New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-19
FROM THE RLACKWATER.
Another ReconuoissanCc-AnA Artillery Si.ir-
mish Across the strcam-A Party sent
Acro.s-The Rebels Appear In Force
Return Of the Expedition with buSJiilc

coussp cadence Of The ~ Y. Tribune.
suYPoLK, Va, Dec. 10, 1862.
! Another reconnaissance Black water wards has
taken place and the expedition having just returned,
| hasten TO lay before your readers such particulars
Of interest as will not reach you by telegraph
| The Black water, rs you aie aware, il "a branch Of
the Chowan River; an insignificant muddy s,Team,
fordsble in many places and scarcely stonesthrow
! In Width. 1t has been chosen line Of defense
81 the Rebels, and although forces cross it occa
sOaaly for the purpose of securing sections oil the
country beyond the former are temporarily in pos
session Of all the territory west Of ii. At franklin
and n lvor. they have destroyed the railroad bridges
and have thrown up intrenchnents commanding the
river Ii is at one or the other OF these places where
most Of the asirDishing takes place.
On Thurdsy, the llth, a force consulting OF Fer
rvs brigade39th lllinos, cd Ohio 5o'h Pennsyl-
,auio, ond 9th Ohio-JOl. Osborn OF the ssh com
nsnding; q portion Of Fosters bTigade-6th " lssa-
chusetis 1I2lh New York, aud 18th Indiana one
latter, however belonging 10 the bret mentioned
brigadel-Col. Foster acting Bngader command
II ing; Dodge Mounted Rifles, with one company oi
the llth Peunsy lvania Cavalry; Towards full bat
tery with section Of Foetts, all under command
Of Brighten. o. s. Ferry, left here at 7. N. II
wonld lie improper 70 state what war ntended 10 be
acc mpisbed with this force II IL sufficient to re-
mark that pOnlOon train was taken along and that
the expectation was 20 arrive at the Black water
early enough for il 20 be laid by moonlight If the
General shonld desire 10 cross. T troops could
es-ily have reached them by midI'ght lad not the
/ yontOon wagons caused innumerable aud extremely
yeXatious delays. Aa II was, tunIise only OF tie
l2lh found us at Jiner'e Ford, near lyOr aud %
miles from Suffolk
| The Rebels did not need TO hear The thunderings
| OF Howards guns 70 arouse them. They were on
/ the alert, and received our men with vOlley Of
muskery a. coon and as often 40 they appeared. 4
bin rose rapidly from the river upon the opposite
eide, aud, protected by ule pit. "a company Of
North Carolina ShdrpshOoiers las we subsequently,
learuedl stood guard over tie ioId Upon The ehet
SIDE the river wae fkited with woods, while back
short distance aud upon rting ground, @as an open
! field Capt. Howard bad couple Of his guns placed
in position wheie through he scattering tops OF
the trees, he could see the rlle-pt, and commenced
sheling it, while al the came time The l3tn Indiana
was thrown forward 10 the tank Of Tie river a.
tkrrshers.
shots were EXCHANGED ACROSS the stream for nearly
or quite two hour, accompanied with verbal reu-
cOulers the North Caroii i,ns inviting tie lnioni-
ans to out from behind The trees and Inc latter
| in turn assuring them they would DO provided
the former would abandon " that dit c' IN v. ich
/ they were hidden. la tue me tine several Of the
| 18Th wounded. \ cavalry soldier belonging
! 20 tire 18th Pennsylvania WAS killed by "a hHi
through the brain, lie being Just about 90 swim Bis
/ horse across the riyer with another man mounted
behind him; and Lieut.. Barr OF Co. J, Cth Mdssa-
chusetts, was shot through lie heat willie uIneces-
! saiily exporting L,D,elf
| Col Foster did not like tbif. lie had been IN too
many hard ights to suiera COMPANY Of aimrpshOot-
srs 10 hold bD longer IN check, even tfon crossing
q river. lie ordered Capt Zcut oil The I3tb 10 Take
four five picked men, crOss the river under cover
OF our guns IN q pon'oOn, reconuoitcr the position
occupied by the enemy, and return as speedily 40
possible Tbs being accom- shcd brayeiy aud well,
10 next designated three con pauies Oi the same
Sighting regiment whose duty il should be 10 90 over
and take tna ids.lt. Making a dyerson as If in
tending above The ford, Col. b. succeeded
attracting the attention 81 the Rebels while hls
were polling Themselves over, company al "A time,
~ p0utoop some distance below.
They land safely, Pa-s up the hill, and are soon
lost - view IA the woods. moment amer al D.
stiil the guns that have been fired rapidly during
he maneuyer, are allowed TO cool, and every one
II awaiting ~ suspense the result Of The venture.
Suddenly, cheer peculiar 10 the Western boys j.
heard, and the lOosiers appear charging down upon
the flank OF the Rebel, az b. same time rapidly di
charging their Iieces. In lees ume than 1t needed
Tor wrlIug i, II captain, with bail through bIs
shoulder, aud eleven men captured, and several
are killed or wounded told by cavalry
ohcer that be knew Of seven being kllGd Col.
Dodge, Major Nheaiau, ana Sergt. JudaOn (' Ned
Bubtlue"j Of the y. y Mounted Rifles Immediately
SWAN their bOrses over, at 10 httle ink, az The
rlv.r was iu Of piles and Oher distractions. Heavy
feeli0rccmebls were eoen coming up on the other
riic, aud the pOBioOns had not ye been laid, tb6
idea was abandoned, and tie Indianians returned
with their prisoners themselves uniDjulod.
About this time body OF Rebels was seen q mile
above near the railroad, ard az 1t was thought they
might attempt 10 turn cur flank from that quartz
another OF Howard guns was put in position on
he railroad, and the 5Sth Pennsylvania ordered to
its support. This piece was fired for a considerable
length Of time without eciling my reply, wien tue