The New York herald., 1862-06-03
OPERATIONS OF THE euMBoATs.


OPERATIONS OF THE eUMBoATs.
Our Naval CorrespOndencs.
OSauD STATES SrRAnlR SfEPPM0 SroMs, I
CnY PoaSr, JAMES RIvIk, Va, May 20, 1882.
Delightful Scssey N Jamss Rivs-An Extensive Plan.
-taHon and it, Private Railroads. Dessrsad Rshe
BaHry-Ms Fled at Anchor-Re6d Desrtsrs-AUa
Coming-Umsos Sentiment in Petrsbwfv-Pa~ie and
DestitsSon n Nat CITY, &C.. a. nA,A
Yesterday evening the Island Belle, Cuur Dc Lion and
Stepping Stones alongside the Minnesota, flagship,
and took in quausy Of storss, after Which they pro-
cesded up the James river in tho order named and
anchored little above Nswport's News til morning
At four O'Clock We weighed anchor and stood up the
river, in the order in which wsasf> but ~ the
Cur dc Lion is very slow, we soon ppsssd hsr. and
/ during the passage up We had to slacksn speed
10 avoid leaving her cut Of sight, the Island Belle
still remaining ahead. At soma distance above New
ports Nsss we arrived opposite battery that bad
BEEN erected by the rebels, but over vhrh the
Stars and Stripes wsrs now waving. Continuing
on our course, ws arrived at Jamestown Island.
whsre the ,gunboat Port Royal was lying, and sftsr
boat from her had communicated with We proceeded
on our way The river nowhegan toconrac. in BREADTH
and the most delightful scenery came In view. Vast
fields growing heat aitsrnated with dense clumpe q
woodland and level ground, gave way 70 high banss
ovsrhanging the river on either sds while the entire
country partook Of undulaaing character. Several
resp sctabs farm houses were passed, q were few
comfortable private residences but thore indi
cations Of those sumptuous mansions and imposing
edces that we have been taught 70 consider among
the suda appanagss o the descendants Of ths ancient
cavaliers Of England, from whom the r. r. w claim to
be descended Among other large plantations we passed
belonging 70 Mr.. Allen, situated onthe right
bank or the river, some miles above jamestown This
gentleman's farm Il 20 extensive that he has .
private railroad, with steam power on u. by
thS agency 0. yhich his produce y gathered n
TO ono common centre neaf thS wharf, rsady
for shipment whilo on tho wharf sslf, or near By,
there is or sawmil, by which his wood sawed
up split and made ready for the Northern market How
far secession has insrsred with those comfortable and
enterprising arrangements unpropared 70 say, but
certainly Mr. Aliens fields look green and nourshng
Al IL war was NOT stalking the land with dssolatng
tread. On the whole, while the charms Of nature on
the banks Of the James river undsnabe We look In
vain for those evidences Of high civilization which
crowd the banks Of the Hudson. - aarr.
Pursuing COURSE and passing several places where
white flags flying, and even waved at us by both
whites and blacks came upon formidable forthoa-
ton at sudden bend OF the river, where It contracts
considerably, few miles below this place. Down by
the river was water battery whore eight guns had
ascsnded by wooden STAIRS another calculated for
several guns; but the guns wsre all taken away
and we were allowed 70 pass In peace.
few miles farther up brought US 70 City Point whore
found the wachusstt the Aroosook and the Monitor
vssses OF war, lying: The Galena little way above.
The Massachusetts, by, and Is to take this letter
down. couple OF schoonsrs, besides these, complete
the number or our fleet. AxgsLr
From one Of the schooners the Island Belle Stepping
stones and caur do Lion have receiysd several shses
Of boiler iron, to protect their pilot houses from mus
kerry from which gather that TO be employed
in rcconnoissances shoal water, for which light
draught, Il not our inyulnerability, nts Us.
shortly after We reached here train Of cars arrived
at the City Point depot from Petersburg Immediately
nag Of truce was hosted On tho wharf, and shortly asr
boa, boaring white flag was sent from the waohusets.
The boat made second trip but have not bs5n sbs q
earn the nature OF tho communication ID said thai
these Gags Of truce are Of every day occurrsnos
Since writing the foregoing have been on board the
wachusest and had interview With Captain Smith, the
commanding officer Of the squadron this river. Last
evening two deseers from the rebels embraced the op.
portunty while picket guard 10 desert and 20 On
board the wachusett They say they long waiting
FOR opportunity, a. great number Of Others In
fact they know nvs hundred in Petersburg who are
ready to leave The rsbs ranks bat The impossbiy a
many deserting In body without being immsd-
asy missed and captured BY superior foros prevents
them. The people, too, entertain Union sentiments 70
extent not generally suspsctsd but zach disrusts
his nsighbor, all are fearful Of speaking nrst.
The dsssers give fearful account Of the scarcity
provisions Petersburg and Richmond. In the latter
city -four In day from 70 ten dollars bar
rel with rapidly upward tendency. Almost everybody
who could get away was leaving , the greatest con-
stsrnation. :
Ihavs learned though not from Captain Smith, that
the three vessels have already named having come
up here to-day are rsconnore the Chckahomny and
the Appatomox rivers suppose we win be sent up
the former. In either must prepare for fu-
sade but dsagreeabls a. this may be. 10 far better
than carrying hay and borses.
II was srronsousy stated In the newspapers that tho
officers and boats from the wschusstt that
frsd into by the rebels days ago had nag Of ruos
flying from their boat at the time This error as
learn from officer OF the wachuset. The surgeon on
board that vessel asked 90 shore to visit sick
person Hc consented the boat was an srrand
OF mercy, which, II was srroneously thought, was
generally understood shorc che white Tag was omit
ted Hence the firing into the boat and the lamensabs
rssuts-kins wounding and capturing. n is right 70
give the devil his due and, therefore az there
any rebels who bs sxcuIpsscd from any further 10.
amy than simple rebellion they ought TO have The bcns
nt Of the wAiiewashing, such a. u ID.
United STATES STEAMER srErrxa sroxxs,
Cny PoIST, JAMES RIVER, Va, May ~, 1862
Rsconnoissance--Deaans Actions Of fhc Rebeis-7hs
Slrping stones Receipcs voIy Of Miskety from Rebel
BushyhaekrsShe Replies and Slences tAs RssIs. DC.
The Stepping stones and the Crur dc Lion have just
returned from reconnaissance short distance up the
Appa,omox river marrow stream that runs past Pc
,ersbcrs and emptcs itself into the James river immo
dlateiy above City Point.
ghs Stepping stones took the lead closely followed By
rs eonssrs 10 enable her to DO which We slacksssd
steam considerably. mort distance rron the mouth