Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1862-08-08
4 might Attack upon McClellam's
Fleet and Camp.
From the Petersburg Express.

about hsafpase twelve O'Clock, BY the loud and
rapid discharge Of artillery The night was
very dark, but the flashes of the guns were dis
tinctly seen in Northeasterly direction, and
plainly indicated shat the cannonading was on
James river, in the neghborhood of City Point.
The firing continued necessarily for about two
hours, when it laeasurably slackened, and in
u few moments ceased entirely. Enquiries for
the cause of this firing commenced at early
dawn yesterday, and in the market place, no
other subject mentioned, bat the heavy
caaas nadng No one could give any informa'
tlon,and all was suspense, until about s O'Clock
wnen a courier arrived, from whom we gather.
ed SOME particulars, not altogether satisfacto>
ry, but believed to be reliable in the main.
The cause OF the cannonading was night
attack upon McClellan's feet and came from
the South bank of James river. The guns in
tended to operate against the fleet were placed
in elegbe position abou, Coggin's Point and
those designed to rouse up the sleepers in the
grand army, were located along the bank OF
the riter at points below Coggln's The first
discharge was from "Long Tom," Of Walkers
battery, which was the signal for general dis
charge, and Instantly fringe OF flame lined the
river paak for distance Of three or four miles
The roar was deatening and the echoes reyer
berated for many miles around. After the
first round from pieces the many lights
which twinkled from the toremasts of the Fed.
eral fleet suddenly disappeared, showing that
the enemy had been aroused, aud knew that
danger was about. The extlnguishing of the
lights made but little difference, however, as
our guns bad been sighted before dark, and all
that remained for our brave boys to do, was
to load as rapidly possible. Parties present
say they distinctly heard crashing" on the
river. but whether caused by our balls, or tne
coliding of Yankee craft in their efforts to get
out Of the way, it was impossible to tell.
One thing is very certain, that if we did not
sink or destroy many of the enemy's transports
We certainly produced great CONSERVATION
mong them, as the entire number, supposs ed
| to be largely over one hundred, had weighed
anchor, and were now here to be yestel.'
day morning at daylight. II is thought to be
| fired so many shots, into SO large number of
vessels and SO crowded together without infict
ing serious damage. But unless the enemy
tells the truth, which is something they rarely
do, we shall never know what damage
night attack inflicted.
The enemy's gunboat repliedpromptly, but
were compelled to fire at random, and there
fore did us but little damage. One Of the shells
from gunboat exploded among portion of
the men attached to Dabney's Battery. VIM.
T. Dalton, Of Louisa county, was struck about
tu0 ttITOdt dIlu IuSoouGly niiCu, 4uOo. u d -
quhar of Richmond was wounded severely in
the left thigh, and Patrick Graham, also of
Richmond, was wounded slightly in the left
shoulder.
The only other casualties that we have ass
certaned, caused by the premature firing
Of gun attached to Pages battery. The piece
becoming rather hot, the man whose duty it
was to press the vent, withdrew his thumb
while the men were in the act OF loading and
the gun was discharged. Alexander al. Turn
er, from Hanover county, who was ramn,ing
the CUR, had both hands shockingiy mangled.
They were amputated subsequently at the
wrist. John Brooks, also OF Hanover, was
terribly burnt in the face. The wounded were
brought up yesterday and conveyed to the
Confederate hospits on Washington street.
Some four others were wounded, but very
slightly. st1
1t is thought that such of our guns as were
placed to command portions of McCiellan's
camps, must have caused great injury to the
Hessians They were all sighted by daylight
and the camps were In fair range. But, as we
have said before, the darkness of the night,
with river more than a miie in width inter
yening, utterly precluded the possibility OF as
certaining any thing definitely. Such must al
ways be the result of night attacks at long
range. S@is 5f%
The attack will be productive OF at least one
good result /, will teach the enemy that his
present "base corporations, is not entirely Sc
cure from ASSAULT as much as he has boasted
If tho oo,ntru and If would nor S,lrnrSe lis to /