Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-06
The Lille Naval Affair Near Fortress
MOnroes
lCorrespondenee PHILADELPHIA Inqulrer.l

The LItIle Naval Affair Near Fortress
Monroe
Correspondence Philadelphia Inqulrerl
FoRTRRss MONROE, Dec %, $50 Pm.
We have had naval engagement this
morning right in full view of our fortress,
and we propose to give as suceinct an ae-
count OF the affair, as seen by our naked
eyes and through our marine glasses, as cir
cumstances will admit; and in order that the
readers may fully appreciate the story, we
will give a few preliminary remarks, by way
of explanation.
The Government runs the fine steamer
Express twice a day to Camp Butler, New
port News, from the wharf at this point, to
carry thither stores, ammunition, troops,
water, sc. Every trip she makes she goes
almost within gunshot of the rebel battery
at Pigs Point, and the rebels often open FIRE
upon this unarmed steamer as she passes,
some Of the balls falling near, but as yet
doing no harm.
In order to furnish fresh water TO the
troops at Camp Butler, an cid dismantled
schooner, worth, it is said, about $4,000, was
fitted up with water tanks for the proper
transportation of said water. This schooner
was towed to and fro by the steamer Ex-
p! ess, with her useful, though, perhaps, val
ueless cargo.
About seven O'Clock this morning, before
our Jolly tars were washed up and ready for
hght, the steamer Express left Newport
News with the above described schooner in
tow, and was standing in towards this point
when the captain deserted the little long,
low, black, Confederate tug Rebel rounding
SeWalI's Point, and stan ling out towards
the Express. The Rebel had the Confeder-
ate ''rag" at her stern, and the Commodore's 5
small flag flying at her stem, which was
nothing more nor less than light blue rag,
with some white stars, and she presented
every appearance, in the distance, Of nag
Of truce bost.
Entertaining the impression that the ''Se-
cesh" was an early and important flag Of
truce boat, The Captain Of the Express kind
ly leaned towards her, for the purpose Oi
communicating, when the former was IN.
cefemoneously hailed with a 32-pOunder
solid shot, which passed between the smoke.
stack and walking.beam of the Express,
which vessel was at once put about and
headed for the wharf.
When the rebel tug fred the first shot, she
was not more than half a mile away from
| the Express, and was making towards her
f, firing SIX more shots before the latter swift
steamer got out Of range, but none Of then
took effect, except in the matter of soaring
( the men on board, who, in their anxiety tc
| get away, cut the water boat loose from the
steamer and let her go adrift whereupon the
rebellious little tug made fo1 the prize, made
I act v7pon II auI salad off foy
! Craney Island, chased by all Of our gun
boats, who sent shot upon shot after her, a:
well a. shell, from Dahlgren, Sawyer, Par.
rot and marine guns, without effect, as tal
as could be learned.
On went the little black tug with her prize
/ in tow, and on went our gun-boats after her
with decks cleared for action, the guns
manned and Hblazing away like wildfre,
the officers swearing, and the men working
and wishing and trying to hit the Rebel, but
it was no go. She made Sewalps Point il
safety, whose marine guns were now run out
to receive our gun-bOats in case they should
| turn the Point which they of course did mo-
do. The rebel tug made CraDey Island land
/ ing, anchored her prize and returned putting
and blowing off Sewalps Point in an imPu
| IDENTIFY menacing manner, and We though
we could see old "Dead Sea Lynch" standing
on the forward deck gyrating his digital eE
tremities upon the end of his rubicund nasa
organ at our feet of gun-boats, as we opened
FIRE upon him a second time, saying, nc
doubt, "DOn't you wish you may get i'll"
Our gun. boats continued their firing, anC
about half-past o'clock the batteries a.
Sewalls Point, Craney Island and Pig!
Point opened a fire from heavy guns, but the
balls and shell fell half a mile short.
The crew of the Inflated water boat, being
unarmed, deserted her and took to toe jolly
boat as soon as they observed that the tow
II 9 was in twain, and made the hospita
ship Brandywine in safety, although tn
Rebel gave them ball as parting salute
There were four men on board Of the sehoon
er that were rescued.
After the tug-boat Rebel had fred the frs
shot at the Express young midshipman
belonging to the U. S. frigate Congress, VIII
happened 10 be on board Of the steamer, 60
the American flag, and passing aft ask
ed ifany man would help raise the stars an
stripes over the steamer, and stand by them
A pause ensued, and no one answered, unit
Door, sick, emaciated Zouave, who wa
| coming 10 tue uDcp pIidi3 auFhuOCu dIu SdAu -
will" The ensign was raised and the Ez
press made fast to the wharf with her color
set.
After the rebel tug had disappeared entire
", our gun boats opened on Sewall 5 Poin
aud kept it up until recall signal was set b
the flag ship Minnesota, when they returne
to their anchorage. The battery beyon
sewalPs Point answered occasionally with
heavy marine piece.
A shell from the Sawyer guu, on the Ri
r Reps bursted in the immediate vicinity ofth
r battery on SeWall's Point, and a second on
tore up the sand upon that point pear Il
= beach.
The rebels have "played smart on l
again, and have an opportunity 10 brag ali
lie more. They have captured an old hull
full of water barrels, which will probab
pay for the ammunition they have ezpendG
: in its capture. They came very near captu
, ing fine, large steamer, with one hundr'
: unarmed men on board.
4 The Q. s. gun boats havetried their gun
J. sounded the rebel batteries, lost an old hull
: and "nobody is hurt"
= The affair was witnessed BY hundreds
+ spectators, who while they could not help q
:, miring the cool impudence Of the rebe
: were almost wild with desire ia have the
s-feffed 18th es5r,r1orr r,f5uf ufrhvnant