The New York herald., 1862-04-18
IMPORTANT FROM THE RApPAHANNoCE.

IMPORTANT FROM THE RApPAhANN0CH.
The Rebels shelled Out OF Their Batteries
ON the River by Union Gunboats-Oc-
eupation OF the Town OF Tappshan.
nock-Capture Of Rebel vessels-The
Enemy EvacsatinS fredericksburg,
De-, 80. 4
Intelligence was received to-day from the Potomac
osa, which, On tho 1lh instant visited the town Of
Urbana. boats crew was sent ashore there; but
whom within few yards Of the beach they were red
upon from The rifle pits. No injured. Ths boat
received several bullets in her hull Tho Jacob Bell being
the nearest IN immediately opened nrs upon the rebels,
which scattered them In every direction After this the
fot proceeded on its voyage towards Fredericksburg
Arriving opposite Lowry's Point batteries, they oo.
meBssd from the whele feet TO shell the works and for
tincaons driving out the picksts who have occupied
them since its svacuation twelve days ago BY large
body Of the rebel army.
After tho Smelling tho boats crews landed and pro-
eesdsd 70 burn some one hundred and Hfty plank and
cg houses used BY the rebels - quartsrs which wore
entirely consumed. After which the boats returned TO
their ships loaded with blankets quilts, medicines and
nuskets left by the rebels in their flight q
The feet thence proceeded 70 the town Of Tappahan
nock about two miles, above Fort Lowry, srrvnssoG
which . blank cartridge was fred and flag Of truce
hoisted which responded TO by the people Of the
town, displaying number OF white 6ags.
Our commander, with his gigs crew, landed, when
be met at the beach by large ooncourse Of per-
sons Of all colors and it seemed with great dsmonstra
tions by the dark population ons old sxclaming,
"Bress Godl the Yankees have come at last"
The American Gag was up one Of the largest
houses town. when IL hailed with enthusiastic
cheering by the crews Of our own gunboats. Subse-
questly commander was informed that some Of the
people Of the place had said that left it
would be torn down. Our commander then politely told
them il il was he would give them six hours leave the
town before he burned 1t.
Information given by the contrabands that four
large schooners and other distractions had been placed
in the channel Of the river Eve miles this side Of
Fredericksburg to prevent approach that place.
where lie tho steamers 81. Nicholas, Eureka and Logan
the former mounted with two guns
AS far % could be learned there rebel soldiers
on the neck OF land lying between tho Potomac and
Rappahannock, excepting few picket cavalry, mostly
composed Of Naylanders TO prevent the escape Of
groes
On the 18th inst the feet lay OF Tappahapnock about
City miles below Fredericksburg.
Our feet captured the soop Reindeer, loaded with
oysters shad cedar posts and carpet bags containing
quantity Of clothes for the rebels with many letters
from which it was asosrtaned that the rebels were eva
cuating fredericksburg, and talking Of burning the
town to keep It from falling into our hands.
The feet then proceeded down the river 70 Carln's
creek and there out two very fine schooners
thsm being the Sidney A. Jones, Of Baltimore. JUST
below thscreek two rebel soldiers captured. Con-
traband goods found there and appropriated but
tho liquor Vas ali destroyed.
Another Account OF the Expedition.
wAmSoToR, April II, 1862.
The steamer Jacob Bell arrived at the Navy Yard
yesterday afternoon, and reports that on Monday last
in company with the Island Belle Satellite Resolute and
Reliance she proceeded on reconnaissance up the Rap
pahannock river.
In the afternoon they had reached the vicinity OF
Urbana and Acting Master Street, Of the Belle with six
men, under instructions Of the Flag officer pulled up the
creek towards the town the purpose Of assuring In
habants that their rights and property would be rcpect
cd On entering the creek they found along embankment
and wore hailed by man, who asked what they wanted
They answered that theirs peaceabls purpose and
were told TO pass on but Immediately the aimed
rife at the boat and fred, and instantly the embank
ment was lined with men, who fred volley at the boat
only one shot striking it, Master Street returned the
fire. and pulled back to the steamer and the steamers
drew up in line and shsled the rebels out.
They then proceeded up the river and observed from
nearly every house . white sheet flying as q flag
Of truce, and after proceeding some FIVE miles
landed at Carters wharf, and heard from .
family that Fort Lowry had been evacuated.
No men to be seen at any OF the houses,
except the old and infrm They informed that oil
othors had either pressed the rebel service
had run away. They also told that system Of
signals had been established by the rebels from the d
ferent points, that their approach already known
above.
few miles above they anchored in front Of Fort
Lowry, and after Smelling the woods, landed o small
force and raised the Stars and Stripes the rebel Gag
stan The place had been vacated only q short
time, % the bread was found TO be warm In the
ovens, although s probable the body which had
had garrsonned the place had loft some days previous
They had ectsd nearly hundred comfortable frame
buildings and seemed 70 have been supplied with every
convenience The hospital found TO BE- In complies
order, and the medicines standing IL they had been
lately in In front OF the fort light boat had been
sunk. In removing the guns, Of which they had nine
mounted two sixty eight Founders sunk the boats
which they being taken across having swampsd
After removing all ths stores that could be easily taken
or the balance ogsthsrwith the buildings, were burned
by our forces The feet then proceeded up 70 rappa
hAnnock where they arrived about ten O'Clock on Tues
day morning, and anchored of the town. The inhsb
tants had been signazed Of their approach and were in
orrlDe rflgnt, many having Nreauy 6Jt, and others
hastily packing up their goods.
Lieutenant Mccrsa, with strong force. landed abou,
O'Clock with Gag Of truce and assured the inhabi
tants that they would not be molested
in their lawful business. Very shortly Q large
number Of those who had left returned and The goods
moved back 70 the and dwellings, Az soon
the inhabitants had returned the Stars and Stripes
hoised from the top ofhe Court House and we're
greeted with hearty cheers from the feet
AZ an carly hour on Wednesday morning o sloop was
seen Eve miles above, and Master Street was do
spsched with the Island Belle 10 capture her On getting
within mile and half Of her, the crew were seen to
heat haet