Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-04
AN EXPEDITION ACROSS THE RIVE

FORTRESS MONROE, Aug. LIT is rumored
and believed here that the New Merrimac has
come down the river. She is hourly expected
to make the attempt to come further down;
and one thing is authentic all of the federal
gunboats haze passed mp beyond Harisoa's
Landing, and not one is in sight at that place
or on the river this side A detachment of
infantry and cavalry from Gen. McClellan's
army made reconnaissance down the Chick
ahominy through Diascund, and came on
toward Williamsburg till they met our pick
cts, and then returned after reporting to For
tress Monroe by telegraph that in their re-
connoissance they had seen nothing of the
enemy. Their returning to Harrison's Land
ing we will hear nothing of until tomorrow
on the arrival of the mail boat from that
place.
LATER.-The mail boat from Harrison's
Landing arrived at fortress Monroe at quar-
ter to three this afternoon, and the monotony
of emo news" is finally broken. Last night
between twelve and one o'clock the rebels
opened fire on the center of Gen. McClelan's
army, which continued for about an hour and
half from four rebel batteries of flying artil-
lery opposite the landing, some above and
some below. They threw shell of six and
twelve pounds, round and conical, and not one
third Of them exploded, The firing was in
tended no doubt for our camps, but many of
the shot fell short, and thereby did some little
mischief to the shipping which was lying at
the landing and at anchor in the river, as the
shells passed over the thickest of the vessels.
Several vessels and steamers were struck by
fragments of shells, but no one was harmed
on them. 1t is reported that nine of onr men
were killed and only three wounded.
1t being in the dead of night, and our army
not expecting an attack in force, there was
some delay before our guns opened fire, some
half an hour to an hour, when the siege guns
were brought to bear upon them, and in less
than forty minutes the rebels were silenced.
The firing was very brisk while it continued.
MANY of the rebels shells were thrown over
among our camps, but did not explode. All
the explosions took place much short of the
camp, and this accounts for so few being in
iured. 1t is thought the motive Of the rebels
in this action was to draw the federal gun
boats down the river to enable their boats-the
new Merrimac, &c.-to pass out The rebels,
it is estimated, threw over five hundred shells,
which lie this morning profusely scattered
over the field and some lodged in the masts
of vessels. All that is known of the fate of
the rebels is that they fled, and this morning
the trees where they had their batteries pre-
scented shattered appearance, and many cut
completely down.
We could learn nothing more of the new
Merrimac than has been already reported,
and have heard nothing to contradict the
statements already published. There was one
federal gunboat near the landing, which
opened fire Immediately on the enemy, but
they did not appear to notice it, they were so
intent on shelling our camps. If the rebels
motive was to draw our gunboats down the
river, they were most unsuccessful in their
efforts for not a single gunboat made its APP
pearance save the one already there in the
right spot, which shows they have better bust
ness on hand to attend to.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoToMAC, Satur-
day, August 2.-Six hundred troops crossed
the river yesterday afternoon for the purpose
of DESTROYING the houses and woods on the
opposite shore, which had afforded protection
to the rebels Everything in the shape of a
dwelling was burned. This was the point
from which the rebels shelled our shipping
aud encamped the night before. The affair
was successfully accomplished without the
loss of a man. The gunboats tins morning
are engaged in Smelling the shore and houses
down the river. Five men were killed by the
enemy's shells, night before last, and TWO
wounded