, 1862-05-28
THE GUNBAOT REPULSE ON wH
JAMES RIVER.
The Rebel Account of the Affair.

DRuHr's BLCFF, II a. m, May 15
s1R:-We have engaged the enemy's five
g1inboats for two and 4 half hours. We fired
the Galena, Gron-clad.} She has withdrawn.
goaDg down the river, accompanied bY The
three wooden vessels.
Our loss in killed and wounded small.
Respectfully your obedicnt servant,
Hon s. R. MALLORY, Secretary Of the NAVY,
At HAnDY's BLUFF.
FORT HuGEn, HARDy'e BUZZ,
"Wednesday, May &
1hzeo of the cnans5'E Eunboats, two OF Their.
lren- clad, came up ut o'clock this mornipg
to Fort Boykin, Commanded by Capt Jobn u
shivcrs,) and opened fire, discharging about
ID three hnndred rounds Of shell and rlde-shoat.
returned the fire until ID o'clock whcn orders
were given to spike the guns and burn the
quarters. a line company Of light artillery and
infantry had started from Smithf1eld, Isle Of
"lgt county INT to partejp3te IN the dyht but
they returned. The three gunboats then
mored up the river eight miles 70 tue fort On
hardy's Bluff, and at eleven o'clock the guns
at this fort opened fire, which was returned
by the boats continually until two o'clock.
A1ter hr1ng over goo rounds Of shell and rifle,
1hey passed mp the river out Of range OF the
guns OF the fort. we having fired the iirst and
last gun. Our flag waved gloriously through
ouI tne engagement; not man was killed at
the tort, and only three were wounded,
Capt D. II. MauEy Captain Of the forty
and a half, was as cooland collected a if onlY
performing the daily practicing Of his guns on
the fort; also, Capt j. e. Aiken, of the Tari-
nat r.; artillery, and Capt. Branch, Of Whites
artillery, and their respective officers (all
their names I did not 1earn,) nor can too
much praise be given to the men in each
company, obeglng every order from their off.
Gers brayely and cheerfu1ly, as if they had
1aced hundred battles instead Of this their
1rst battle 1t would have pleased their
friends to have witnessed how gal1autly thew
1oaght. alter the battle Capt. Maury caused
me men to be drawn up in a line in the fort,
and stated if sthere was man that did no2
wish to remain in the fort and fight with him.
70 step out OF the ranks, and be would ALLOW
him to leave the fort, and get ont Of the range
OF the guns. Not man moved, not an eve
quivercd; but with one uniYersa1 CIV Of maj
no, no! We will fgLt!'' Can such men bo
conquered? ~AN ~
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS,
The Richmond Dispatch follows up the Off
cial report above quoted:
l1oagh late in commencing our prcpara-
lions for the defense Of the approaches to this
city by the James River, and though the enc
M1s Internal g9nboats' caught our obstruc-
ton at Drury's Bluff hardly In readiness We
have the satisfaction at least OF having ~ ~
ptI'ed his first assault He went away yester-
DAY, We lave reSson to hnpc, smartlY dam.
aged, a'ter two hours and a half Of fearful
e;tnnonadlng Of our batteries. His Withdraw
81 gives time for further preparation for his
neot ESSAY Wnicn Wall certainly be made.
Our loss is slight; but more than in some
instances where important positions have been
surrendered. We trust that this beginninp Il
an earnest OF the determination to Eesn fha
gunboats back. ee WV