The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-20
Our Troops Within Fifteen Miles Of
Richmond on That River. III
THE ACTIONS ON THE JAMES RIVER
Additional Particulars Of the Fight Be-
tween the Iron Vessels and
the Rebel Batteries.
The Military Reconnaissance to
Bottoms Bridge,
THE JAMES RIVER EXPEDITION.

Our Fortress Monroe COrresp0ndences
FoRrREss MONROE. May IS, 1862
The Advance Of the Fleet up the James Ruer-7Ae Rebel
BaHcy at Hardy's Bluff Cap,arsd-TAe Galena and
Naugatuck Versus tie Rebel Batteyies-The Baale-The
Rife Pis-An Interesting Lettcr-Lit of the Dacotahs
Officers, dc. &#EH#
For the past two days there has been great excite
ment in this vicinity owing to great naval movements
The government has ordered that the navy must
ooperate with General Mcclellan in his advance on
Richmond in consequence the greater portion Of
fleet ordered up the James river. Some Of these
vessels left here Monday the 18th inst and
fully the rebel batteries lining the shore
Of the James river. The reason gunboats did not
shell them that they wanted to get up to City
Point before the rebels had time to block up the channel
which feat was not quite accomplished Our vessels
reached City Point in due time; but the channel had
already been obstructed.
On Wednesday, the 14th, several more vessels were
sent up, and yesterday morning Commodore Colds
borough transferred hts flag 70 the wachusett,
and in company with the Dacotah San Jacnto.
susquehanna and others proceeded up the river When
or ardys Bluff the San Jacnto and Dacotah commenced
shelling the battery that Point but, receiving no
response Captain A. Ludlow Case fleet captain) and
Major shutteworth in command Of battalion marines
landed on the Shore and found twelve guns dsmounted
and the carriages burned the Dacoah San Jacinto
returned in the evening, while the Commodore Kept on
his way to join the feet at City Point.
This morning the E. A. Stevens Oate Naugatuck),
Captain D. C. Constable commanding, returned from the
fleet bringing back thirteen wounded men from the
(,alena who were injured in action between that
vessel and an immense rebel battery Of risd guns on
what is termed Wards Bluff Thursday the 18th inst
appears that the Galena, being Of light draft, and
carrying Captain Rogers pennant went in advance and
drew the fire Of the rebels. The channel being very
narrow the ship had 70 be fought while at anchor and in
consequence the shoa water could not be maneuyred
properly The shots from the rebel batteries were fred At
right angles from the bluff being at least $50 feet above
the water ne Several shots went through the deck
the Galena, which killed the Tho other vessels
could not be brought into any position be Of effective
service. M
The E. A. Stevens was CALAMITY fought by her noble
commander, and the only casualty that occurred on
board OF this vessel was the bursting of PARROT gun at
the breech, portion OF which, weighing about fifteen
hundred pounds flew over the captains head and bv
strange miracle Captain Constable escaped unscathcd
and felt no other effects than slight conclusion from
which he tainted however, not until than an hour
after The Stevens close in to shore that man
could conveniently have stepped on terra frma from
her deck All along the right Of the James river the
shore is lined with rife pits filed with sharpshooers;
but the side guns Of the Stevens played great havoc
the concealed Rebels being not chary the dose
OF rape and canister scattered among them The Ga
lena and other vessels ordered TO fall back short
dstan CO and Instructions for which the Stevens
was sent Captain Constable arrived here early this
morning. and his way TO the flagship stopped at Nor
folk where he left the wounded men from the alens
Our entire feet behaved most noby; but tho bluff was
too high TO range our guns effectively
have obtained copy Of letter written on board OF
the steamer Gaena TO gentleman at this place. request
ing him to forward the remains Of the gunner from the
Gaena The letter gives idea Of the action, but no
particulars Is hardly necessary TO say that the 70.
quest OF Mr. Dixon carried out and the body duly
forwarded The following Is tho letter addressed to Mr.
webber -
UNmm STATES STEAMER GAIxSA \
CRY POrNT, Va, May 10, 1862,
SIR-Takng the responsibility on myself of forward
ing the body Of Mr. Bocrum the gunner Of this ship
who Was killed the action OF yesterday the 18th inst
this engagement was with . battery about seven
miles from Richmond). would ask IL Of you as favor
TO . brother in arms and In defence Of country
70 see that the body 10 forwarded as directed,
The engagement commenced at seven O'Clock A. NJ and
continued for four hours and half without relief The
Aroostook took an inactive part as they could not re n
range We exposed TO all tho fire for upwards of
one hour and could not return the channel being too
guns for three quarters Of hour and as soon an our
sheil gave out they returned and did considerable
damage W lost In killed fourteen; wounded thirteen
The latter will all recover. Those who were killed were
terribly mangled much TO be unrccognzabe by
their most Intimate friends. Mr.. Boerum had been
on the gundeck not more than half minute
before the fearing that there was FIRE for
which he was looking. shell mad exploded on deck
His body will be directed as follows,-''Mr. II. L. Hail.
No. IS Wall street, N. T." Yours, respectfully.
R0BT. DIXON,
Mr.. r. wEBnKR, United States Navy.
The following correct list Of the officers Of the Da
co,ah, engaged in the first mentioned action
Consnander-J p. MeKinstrv.
First Licsaerdnie-S. X. Franklin, g. b. Willse.
.yur0eor-Deevan Bloodgood.
Pdsmastey-Rich'd Washington.
Ndsty--S u. Ames.