most
the went into tho magazine with Ian
tern that he fell, and that the lantern broke
causing the explosion Others say that ho lit
match Brought lighted candle in there but Of tho
truth Of thsse statements there s little chance TO judge
vicinity of IL 10 tell the or the accident As usual
in Of that kind. great deal must be presumed.
The gunboat Picket was one Of those vessels manned
Parrot forward, and twenty four pound howtzcr aft
On examining what remains Of tho vessel to-day,
found that The explosion had completely severed IL in
two, apparently about midships. Tho wreck lays in
about eight feet of water, with portion Of the
chnsry and other iron work still exposed to view.
After the explosion the vessel took fire. where
upon all the woodwork above the present wa
ter ter line & was totally So1 consumed licking oyer %
through the water there exposed innu.
merabc fragments OF clohng and in some Instances Of
lays the crisp form Of dead man. and about midshps,
or in close proximity to whsre the vessel Is divided
hangs the leg Of human being with the foot encased in
neat shoe and stockmgapparently that likely TO be
worn BY an officer This fragment is supposed TO be
part of that which al one time went 70 constitute
portion of the body Of Cart Nichols. Capt Nichols
accomplished gentleman and officer. He leaves wife
During the day portions Of dsEgured bodies foated
past and were by those board the steamer
Phonx When We left soldiers sailors ana conrabands
busiiy employed in searching for what remains
the dead bodies
The following is list Of the names Of those who were
lost On and escaped from the gunboat Pickett
Captain Nichols, Commander.
Geo. Emmers0n Gunner.
]. W. Chester, Quartermaster.
). b. Dexter, Quartermaster.
- 1ravers, Hoatswsn's Nate
McConway, Master at. Arms.
g. ". Edgar seaman
John Warren. seaman.
John Cook, seaman
- Howell, seaman.
-C Carrigan seaman.
- Evans, seaman.
> Hail. seaman. t-f
- fielding, seaman.
- McRief, seaman.
- Dclks, seaman
-- Smith, seaman.
- Clark, seaman.
49, PhslaD, fireman.
Total killed, nineteen.
Henry Strand, Boatswains Nate, slightly.
John Mcdonald, slightiy.
Henry Warrcnton, slightly.
William Falay, leg broken.
Charles Callaton, badly.
- Davis (boy), slghtly.
- Cooley lboy). slightly.
William Deck, slightly.
rnfa "A oSuI
The following named persona escaped from the gun.
boat
Charles Strong.
Michael Lesdworth.
Andrew Wilson.
John q. Jackson.
John Lewis.
- Raymond (boy)
-. Haight (boy).
- Francis lboy).
Charles Mcdonald.
Charles
IL is said that OF the men who was blown or the
Picket into the without sustaining injury crayed
on board again and after the explosion while tho ves
sci was on ire, discharged loaded bowitzer situated in
the after part Of the vcssc lie then Off for shore
THE ENGAGEMENT.
After an engagement Of near four hours duration and
which with all due propristy might be called
orief spirited and desperate battle, in which
Sas Saysy ssss artillery and infantry Were used on
treat, slowly and steadily at frst but gradually in
creasng their speed tn at length their advance went or
soon after this Captain Murphy with squadron of ca
vary went out ON the road eight miles after the enemy
and Notwithstanding Inc made spirited dash after them
he did not succeed in coming up with their On the
road he passed several Of the cnemys abuanccs loaded
with killed and wounded. Ono large one had eighteen
wounded In IL and another nine
Captain Gerard in charge, captured two men and
three horses. His company ID had nine men wounded
and three horses killed.
II Is evident that the enemy lost heavily.
In two OF three cases the natives fired out OF the win
dows on our men ono soldier fired upon in this
manner by This led Provost Marshal Lyon to
search the citizens houses when two hundred stand
OF found concealed therein together with large
quantities Of ammunition Of various kinds Over fifty
persons arrested and put the gnnrdhouse poll
tcal prisoners and other things having been found
their houses.
In the engagement there was very large number os
lately exchanged prisoners and not acw OF those pAoled
at Fort Macon.
Ono rebel prisoner stated that they had attacked us
with twelve hundred and four pieces Of artillery.
0thcr prisoners place those figures higher.
Our force on land did not exceed four hundred men.
J.R Grist, citizcn, and professed Union man. ia
under arrest for having led the rebels IN their charge