, 1862-05-23

ACTION OF THE GALENA~
Cx17En STATES STEAMSHIP GALENA,
OF City Point, James River, May 16, 1862.
S1R: have the honor to report this vessel,
the Aroostook, the Monitor, and the Port
Royal, with the Naugatuck, moved up the
river. getting aground several times, but
mee1ing 10 artificial jmpedfmeuts until We
arrived at Wards Bluff about eight miles
from Richmond, where we encountered
heavy battery and two separate batteries
formed Of spiles, and steamboats, and sail res
sells. The pilots both say 1hat they saw the
Jamestown aud Yorktown among the NUM-
ber.
The banks of the river we found lined with
rifepits, from which sharpshooters annoyed
the men at the guns. These would hinder
the removal Of the constructions, unless driven
away By 8 land force The Galena ran within
abont GOO yards Of the battery, as near the
spiles as it was deemed proper 10 go, let 20
her anchor, and with Il spring sprung across
the stream, not more than twice as wide as
the ship is long, and then at 7:45 q. N. opened
fire upon the battery. The wooden vessels,
as DIRECTED, anchored about ,30U yards below.
The Monitor anchored near, and at Q O'Clock
she passed just above the Galena, but found
her guns could not be elevated enough to
reach the battery. She then dropped little
below us and made her shots effective. At
five minutes after II, the GaIena had expended
nearly all her ammunition, and made signal
to discontinue the action. We had but sig
Parrott charges, and not single filed 9-inch
she'll We hau thirteen killed and cleeen
wounded. The ritled I0O-pounder of the Nan
gatuck burst, half Of the part abaft tile trun-
mons going overheard. She Is therefore dis
ablcd. Lieut. Newman, the executive officer,
WIS conspicuous for his gallant and effective
services. Mr. Washburne, acting master, be-
baEed admirably. These are are selected from
among the number The Aroostook, Eauga-
| tnck and Port Royal took the stations prsyi-
ously assigned them, and did everything that
WAS possible. The Monitor could not have
done better. The barrier is such that the YES
se,s Of the enemy even, it they hive any, can
not possibly pass Out, and ours cannot pass in.
have the bonor to be your ob'd't seTg't,
JOHN RODGERS, Com u s. Navy.
a private letter from officer Com, Of one of
the yessels belonging to Commodore Rodgers
fotllla, speaking of the recent cngngemcat,
says: At The Galrna {iron c1ad) WAS admirably
manuevered, 60 beautifully and saucily that
she passed five or six times a. close Us she
could get, and Bl2enced one Of the batteries.
She then passed and re-passed the second bat
tsry six times, but finding they were using so
much ammunition, for which We expect to
lave better use higher up, Commander Rodg-
els ordered the wooden vessels to run up,
willie lc, In the Galcna, lay abreast Of the bit
teIy and disconnected the rebel guuners. The
Galrna THEN followed, but the buoys have
been dispisced and misplaced SO that the pi-
lois last evening r1u the Galcna ashore, and
she Is still agronnd. None Of our vessels were
seriously injured.
FURTHER DETAILS OF TIE FIGHT.
Last Sunday morning the Monitor, Galenn,
and Aaugatuck started Tor the rrbel capital vii
| 1he James River. They were soou followed
hy the Aroostook aud Port Royal They 81
fenced several Uf the batteries which lined the
shore, and passed some with the most con-
1enptuous silence. Tie captain Of the Mon
itor stood upon the turrett and waved his cap
10 battery which lie considered unworthy OF
| the notice Of his pet, although three balls
| struck the Mentors tnrTet with considerable
force The progress Of the fleet was con
tlnued success until they arrived Il, within
about ee7en miles Of Richmond. Here the
river takes sharp turn around pFecipitous
h1uf, fully hundred and Iifty feet in height
Upon thu top Of tA1s fluff the rebels have
| erected q most scientific and formidable but
| tery, mounting guns Of superior range and
| callpre, This battery commands the river in
the most effective manner, and 1t SOON be-
| came evident 10 our feet that an engagement
Of no ordinary character WAS Imminent.
| On 1ast Thursday morning, at Z o'clock, our
! feet formed their line OF battle aud co,n-
menced the reduction Of t1re rebel stronghold.
From the unusual elevation Of the battery,
and the difficulty our men experienced in ret.
uD;ble to do any execution. In the meantime
| thc battery poured an incessant fire OF shell
and ball down upon the decks Of our vessels,
and did q fearful work. The Naugatuck,
alter several brilliant shots. burst her 100:
pound rifed Parrott gun-killing the gunner
and wonnding several others. Having nc
other armament except two boarding h0wit.
zers, and being thus disabled, she withdrew
from the engagement The Galcna suffered
severely the rebel shots riddling her deck
with great case, and several Of the balls enter
!nE her side Fourteen Of her crew were
killed and thirteen wounded; the n1sjofity o,
the latter, however, will recover. Those who
were killed were terribly cut aud mangled-
some beyond the hope Of recognition. Fol
enc hon5 The Ga1ena was exposed to the entirs
purrowness Of tile channel, she could moi
"sp1ine" or tnrn so al TO work to adTaut
age. The Monitor, luwcrpr, maintained
her superior strength and i1lvulnerabiiity
Tie balls glanced harmless from her tower Q
strength and fell into tho plAeid waters Of tht
river. For some time she laboEed uudel
great difficulty in SECURING tllr. requisite elr
vation f0r her guns. But having once. oh
taincd It she poured her missiles with fearful
effect upon tie batteries, and thus cncour
aging her associates, the fleet belehed iortl
such an lro1 ht.il that TIC battery was silcnccs
ture our vessels ran short Of an,unnition, au1
retired from action, while the rebels rem anne,
| their guns aud again commenced the conilic,
. portion Of thc Hcct came down the rive
| TO jamestown Island. nearly opposite WI
Iameburg.
The Monitor and Galena reussfned, In orde
| to keep the rebels awHke, the Monitor firm:
pretty regularly once In two minutes, full
sustaining the reputation Of tire t+checse
box" The Aroostuok and Port Royal Wer
| not materially injured The action lastc
: four honrs aud half, Constituting one Of th
| ~Iuost h9illiaut Of the war. ~
About q quarter of q mile farther up th
river, the rebels have made strong barrIcad
) | to the further progress. Of hostile fee
They have sunk the Yorktown and James
. town in the chaunel, and driven i1nmeus
: | piles from Que side Of the river to; thu othel
l Iu11uing q Rtockado similar TO that In the eu
: tTance TO the Norfolk harhor.
The gnns OF the battery are said to b
manned by the remnants Of the crews Of til
r Mert5nac, Yorktown and Jamesro~n. Tt
firing ~as excellent, showing a great deal
t The Nnugalnck escaped serious injury. h
/ | having her pilot house aud deck protected l
iron rails, laid traneversely.
Il T. Colonel Jenn1sou.
e The New York 1nnts Washington report
writes:
!. We hare pamphlet var hetween the Sta
q Treasurer Of Missouri, G. C. Bingham, III
I Col Jrnnison, the aslawkcr. Mr. Bingham
psHpblet, which abounds In secret charge
l nf7f4 4,<ara IN nh rFT