Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-01-10

ninth nylanders, under the command Of Capt.
Elliott, Of the latter regiment, brave young
officer, who has won much cOmmendation for his
services with scouting parties since the occupa-
ton Of Beaufort.
The guuboats were moOred about the centre OF
tho channel not more thau one hundred feet from
shore, and was greaty y Interested in watching
the movements Of the sailors as they briskly
handled their guus. They worked as if they
liked tue fun, as have no doubt they did. The
effect of the fire in the woods was terrific. Thick
limbs were broke by the fragments OF shell, as
though they were but twigs and branches, md
tree tops were moved OF as with coy thes. II
must have been fearful place for human beings,
If ANY were in the neighborhood.
stood watching this shell practice for about
huff an hour, almost deafened by the reports and
the sharp mighty whistle of the prcjecties us
they rushed through the air, when was waraed
to move away by the bursting of shell within
| fifty yards OF where | stood. The missile, how
ever, did not come from the enemy. IL w0s
fired from the Ellen, aud exploded soon after
leaving the nuzzle Of tho piece, probably in CON
sequence of defect in the fuse. 1t was now
after 10 o'clock, and relracel my way towards
the ferry, which this time was successful in
reaching. There | found Col. Leasure, of the
Roundheads, ready to construct IL bridge of
boats as soon AZ he should receive the order lie
told me that ut o'clock that morning he had left
his reserve companies, ID aud X, up the road, in
charge OF Major Leckey, with instructions to
detain all teams aud spectators, US well as troops,
until be should order an advance. lie took a
position, with the rest OF his command, in front
Of the forry, and concealed them from the view
Of the enemy, whose movements, however, he
coull see with the aid of a glass. There ap-
prared TO be about 200 men in and about the
iOit, some of whom were standing hy II large
field. piece mounted in the breastwOrk When
the first shot was fired on the left by the gun.
boats, the euemy began to prepare for action,
but made no demonstration until after some hall
dozen shells had failed in the neighborhood OF a
house about two miles to the left when most oil
the troops scampsred out of the entrenchmoni
aud went in considerable disorder into a waste
field to the right, and little to the rear of the
fort, where they lay down in the tall weeds
Observing this the Colonel sent word to the gun.
boats on the tight, which ran down within range
and threw u few shells into the midst Of the
enemy. who ran into the woods,
Meanwhile, Gen. Stephens had crossed to th,
mainland at Ihisthoms farm, about 1--WE mile,
below, with the Eighth Michigan, Fiftieth Penn
sylvanin, seven companies Of the Sevent y -nintl
llylhnders, and few companies Of the Round.
: heads. Ii was evident the enemy knew nothing
. nf His approach, for he advanced at least two
miles before sight of them Was seen. TheI
Lieut.. Tash signal officer, saw horseman ant
two negroes driving a wagon on the rond, u lOnl
distance ahead. Thinking the General, who wai
dismonnted, might like the horse for himself, h,
started to take it, accompanied by two Of tht
Seventy -ninth and his signal assistant. Sud
denly five men appeared on the edge cf III,
} woods, aud fired upon Tash, who observed theii
motions quickly enough to order his men upol
their faces, and the balls passed over ther heads
J The Delaware and Boston had come rount
from Beaufort with the FoTty-seventh and Forty
, eighth on hoard under Colonel Perry, and dis
embarked them At Adams plantation, which il
about two and half miles nearer to the ferrl
J than the point at which General Stevens crossed
AT about twelve o'clock the General came nj
with his command at the place where Colone
Perry had landed, and ordering the latter to ac
} AS n reserve corps, passed on, with the Foutl
aud Eighth companies of the Hylanders, nnde
: Captain Moore and Lieutenant lirnham, actin
: as skirnlishcrs on the flank and iu advance
} Colonel Perry following half mile IN the rear
D General Stevens hid brought his men on tn
J rohd within a mile Of the ferry, when the enem,
opened upon them from battery of field. pieces
y screened in the woods to the right, and fe,
D companies of infantry. Que Of the regiment
were thrown out as skiimishers, And advancin
10 within short distance of these woods. re
} ceiyed heavy fire of musketfy, when il fel
} back, failing however, to draw the enemy frou
J their cOnoealment
Meantime the gunboats proceeded up til
river and shelled the eArlhworks opposite tn
landing. The troops who had held them retire
precipitately TO the woods near by, and then wer
D in their turn shelled by the gunboats After th
i enemy had been driven from his position, on
(, force occupied the earthworks They slept i
the trenches New Years night, and the mex
morning, having evelled the Notifications, the
reorossed the river, bringing with them spike
12-pounder, the only guu left by the rebels, an
the best one they had placed in position. Ou
forces also burned two houses, with out-bud
ings, which the rebels had used for barracks.
The following are the uames Of our wounded
Major Watson, Michigan Eighth, shot in th
thigh by Mimic ball, probably mOrtally wounC
ed.
j. Corporal Miller, Company A, same regimen
wounded aud missing.
John Atherton, Seargeant Rich, and Privat
Wood, were slightly wounded Martin Va
s Akin, Company F VIM. IL. irwin, Compan
y g; Pat. MoVeigh, Company c.
. The force Of the enemy is estimated at 3 00l
II both by the scouts and by the officers Of the gul
y boats, who saw them retreat across the fell
II into the woods. Their loss must have bee
II heavy, HI about dusk on the night Of the attac
y they sent in a flag of truce to get their killc
and wounded.