New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-18

FypEDIT|Cy UP THE RlPPiHlNNOCA
The POTOMAC FLOTIllA AT WORK
,a.ek on Urbana and L0Wry's
Point Batteries.
TIVE REBELS DRIVEN OUT.
Th,i, Quarters Burned and Stores Captured.
-ue REBELS DRIVEN OUT
Th,i, Quarters Burned and Stores Captured
OCCUPATION OF TAPPAHANNoCK.
The Rebels Evacuating Fredericksburg.

WILMINGTON. Thur.day. April II, lss2
yo,.lsoeDce was received to-day from the Poto'
ma, so,a. which on the 18th inst. visited the town
of rrbana. boats crew WAS sent ashore tnere,
hnt when within few yards Of the beach they were
srsS mon from the rae.pts. No one was injured
Tho boat received several bullets in her bull. Inc
Jaeob B.ll. being the nearest, Immediately opened
FIRE upon the Rebels, which scattered them in every
direction. After this the Hotla proceeded on its
VOYAGE toward Fredericksburg Arriving opposite
I,wrys Point batteries, they commenced from the
whole feet TO she'll she works and fOrtrfcsIions,
driving out the yickets who have occupied them
sipee its evacuation, twelve days ago, by large
body Of the Rebel army.
After the sheling, the boats crews landed and
proceeded 10 burn some one handred and fifty plank
and log houses used by the Rebels as quarters,
which were entirely consumed after which the boats
re,urpea,o their ships, loaded with blankets quilts
medicines, and muskets left by the Rebels in their
flight.
The feet thence proceeded TO the town Of Tapps-
hammock, about two miles above Fort Lowrey, ar
irving of which blank cartridge was fired and
flag of truce hoised which was responded 10 by the
people Of the town by displaying a number OF wbi,e
flags.
Our commander, with bis gigs crew, landed when
they were met at the beach by large concourse Of
persons Of all colors, and, it seemed, with great
demonstrations by the dark population one old
woman .xclsiming, I" Bress God, the Yankees have
come at last"
The American flag was run over one OF the largest
houses IN the town, when it was hailed with entbu
siastic cheering BY tie crews of our own gunboats
Subsequently our Commander was informed that
some Of the people of the place had said that az soon
as we left it would be torn down. Our Commander
then politely told them if it was he would give them
ak hours 10 leave the town before he burnt it.
Information was given by the cOntrabands that
four large schooners and other distractions had been
place in the narrow channel Of the river five miles
this side Of Fredericksburg TO prevent our approach
To that place. where lie the steamers st. Nicholas,
Eureka and Logan, the former mounted with two
guns.
As far az could be learned there were no Rebel
soldiers on the neck of land lying between the Poto'
mac and Rappahannock, excepting a few picket
cavslry mostly composed of Marylander, to prevent
the escape of negroes
On the 18th instant the Fleet lay of Tappahannocf
about fifty miles below Fredericksburg. Our feet
captured the sloop Reindeer. loaded with oysters,
shsd cedar posts and carpet bags oonta ning quan-
tty Of clothes for the Rebels with many letters,
from which it was ascertained that the Rebels were
evacuating Fredericksburg and talking Of burning
the town to keep it from falling into our hands.
The feet then proceeded down the river to Col
linss Creek and there cut out two very fine schoon-
srs one Of them being the Sidney A. Jones, Of Bal
timore Just below the creek two Secession soldiers
were captured. Contrsband goods were found there
and appropriated, but the liquor was all destroyed.
HIcssosp, Va Tuesday, April is. l962-Via NOrfOih
Five Union gunbos. went to Urbana, on the
Rsppahannock River, on Sunday, and next day
proceeded to Tsppahsnnock. No troops were landed.
This is supposed to be a reconnaissance or fent