Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-08-07
For the Journal

PETERSBURG, Aug. 4th, 1862.
MEssRs. EDITORS = Your patriotic readers would
like, doubtless to hear of all that ranspres in Virginia
OF military interest, they have the Intelligence to
make them conscious that her welfare is the good OIL
their own State-and most brilliant artillery raid
was projected and successfully coDsummated upon the
south bank OF James river, few days SINCE against the
entire Yankee fleet and army, they shall have short
and meagre sketch of the expedition.
The army OF Mcclellan is encamped upon the north
bank OF the James river between the York river
ty road and Harrisons bay, and opposite Coggin's
Point, Jordans Point and Rufio plantation distant
from Petersburg about twenty miles, in an east by
south course The river at Rufn is about three miles
wde caused by the current in its tortuous course
ing out upon the south bank beautiful bay-and here
Mcclellan has bis headquarters, with transports and
gunboas intervening between him and our side. He is
certainly IN the safest place that the nature of the
ground affords, which, to him on Thursday night must
have appeared small aud extremely warm At the two
ponts OF this bay, Coggns and Jordans, the river is
narrower not being over a mile from shore to shore,
with the south bark some forty feet higher than the
Yankee side, with sugaroaf hills falling in terraces
back upon the public road distant rie presenting
as you see to the artilersts most desirable place for
action, well for the protection it affords bis guns
as the abundance of gamc The discriminating eye of
Zen. s. u French, one oil the first artllersts of this
any country discovered the vulnerable points of
the enemy and the strong positions for our guns-and
led by active mind, proceeded upon "Wednesday
large infantry force, among which Halls and K E.
mans regiment and your old friends the Georgia bat
taIion) and ------- pieces Of artillery, to within a
few miles of COggin's Point expecting upon the same
evening to plant batteresaDd open fire. but the inces-
SAINT rain aud darkness OF the nght thwared the plan
the battery officers not having had TINA enough to ex-
pore the ground themselves the General very prop
ery desired to have them do. The troops therefore
had to remain that night and the next day in
the rain, without tents, anxious though to join
action with the enemy, and nothing but fiery
patriotism could have kept them in spirits for yniLe
hours under q heavy shower BATH Thursday was oc-
cupled In making vigiant reconnos llce aud Just
sun setting Genl French gave orde.. for the
- pieces OF Artillery to begin their march aud take
positions as indicated 10 previous orders; and truly
was it magnificent sight. The infantry skrting the
woods for miles along the road (which runs parable
with the rlver obscured from the view of the enc
my's balloon which flies over McCIelan's head
quarters Not the sound of voice to be heard but al
breathing forth desire to participate 10 that mos
hazardous aud critical of al! movements-a night at
tackwbich they, the Artillery marching forward witt
firm and steady pace to engage in, was sight to still
the soul of veteran soldiers. After most laboriou
marching, tie guns were placed in position, al
Co5gins' point and Rufin's house, (Long Tom o
Potomac notoriety, being amongst them) and -
- lower down the river at Maicncks, under command
Ct COL Brown and at II o'clock on Thursday night
while cClellans army asleep, unconscious of the
danger around them, the watch lights of an hundred
and fifty steamers ard transports, pointing calmly but
surely the place for destruction under dark and lowering
sky, the signal gun doomed the water and over
the hills and liz instant the South bank of the james
was frnged with fire. lighting the space that gloom haG
just pervaded In few seconds more, near one hun
dred shell burst in the midst of that insane and ruth
less horde surrounded by their shipping exposing tc
view the fleet and army now 10 wild CONSERVATION
Apart from the military and moral effect, it presented
one of the handsomest pyrotechuic exhibitions that mar
ever witnessed. The firing continued for ffUeer
minutes when the gunboats of the enemy opened upor
our batteries, literally envelopng the river and banks
in one sheet OF flame, and for hour did our brave
hu the missiles of death at the i3soent foe MAKING
their encampment ring with screams and their trans
ports crack like reeds in consuming re-then the order
to cease firing a" given and return to the mair
body OF the army for, had the guns remained il
position longer the infantry which was to support then
would have been exposed to the fire of the enemy dur
ing the day in our march along the road for ter
miles.
II would seem now, that all had been &C
complshed successfully, bat not So the mos
difficult operation for the commanding officer re
mains to be DONE and most CALAMITY md skillfuy i
was DONE making his loss to Wilmington felt mos
seriously That large infantry force and near an hun
dred guns, with two thousand horses were to be re
moved Id safety over narrow and heavy roads, in
dark night and under the iron hail of the enemy Was
II done! Let one man killed and two wounded be the
answer.
Ho uoudSc uone 10 tne enemy VIC WIN HoVcr huOW
unless honest letter writer should disclose the facts
which is not probable, with their system of espionage
but if can judge of the injury, from their Uenomou
conduct SINCE it must have been great. We do know
that their transports steamed down the river about thu
break of day. and the chief who had ships by Thousands
and men in nations,
he counted them at close Of day.
And when the sun rose, where were they2
| FRIEND.