The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-05

The Herald's Special Dispatches.

| a Ndodt Reconnaissance Up the Chckdh0ainy-The
Bar-7ae Depth Of the River-7he Scenery Along It's
Bdnks-Tne Surprise AZ Our Apprenticeship Pork as
| VoIuat< as Butter, DC, dc.
The Stepping Stones and the Island Belle have arrived
thus far their return from reconnaissance up the
Chickahomny river. We forced way up within four
miles Of jones' bridge much higher than any vessel OF
greater pretensions than rowboat has gone be-
fore. Along the entire route did not encounter
single obstruction and not battery, soldier
Union rebsl-was to be seen. But let me be more
particular. a
Yesterday afternoon, when returned from our
reconnaissance up the Appomatox the signal was made
on board the Wachusest flagship for all commanding
officers OF vessels TO repair board. IL
ranged that this morning the Stepping stones and the
Island Belle should proceed up tho chickahomny and
pore the river as high up practicable for the
sells to The light draugh Of tho steamers par
ticulary the Stepping Stones admirably adapted them
for this duty.
Early this morning we weighed anchor from City
Point, and wore steaming down the James river
the Island Belle following closely in wake AT eight
o'clock entered the mouth OF the Chckahominy stu
ated few miles above Jamestown. Here we found
troublesome bar and nearly ran aground ave feet
water The Island Belle fortunate. She got
stuck fast and We had to turn back to her assistance
This delayed nearly hour. length we succeeded
in towing our consort Off after parting hawser and
proceeded on onward course The bar passed, the
river rapidly deepened alternating between three and
four fathoms, nearly all the way up far
In some places it was deeper. The lead was kept
constantly going, avoid sudden shoaing but the pre-
caution though prudent one turned out to 10 hardly
necessary.
Winding along the serpentine course OF the river
passed through some magnificent scenery. In many
rlac tho rivAr air vvaa nva-h unu vii
precpitous banks clothed with dense Wood, Wild Rich,
undulatng country beyond and occasionally caught
glimpses Of extensive fields of wheat. In places
these folds down to the waters edge Sometimes
too, encountered strip Of low, narshy land
with rank grass while the broad leaves Of the
water lily grew plentifuy far out into the
Farmhouses and private residences constantly in
view, and from nearly every inhabited dwelling white
Sheet tablscoth anything that could be extomporzed
into flag Of truce, was displayed as soon we have
in sight. Hats, caps, and handkerchiefs, too, were
waved at in passing but whether this may be rightly
considered indicative Of genuine Union feeling
done merely with view to propitiate am unable to
say. As usual wherever we have been in Virginia. the
people we saw were principally blacks and truth impels
to add that they far demonstratve
show Of welcome than the whites. Occasionally how.
ever, white female child would join in the hand
kerchief waving. need hardly say that white
hardly to be seen, most Of them either with the
rebel army or have been killed off in the struggle their
leaders have provoked. great number Of houses
shut up, without the least sign OF inhabitants in
around them.
After running up . considerable distance we came
upon log house, built steep SLOPE There we saw
white man, who met on the landing in front OF his
house. Above the high bank, two grown white
females and two three white children. The told
that could twenty miles further up and that
could obtain pilot At "Ths Shades" He said he had
been forced the rebel army but that had desert
ed not liking the service, hs believer
sion.
Proceeding way several miles further up, the
river became quite narrow and apprshsnsions began
DO entertained that went much further we would
not be able 70 turn round. At . sharp elbow we
came on an intricate spot but piles had been driven
TO mark the channel. On starboard side was q
high bluff, on the summit OF which stood comfort.
ablo looking house, with the usual appurtenances OF
residence Of some pretenson Some gentlemen aud
two three good looking ladies standing under an
open porch in front Of the house, gazing at the novel
sight Of two armed United States passing
high up their and tortuous stream; and, pre-
Stunning that they unacquaned with the intrcaces
Of the channel At that spot well might they look, 10
pectation perhaps of catastrophe The piles were
pssoous ~
and half fathoms, called two then and half then
fathom when bump the bottom of the Stepping
Stones something hard-probably what 10 called q
"snag' or sawyer in the Mississippi The apprc
hension, however, only momentary, for the
river Immediately deepened almost abruptly
1t had shoalsd. At this moment some one
called out that FIVE six horssmsn were
galopping down towards the river, near the house
Ia very few seconds gun swept round TO the
starboard side. but discovered that tho men
in citizens dress We therefore continued slowly
course
At this jlpcture the Island Belle nearly got ashore
again. Admonished, probably, by our narrow escape
from serious mshap, Captain Harris instead OF taking
the channel did, kept close the opposite
bank small island being betwsea the channel he had
chosen and the right He backed in time and
followed in wake. He destined, however, to
escape altogether scathesss His starboard paddle
box foul Of pile driver, which rather incommoded
the channel, overturning the apparatus in q
twnkng, but crushing his metallic life boat which hung
At the davits, badly that he had 10
abandon IT, On rounding another sha rp elbow
IL was clesr we had reached our limits, for
the had become narrow that the trees shore
brushed against the sides Of the vessels and the
ings very abrupt. Great difficulty experienced
in turning round the river being barely wide enough
admit Of the length OF the Stepping Stones At length
tho feat was accomplished, and wore running
down stream return from the exploration.
On way down we called at the plantation OF an
elderly gentleman named Turner, where we purchased
some eggs and milk. He profsssed to be q staunch
Union man. but could not help showing the oloven foot
BY speaking Of the rebel army army" He told
us were In New Kent county, and that Il
was only ten miles across 70 West Point. He said
there bad been none Of " our ARMY at that place
for soma weeks, but that some fsderals had
been in the neighborhood about ten days since;
q piece Of information, am afraid did not receive
with much gratitude, seeing that could have told the
old gentleman much two weeks ago. He charged fty
cents pound for his butter, and twenty-five cents
dozen for eggs; and, caterer domurring 10 tho
price, he thought 70 convincing argument by OBJ
serving that sour soldiers" paid those prices We did
not IL In that light, and remarked that there
trining difference between Uncle Sans wefsd sailors,
who had the pick Of every market thsss waters and
Jen Davis soldiers whs wsve glad 10 get what they