New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-23

4 4 =.
afternoon, and thus had an opportunity Of y.
the Rebel movements from position in toe rear
ihe point of observation upper piazza Of the
) Rebel Penders largo hotel where Lieut.. Andrews
u the Signal Corps is quariered. With the aid Of
his powerful feldgass the slightest motion Of one Of
The Rebel garrison can bc seen, and The foit ia
Fought 30 close TO the ego that ono can almost fancy
10 hears the conversation of the gunners the par
apet' was watching the movements Of tue garfi-
Son-thc officers looking through glasses MP the
aland gesturesofthe lookout The nag staff the
unn'iilary march OF the senlres the parapet tho
loungng men in the fort and outside; the negroes
pushing car load of wood into the fort the grooms
cleaning horses by the stables; the Rebel rag Utter
ins from the mast.head-- when forty y-four unarmed
men, oohog in their shabby gray clothes moro like
Sing Sing prisoners, than soldiers came in irregular
procession out at the say-pori They went to a
frame building near the wharf and disappeared from
| view for Il few minutes, but soon came out, armed
andequipped, and accompanied by three mounted Off.
Gers. One Of the horsemen, probably the Cap
tain, rode bTayely in advance, and everything
3eomed going on TO the satisfaction OF all concerned
until the company had reached the ssud hills, aud
were about entering tic cedar grove Suddenly q
change came over them, and the line was thrown
into commotion. Tie gallant mounted officer fell
back 10 the rear, and the men at once depioyod ~
skirmisters, and crept cautiously up tho hillside
Presently the cause OF their trouble was made ap-
parent to US watchers, for the blue caps and gray
coats Of tie Connecticut boys were seen coming over
tho next range of hills. Pop pop !-pop went
three of Tie Rebel muskets, and the pulls Of smoke
! ~ hruat ataao Of cav Cd
lambs wool stuck in the muzzles. The Connecticut
skriniser seemed TO pay attention to such feeble
firing, the whole band Of Rebel pckets let drive
st once. In moment our boys returned the
assault with interest and the report OF
their yoley came family 10 us across tho
water. We could see some Of tie Rebels take TO
their heels and scemper back, others crouchDg be
bind knollr TO load aud fire al will, and others,
iion-hear;ed than the rest, were advancing toward
our men, as II determined to fight them alone. The
three mounted officers clearly had no stomach for
that sort Of business, for they rode in undgnihed
uasle 10 the ruins Of the Eliason House and sought
shelter from the Shapes bullets that went ping-ng-
ug-ngpging by. Oar skiimishers steadily advanced,
the brave captain, sword in baud marching boldly
on as il scorning 10 seek cover and drove the Reb-
within loco yards Of the glacis One Of tue last
shots Of the flying enemy severely wounded the
brave captain, and another struck one OF the men.
Several Rebels were wounded, and we could SEQ
item helped along by their comradqS. We learned
subsequently that tie skirniishing company was
Company II, Of the Slh Connecticut, Capt. Thomas
ID. Sheffield. The captain is a native of Westerly
r. l., and served under Col. Bulnsie in the famous
! u. Rhode Island, in the tLree-monihs campaign.
Our men bad scarcely shown themselves above the
crest Of tie hills before the big columbiad sent
shell over their heads and at intervals OF only Il iew
minutes the firing was kept mp for more than an hour
The Albairos- supported our advance is Oh the pre-
yious day, and played with the fort at long bows
from time to time. Two OF her shells Ia,ssd directly
over the fort falling on tho beach within twenty
feet of the giac--couIte and tue other entering the
blacksmith shop. ltwas amusing 10 see tie manner
in which our Rebel friends dacked aud ran for she-
tar behind Tie sand-bag tnsyenes tie shells flew
over Some Of the lonngers outside, in the agony OF
their fright ran heerskelter behind little frame
building and cluug 10 each other ike band OF ship
wrecked mariners "A raf;. But, on the other hand
there wtrc net wanting brave men who stood bv
their guns and calmly faced the hyi0g projectiles.
For distance of 1000 yards from the iort the
ground has been surveyed aud staked by The Rebels
aud the guns trained by rule TO bear upon tho spot
Their calculations must have beon anss, however,
else they would have done more harm in the three
dave practice they have had. On Friday they could
not have fired less than twenty rounds Of shot and
she'll while yesterday they fired seventy rounds,
by actual count OF all these not one has inflicted
any injury on our inon, although it must be confessed
a.. Of a. .itp inN. naiu nd
might have sroilt tie numb,r OF some messes if it
bad not been for the friendly shelter Of the sand hs
The group Of watchers On that upper piazza OF
pendcrs Hotel were much amused to zee the pro-
yoking coolncss with which two OF the Connecticut,
skirmishcrs peeped over the bill top after each shot
from the fort. Oae man was especially conspicuous
aud by hi. PERSISTENT reconnoerng gained among us
the sobriquet Of The lieproeiblc.' We watched
hin under lire for more than IN hour, and by hi-
movements could always anticipate the discharges Of
cannon lie would stand up in iull yow Of tie enc
my until no saw tho warning puff Of smoke which
always prccedes the cannon's roar, when nc would
sep back three PAGES and crouch behind the bill.
The eliot or shell would hardly have flown pas; be.
fore he would rise walk cooly to tho top Of the hill,
and stand there reconnoitering as il he were eXpos-
,ulaiipg with the gunners FOR wasting so much am
munon TO no purpose. BY subsequent inquiry
tried to identify hin, but find Lis officers at loss
whether the distinction Of this notice should be given
to James Els, an lIisLman, OF Aaron FoX, Con-
necticut Yankee, Ypr sang.
When tho siege is iairly opened, and Capt Moris's
30-pouuder PARROTS, and Lieut. llagler's heavy
nor,ars return the cannonade Of the font the balcony
of Penders Hotel will afford an excellent opportunity
to view the grand scene of war; Ilousolops aud