Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-08

ofeertain deputies; the inspection of steam
boatsi the revenue-cutter service praises
the coal survey; glances at maps and
charts and Lighthouse then concludes
without any peroration.
The report is written with 8 clearness,
force, and elegance Of all papers emanat-
ing from the distinguished Secretary Of
the Treasury.
From the 67th ReEimeuI.---ExpeditiOn
near Suffolk.
Correspondence Cleveland LEGDER.I
HEADQUARTERS 9th ONO,
SUFFOLK, Va, Dec. 3.
As a contrast to the proceedings of some
high in command of the Army Ofthe West
permit me to relate a little incident that
occurred nearhere few days ago. Afree
negro man by the name Of Davis, living
near smithfieId, which is situated on Pa
gan Greek, about FIVE miles from James
river, had committed the heinous crime
lin the estimation of the rebels of at diff
ferent times supplying our officers atNew-
port News with sweet potatoes, poultry,
SC, and for this some of his secesh neigh
bors had determined that himself wife and
child, should be seized and sent to Rich
mond and sold for the beneftof the South
ern Confederscy. Some of Davis friends,
learning the intentions of his enemies, ad-
vised him to leave Immediately, which he
did, coming to this place. On his arrival
here he met with Captain Lee, of the goth
New York regiment, now in command Of
the picket gunbOat West End, and related
to him what the rebels contemplated doing
with himself and family. Captain Lee
had frequently met Davis while patroling
James river and Pagan creek, and knew
him TO be an honest, worthy man, and at
once resolved to make an effort to save
him and his family. The plan of the reb-
els was to have a squad Of cavalry come
from Surrey Court House, which is about
fifteen miles distant, 60 to Davis house
about daylight, take him and his family,
and hurry them off to Richmond as fast as
possible. Saturday morning last was the
supposed time the guerrillas had set to
carry their plan into execution. Captain
Lee Immediately applied to General Peck
for permission to 20 with the gunbOat and
bring away Davis family, and if possible
bag the rebel gang. Permission was read
lily given. Captain Lee asked for a detail
Of forty picked men and two commissioned
officers to accompany him. The lot fell
upon Captain A. P. Girty and the writer,
with forty men selected from Company G,
9Th Regiment o. V. I, who upon re-
eeiving notice, Immediately reported on
board the gunboat. We were very soon
under way, and proceeded down the Nan
semond river to Hampton Roads, up James
river to Pagan creek, where, at about
three o'clock, A. NJ, we landed, with Davis
for q guide. We marched about five miles
by a roundabout way, got in the rear of
the town, posted ourselves on the
road leading back into the eoun-
try, in a position to cut of the retreat
ofthe guerrillas, and there waited for the |
gunboat TO come up and commence the at |
tack. After remaining there over an hour |
and until after daylight, and not hearing |
anything from the game we were after, |
we proceeded through town 10 the boat, |
and while on the way learned by negro, |
to our great chagrin, that we we're one |
day too late. The rebels had been there the |
before and finding Davis away |
concluded TO defer their operations to |
another time. Our company proceeded |
with Davis to his house and guarded him
and his family with his household effects
to the boat, compelling one of his white
neighbOrs to take his team and move the /
goods. After paying our respects to some |
Of the principal secessiouists in town and |
advising them to be cautious in future, we
got under way on our return, keeping q
close watch rqd eXaming several places |,
where it is supposed the rebels cross tie |
river, making their way back and forth |
through our lines. The promptneys with |
which, Captain Lee planned and executed
this expedition is worthy the Notice of his |
in command. Captain Lee is an |
by birth, gent eman by nature |
and education, and as true a Union |
man as ever breatned the free air
of Heaven. He was one of the first TO |
volunteer on the breaking out of the re-
Oellion, and has doAe the country much
effective service. He removed the OBJ |
'trueuons in the Nansomend river, sur
Eey-d the channel, replaced the buoys end |
brought the first gunboat here after the |
rebel had evacuated this place. He is
eFery way competent and worthy TO COM
maud the best regiment the Empire State |
has sent forth TO the war.
While on the expedition I was a close |
observer, but saw nothing to impress me
favorably with the country or inhabitants
The prominent men Of the village were
and well informed They con- |
versed freely upon the war. They were |
al sanguine Of their success, but all ex-
pressed hope that the war would soon
end. They acknowledged that it had /
ruined their business and made paupers of |
thousands who but short time ago were
as wealthy. The common class
are far below the mediocricy Of the North
srn people in regard to intelligence Their
farms are old and worn out, buildings |
poor and fast going to decay. Everything |
indicates that the inhabitants lack intelli. |
gence, industry and energy. As an illus
-ration Of the ignorance Of the inhab-
.tants Of this country, am informed by |
he clerk Of the Provost Marshal that he |
mad examined one hundred names of per-
sons applying for passes to pass in and out
IF our lines, and found that thirty-one |
wrote; the remaining sixty-nine we're COM
oelled to make their mark. If Slavery is
lot the cause Of this ignorance, what is ?