New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-11

to be directed against this fort. No guns had been
mounted there. The soldiers at work on ran away
in true rebel style, leaving swords, guns and too,s
behind them.
Capt. Rodgers, having now bis whole squadron d
the Ferry, landed at 81 o'clock 70 consult with Gen.
Stevens. The General expressed bis admiration Of
the manner in which the naval force had done IL
work, and bis grateful recognition Of Capt Rodgerss
services Indeed, the same gallantry and skill with
which he carried the Wabash into action at Port
Royal against Fort Walker were conspicuous in bic
present services, and the Acknowledgements Of them
especially proper because bis force had not been
exposed to the danger which was expected and yet
had undoubtedly repealed the attack of the rebels q
the land forces. I am glad to be able 10 say thas
Gen. Stevens spoke with unqualified praise of the
behavior Of his troops. Their spirit was unmistska-
Bile, and their contempt o. the rebels, who would not
fight when greatly superior in force, with over
whelming re-enforcements at hand was equally
plain. Gen. Stevens had shown very high order
of military skill in bis advance, the timing OF biz
movements, and the forming Of his lines. The I'M
potance of the success 10 not to be estimated by the
lumber of killed and wounded, which on our side 10
very small but must have been large on the part Of
the rebels
A flag Of truce was sent at dark with request foe
leave to carry off their dead and wounded, which
was granted. Some wounded prisoners were taken
by our soldiers, among them a cousin of Vallandg.
ham, present NJ. c. from Ohio.
There was no alarm during the night. Cotton WA
burning in every direction as it had been during the
day-the best evidence that an advance was expect
ed 10 be successful Signals arranged for night
/ no, G. and nj
Rodgers. Mach Of the precision of the operations
during the day had been due to tho efficiency OF the
army signal corps, under Lieut.. Taft on shore and
Lieut.. Coggswell on the Ottawa which had enabled
the commanders to together all the way up'
1t was understood that the troops would ID WIN
drawn across the ferry early next morning, under
cover of the gunbosts, but the movement dld not
begin till after 3. / went on shore again aooutf
with Lieut. Preston, who was curious 70 observe tne
effect of the shells he had aimed the Gay before
We were told that pickets had been sent cut De-
yond the field where their reserve column had been
sbeled and scattered, and Gen. Stevens gave "
leave to 90 over the ground Goingu the causswI
we came to tie entrance Of the field in rear Of the
house and large grove which had served US as .
landmark the day before, about half mile beyond
Gen. Stevenss headquarters. At this house large
picket was stationed, where officers courteously
passed us through.
The field Icy before us inclosed by woods ct the
rear and on the left end crossed BY road or cause.
way on which the rebel line had been formed. The
surface was nearly level but sloped up gradually To
the csussway and was furrowed all over with the
cotton ridges in rows and in,ersected with bitches,
which made II difficult for troops to cross in good
order. It seemed incredible that 800 men should
have been driven from position Of such strength BY
few shells from gnnbOas mile and half away.
The length of the causewsy across the field was
nearly 200 yards
About third Of the distance across the first she'll
had exploded with terrible effect The ground was
literally saturated with BLOOD the bitches on either
side Of the csusewsy partly filed; the grass dyed
with it, Pieces Of flesh, shattered muskets, car
tridge-boxes fragments of clothing, were srswn on
the road and on the field in every direction. The
wounded, and msst Of the dead had been carried on
by the Rebels, but men had that morning buried
three, whose graves were at the side Of the road IL
was tie first battlefield over which ! had passed.
but suppose no ordinary carnage is 50 terrible. or
90 ghastly in its effects the explosion of li-inch
shells. Icannot attempt to describe it.
We passed on to the woods on the farther eide Of
the field. No picket was in sight either side or IN
the woods. which was open, and through which We
could see perhaps 900 yards. The road did not enter
the woods, but turned ct right angles IN both dree-
tons and ran along their edge. pile Of fifteen
knap sacks lay under the trees. The coats had the
United States button and bad apparently been drop
ped by a scouting party, which had returned 81
another way.
Willie was examining them, Mr. Preston an
nounced that horseman was coming down the
causeway at full speed, and waving bis hand to u.s.
When he came up lie proved to be an orderly, who
had been cent to say that we were three-quartes OF
mile beyond the pickets; that the rebos were in
force in the woods where we were; that the gun
boats were going shell them, and thst we must re-
turn immediately. Without stopping to explain fur
Their he rode rapidly back. We were quite certain
there was no large body Of rebels very near US, but
il was by no means sure that scouts might not DO
near enough to try shot al u.s. Not waiting, there
fore, to make any further examination, we walked
back to the guard which had passed us through
Our accidental reconnaissance wes Of some service
Mr.. Preston reported Gen. Sevenstha noforce Wa
posted in the woods OF that point and carried orders
20 the cunboa,s to direct their IRE elsewhere Tho
whole camp was stirring as we returned, troops
moving out into the fields to left and right and form
ING in line of battle. Gen. Stevens was about to re-
tire his force, under cover Of the gunboas hre aud
formed them to deceive the enemy, II in sight, andto
pro,ect the Withdrawing regiments In case Of attack
At "a clock Capt Rodgersopened tre with hiswhofs
force-the Ottawa Pembins, Seneca, Hale, and Ellen
fh-o,v;rg sbels M eyery point where there was any