The New York herald., 1862-03-17

to the schooner Echo in October last, fired they
were from both banks Of the narrow creek,
Their boats being visible by the light OF the
burning schooner for a considerable distance. The
creek is tortuous in its windings, and difficult
TO entor from its shallow waor and intricate channel
The entrance during the few months OF tho rebel occupa
ton was protected by formidable batteries on either
sidc while a hundred yards up the crock itself a
pattory was situated high hill to the left yoa
The batteries st exist but they are poweress for
harm, having been dsmantled.
On both banks of the crock tocrably high hills 1,
clothed with lofty trees which must present beautiful
appearance when they clothed In thoir summer TO-
Iiags About three four miles above whore we lay Is
the village Dumfries, the white houses OF which are
plainly visible to the naked oye.
We arc at anchor close to tho remains Of tho rebel
steamer George Page, which present almost ndistin
guishabe mass OF ronvcry little wood being The
smoke stack is bent in an almost horizontal position,
aud the boiler Is fully exposed To Wow Sic transit orid
George Page. Sooh TO however she never had any
glory boast Of from tho time she was stolen by the
from her lawful owners and must protest against
the assertions freely made that she in the habit
OF passing at night 10 and fro between Quatco creek
and Oco9uan Bay She never had the slightest chance
Of entering the latter place. for she had attempted
che would certainly have boon captured by some vessel
vessels belonging TO the notla To persist Ia saying
that she in Occoqnan BY implies grave ccnsurc o
tho commanding officers OF the upper fotilia oensue
that they do not deserve.
Fage anchor and chain. They turn out to be wen
worth tho troblc. The Fairfax, the habtual readers OF
the HERALD will remember is the schooner that was cap
lred October last by the rebels while being towsd up
by the Rcsolutc in conse ucnce OF the hawser bong
parted probably from chance shot The Fairfax, at
tho time, had ON board cargo OF hay aud furniture.
The latter belonged 10 Mr. Evans an ditdche OF the VII
liamsburg Times, who lost thereby some 50 900. Ho
rather the commercial vauo OF his goods
at the tmc really not knowing what hc had on board
but in subsequent conversation had with him at VII.
ards found that his less was much more serious than
had frat lin "a
money value the deprivation of some interest
ing articles of intrinsic worth such as several volumes OF
scrap book, which some mon delight TO lay by as
souvenir OF their more youthful days.
The fragments OF the Fairfax lie few yards from those
Of tho Page Her stern is out OF water and all along to
somewhere astcrn Of her amdships can be seen bore
md thore fow Jumps Of charred timber. She has not
wholly disappeared, because she lies in very shallow
sell apparently schooner, that lies shore. She
has not been burnt because as she s nearly high and
| dry, that probably deemed unnecessary.
Wo are now running out OF Qusntico creek. Now we
have passed and alongside the Yankee which Is lying
Oh the battery at the lower point OF the entrance 10
We have arrived at wadc's Bay, nearly opposite Aqua
creek where the Freebcrn is at anchor Our stay Is
briof and inst casting OF TO return up the river
have learned board the Freeborn that Aqua crock s
not evacuated nor s the depot or any OF the buildings
burned The robss, however, are sah 10 be cavlng by
detail spite OF their recent reinofcemonts. We arc
now steamng up TO the flagship.
The Yankee is reached, and In Obedience 10 ORDERS
wo 20 shore at Quantco creek, TO tako on board
| a large quantity Of shot and shell, round and eon-
| gated, taken from tho Evansport battery. Captain
| vandevcnter In command OF the stepping stones,
is accompanied by Chief Engineer Young, pilot Lomsx
and myself We visit the fortlcations and admire the
ingenuity of their construction especially as regards tho
"rathoes," far admiration Is allowable The place
is garrsonsd by the First Massachusetts, rogimon, COM
mandodby Colonel Cowdin but as the Colonel Is an act
ing brgadier, the command Is virtually IN the hands OF
Lieutenant Colonel wcIlss. We two heavy guns In
| the river--having been pitched by our seanon from
the embrasures. Another guna rlDe-is broken right
across in the middle and the peco towards the bresch
| Is again split ongitudnaly.
While at this battery ! was informed that two mon
belonging to the Massachusetts, First who went out with
scouting party, nearly as far as Richmond are miss
ing. They supposed to have been cut on and taken
prisoners by body Of cavalry.