Newbern weekly progress., 1862-10-18
Daring GunbOat RecOBn distance
On the RiackWaier.

9. 10" i1A, u"tAso oSohilhouoio CRY, AuuCH-
IS back, Capt. E. Il. Colhoun, and White
head, Capt. French, left Plymouth, N.
c., on reconnaissance up the Black.
water river. 70 give our readers an
idea Of this stream, we. would state
THAT it is very tortuous m its course,
hardly wider than Broad street, but
with any depth 'of water required :;
= the trees interlocking their tops over
the river, SO as to form an arbor i'm
3peryious to the rays of the sun. These
limbs, many Of them, had to be re-
moved, as the expedition proceeded, in
order to allow free passage. Up the
stream the expedition steamed with
great boldness, directly into the enc
'my's country, but as the sequel proved,
they were fully equal to the emer-
gency. 80 - ''+~' ',a.
On the morning Of the 81 instant,
at about St o'clock, the expedition had
arrived to within shelling distance Of
Franklin, when they were ambuscaded
by five regiments of rebels, who filed
the tree tops, were behind trees and
everything that would afford cover,
and who poured a naerciless fire from
rifles and revolvers upon our boats.
AT this point, the river being full of
abrupt turns, a portion Of the crew
Jumped ashore with hawsers to tow
the boats around the bends. Whole
regiments charged down upon ohrde.
voted band, but were swept back in
confusion by the grape and shell from
the gunboats. The rebels manifested
great bravery, advancing to within
three rods of our boats, but of no avail.
A rebel colonel, in the act of leading
his men to a'eharge. for the purpose of
capturing gunboat, was shot by a
sailor, and his regiment scattered by
the well-directed fire Of grape. Sew
eral desperate charges were made, in
one case the rebels had laid hold of
the rail, to throw themselves on the
boat, when sailor made free use OF
his axe, and sent.the mutilated assail-
ants back, bowling over the loss Of
their fingers. With the aid Of pike and
axe, the rebels were driven from the
sides of the boats while the reserve
sent their compliments to the skedad-
dlers, in the form Of shells, etc.
.Ihs contest lasted fffrooa,r SIX O'Clock
in the morning until two o'clock in the
afternoon. On the Commodore Perry,
Quartermaster Baker while in the act
of raising the colors was shot, when
the intrepid Flusser rushed to the hal
liards and run UP the stars and stripes,
amid the shouts Of his crew and the
whistling of two or three thousand bull
lets. Acting Master Lynch of the
Perry was also killed
While this hot work was going on
a regiment of rebels was seen march
ing to a narrow bend in the river,
about a mile and half below the
battle ground, and telling trees across
the river to obstruct the return of the
boats, which they now counted on as
an easy prize. As the attention Of the
rebels seemed to be given to this point,
Capt. Flusser determined to crafty
their wishes, by meeting them where
they most desired, having previously
determined to blow up every plahk,
before the stars and bars should eve
float over vessel of his commando
Accordingly orders were given to re.
tire and engagethe enemy in their new
base OF operations. On arriving at
the distractions in the river, the boats
opened a howitzer fire upon the am
bushed enemy, completely annihila
ting them, sweeping the cbstructionS
away as though they were but chaff
and returned in safety to their rendez
vous. .,. ..s - a.t a
The action was one Of the most des
perate on record in modern time. The
rebels, in their desire to obtain posses
sion Of tile " hated Yankee gunboats,
fought bravely, and as only desperate
men will fight but to no avail, Yan
kee valor triulnphed; because engaged
in sustaining our government and ou
country's honor. Our Navy won new
laurels and showed by their heroi'
conduct that our banner had been en-
trusted to faithful hands:
Capts. Flusser, Colhoun and Freicl
were cool and brave; constantly expos