The New York herald., 1862-01-12
THE POTOMAC r.c.";: r..:,;:,
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
UMrp STATES s1zAnzn SrzPruo sroNp, /

OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
UM1p STATES SrzAnEn SrzPPuo SroNu
Orr CEDAR POUR, PoToAAc RIVER, Jan. 8, 1892.
Supplying the Notilo iA "reminiscences of Matthias
Point and Other Piaces-Abundancs Of Game Visit
Naryland Plantation Condition Of the lSlaues-Tade
W.tA 7AeSoatAesn Hospitality-TAeN Nesv York Herald
IN Ndryland dc
Yesterday supplied the Freeborn Island Belle
Reliance with stores at Liverpool Point, and at four
eock this morning weighed anchor and stood further
edow the river with the view Of supplying the Jacob
Bell and eur do Lion and the Dancer, Howell
Cobb and Galley Nanjemoy was passed shortly after
daylight, and we came in sight Of Matthias Point,
where Captain Wa,d lost his life. The place has been
completely laid vase. The hshhouse tho beach,
which had been so ofn sheled BY tho Freeborn, the
Besolue and the Reliance and the house
Of the elder Crimes two or three hundred yards fur
thor up, was found to be n ruins, the tall Chin
nsys above showing whore tho bni.aing had former
IL stood It will be remsmberSd that this house
Had been converted barracks TIE rebel sodisy
ssnd that flag had been hosted to induce tho
commanders Of the fotia to believe that 1t was hos
pita that the rebels had ignorantly hostsd bpo
instead Of yellow flag. 1t from this house, tod,
Ahe rebel pckets fred the pckets from the Freeborn
the 9th Of june tho day which Captain Ward lost
his life and dislodged by the shot and shell from
tho Union vessel aided by the fuslade Of
Lower down. othor side Of tho point found that
the dwelling Of younger member Of the Grimes family
had also ceased to exist This Mr. Grimes visited
the 3oh Of May by reconnoitrng party commanded by
Acting Master udd in command Of the Resolue which
your correspondent volunteer On that occasion
long conversation took place between Capt Budd and Mr.
Grimes presence Of the exceedingly pretty wife Of the
latter gentleman when Mr. Grimes avowed himself
votary OF the political hsrcsy peaceful separation from
the Union. The point passed, and Uppor Ma.
chodoe creek the Virginia shore, leaving port
quarter Tobacco crock, in Maryland, with the neat little
brick Roman Catholic church Of St. Thomas, Of which
have pleasant "reminiscences wherein the genial dis
position the ac Capt Ward and the kindly hosptates
the fathers Barber and vigane figure conspi
cuously And is visible another of desoation
1t the homestead Of the traitor Dr. Hove burned
by Captain Budd, in retaliation TOR his having headed
party of rebels who went off in boats and burned the
schooner Christiana Keene OF Perth Amboy, which had
aground opposite Potomac vcw as the Doctors farm
called and for having fred boats Grew belong
ing TO the Freebon the previous evening keeping up
fusilade Of half hour, in which Dr. Hove himself
wounded Each well remembered spot has its story,
and fraught with interest to tho writer after an alb
from the theatre Of such stirring events since the
On reaching Cedar Point we saw tho schooner Howell
Cobb, Acting Master Commanding Frank, who fred
mns.s as signal FOR US 70 orng s @ Ga M sS %ung ana
the chief engineer Mr. Brown assistant engineer, and
myself. went shore littlO below the Point On our
way large locks Of wild and ducks without end
seen swimming along the surface OF the water or
wingng fight higher up in the air The birds were
very shy and had no shot, we had no chance OF
bagging any game Captain Grumley fred MIME bullet
small ock Of swans but they were too far OF to be
hit especially as they the wing II freezing
hard but thosun shone brightly and it pleasant
wtha We had difficulty in land ing, IN conse-
quence of the shoal water it at length effected
about half mile below respectable looking farmhouse,
which afterwards found belonged to Mrs Morgan
Harris We walked up to the plantation which we found
having 1ns horses. Two respectable look
ing negroes approached and in to our Captains
inquiries said they could supply with Chickens eggs
&C. Following them we were conducted to comfortable
negro cabin spacious hearth OF which large re OF
suspended from ths chimney, ard everything betoxcned
plenty comfort We found there black man and his
keys, ranging from the ago Of puberty infancy Con.
tent and good living depicted on every counenance
The mother said she had daughter older than Of the
children saw but that her mross had sold her fur
From this cabin, whore we obtained seasonabls sup
ply Of chickens and ether good things, we were
hibiting the decrepiiude Of seventy winters, aad
saissu making 4HS Your
not fond Of betting but he would not mind wagering
ANAL sum that "Unce Joe' has Eboe blood in himthe
Eboes being about the most accomplished traders of
Western Africa The old man Is also said to be great at
son ws ccc 0os
however, had no trophies Of his skill with which to trade
The darkeys had now increased to goodly number
They were all stout, well mado men, comfortably clad in
woolen stuas and thick shoes. All were Intelligent and
FOR their condition Ono fine looking sported
csllent silver watch which, examnaon found to
keep tho timo tho Captains. He informed that
he always set by the almanac either at
rise which proves things-First that no read
RS as % q hsn
attrbute TO his class in knowing that the almanac will
give him the correct time To this may ADD third
Mrs.. Morgan Harris to her slaves.
Having obtained supplies from the servants, cour
tcsy dictated that we should ere going on board, pay
respects tho lady whose grounds tres
passing handsome gravel walk now frozen hard, led
70 the front door tho mansion, which opened
approach disclosing stout, fine looking gentleman and
syounger u sightcr proportions, who we subsc-
latter grandson of the deceased Nr Harris husband Of
the widow lady who owns the plantation. Tho young
Mr.. Harris s descendant Of the older by former
riago. We codrtcousy welcomed aud ushered into
handsome apartment whore cheerful fro blazed mor-
riy in the crate. AS general rule do not ike to
quito his kindness by a minute description his sur.
roundings Suffice II to say that have seldom spent
interview with these sentismcn may mention. how
ever that tho NEw YORK HRRAp Is constantly taken in
and ina. had ine pleasure % OF, Of seeing several num-
once while stayed. Before leaving Mr.. Bungerford
kindly offered to malta letter promised to send shore
for the HkALp but we were compelled 10 BIO od beforo
close this Many thanks the gentleman for his
courtesy. notwithstanding.
While returning on board We saw tho Jacob Bell com.
ing We went alongside or her. and placed
on borc when sho loft and continued hsr passage up
wards Ntf
JAN Q, 1862
While the Jacob Bell runnngu up we started on Our
downward passagc-a hail storm prevailing ell the time
and came to anchor of Baoksonc's Island This morn
Ing We alongside the schooner Dana, and are busy
putting storos board OF her. Acting Master Street re
ports that the whole Virginia coast down to Smiths
Point Is infested with rebels They have their boats In
Swans crock. with which they often over TO Cuck
olds Point, Maryland. T6sro is detachment Of fifty
rebel troops somewhere up the creek Captain Street
has eight contiabands board the Dana seven Of whom
are TO be put on board the Stepping Stoe TO 10 taken
upwards.
The steamer Ceur dc Lion, Acting Master Hamilton,
has just como alongside from bolow for her share of
stores, which will be put board. We are going on
shore on forHgng expedition presently whom we ex-
poet to lay in plentiful stock or oysters which can bo
had for tho trouble Of gathering and shall take the op.
portuny o. putting this letter In tho post oce which
am told Is hercabout.