The New York herald., 1862-12-20
IMPORTANT ONION VICTORY.
lcoHTIyu<D FROM FIRST pAaE.l

few scatter shots being fred a, him by guerilas
NE hanks fo experienced much difficulty, hoseyer, in
setans mead rapidly because OF the bars ana shoas,
upon <Leh the boats grounded But al obstacles being
svctone, they reached point within two miles OF kns
bn on Saturday afternoon, when they suddenly found
,anselyes under fire OF eleven gun battery, which
Arened on the Allison the leading boat ne rounded
posn of land ami appeared fun in view OF the enemys
formidable work, and not twelve hundred yards
distant The river here only about hundred Feet
width, with shoals either side Of the channel ana
found 10 be utterly impossible to turn the ooa 10
back out OF scrape the only resort and as soon as
sha, could DC effected il done but not un'i the All
son had been twenty minutes under an exceedingly not
ore, IN which she repeatedly struck By shell and
sho, She returned the from her thrtypounder Par
so gun forward and ocasoned The rebels considerable
lose. The Allison seriously damaged IN the fray
The TOP OF her plot house torn Off her smoke stack
pserced by shell, and her steam safety pipe
SN, away II was miracle she was nos sunk.
Finally ex.rcaing herself from her perilous position,
she backed .he point OF land aad anchor
with Of the fotlla screened from the rebel bat
aery By woods but in short range There they laid al
nght prepared any moment 20 repel any attempt
the part of the enemy to capture them by boarding.
Several times during the night they fred upon the rebel
secennoerng parties who became very bold their ad
papces.
All night long men could hear the rattle OF trains
Khton against which General Foster had steadily pushed
his advance nghng for every inch Of ground. The blows
d axes the rebels feed block up the
81 approach to the town. the calls soldiers barking Of
dogs and other sounds heard all the night long
ceedng from the wooded shore But serious attempt
Was made TO capture the boats which might have been
successful well planned On Sunday morning the
Boats turned, and descended the the water in
NE river had fallen nearly fifteen inches during the night
AnA IN Nhareh md IN thn
rebels, if they much longer delayed their On
sheS way down they fred upon from the
shores by guerrillas, followed them distance Of
twsnty miles killing Of men Edward Perkins,
Company H., Marine artillery and wounding three
Others, very seriously The Ocean Wave, and, in
deed, all the boats or less injured by
hetry and field pieces Bullets found the Ocean
Wave dipped in verdgrs, to poison the wounds they in
Aiced, and others had copper wire attached, FOR the
same purpose. The reoels evidently have been taking
Dome new lessons in warfare from the Sepoys Chi
They apt pupils. II would also appear tina
About hundred and fifty Of these gucrillas the
attacking party, and thirty Of them were killed and
wounded before they renqushed their idea Of taking the
boats have since learned The attempt to pen in
The boats by Telling trees the river, thwarted
by the rapid movements OF the boats.
On return the Ocean Wave unfortunate enough
% s,avs hole in her bottom by running stump,
and sunk in three feet Of water. she can be raised
with but little trouble. Her gun has been taken OF,
As we as the crew coal, provisions &C., ard she wiz
soon be ahoat. What effect this expedition had Gen.
Fosters fortunes has yet been ascertaned. proba
bly, prevented some rebel troops from meeting his forces
the river had been up the fota would have been Of
great service in aiding in the capture Of Kinston;
but hack Of water prevented it, Colonel Manchester and
she officers and Of the Marine Artillery have
earned stin higher reputation for their gaantry
and indomtabe perseverance, this expedition They
valuable Of the service and merit better treat
snt than they have received from the authorities u
seems about time recognize them a corps that
they performing all the duties contemplated in their
organization Justice ought to be done them.
Commander Murray is displaying immense deal Of
suerey in conducting naval operations North Carolina
waters and greatly aiding General Foster his opera
Aions.