Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-17
FRoM yoRIREss MONROE
INTERESTING FROM THE LOWER
RAPPAHANNOCK.
DOINGs OF OUR FLOTILLA THERE
sKIRMIsHEs WITH THE ENEMY.
PRIZES TAKEN, &c.
Especial correspondence Of The Star !
q. s. STEAMER "JAcoB BELL"
OFF the torn of Tdpp1bnasork

D. L..
of the tops Of Tappahassork.
RaPpGhdHHoet rir.r, Va April 16, 1862.
Editor Ersnisg Sta, Having received orders
from Washington, we started April 10 down the
Pctomac for the Kappahannock river. When OF
BlaCkist,ne's Island visited the Hne frigate St.
Lawrence, which lies abreast of the island at an
Choir. The feet being assembled, the Jacob Bell
being the flagship, Lieutenant Commanding f..
p. McCrae, took the lead, followed by the rest of
the feet, consisting of the Reliance, Satellite,
Resolute, Island Belle, and Peidmontese At12
o'clsck at night we arrived opposite the small
town Of Crbana, and anchored in the morning
Ontbe morning Of April Iith, boats crew
was sent ashore, under the command of Acting
Master Streets, to procure pilot. When within
twenty FIVE yards II the beach, they were fired
upon from rihe-pis but a. good luck would have
IL, no one was Injured, only the boat receiving
few bullets In her hull The jacob Bell being
the nearest in, Immediately opened Are upon the
Rebels, which scattered them In every direction
After which we proceeded on our voyage ND the
river towards Fredericksburg, passing some three
or four fne whsrves which have been partly de-
stroyed. Stopping at the second one, where
there was q white flag hoisted. they Informed Ms
that ell the Rebel soldiers had left that side (east
Of the river. Arriving opposite Lowry's Point
batteries at II O'Clock m we commenced from
the whole feet to shell the works and fortiaca
tons, driving out the pickets which have occu-
pied II since Its evacuation some twelve DAYS ago
by large body Of the rebel army. After the
Smelling, the boats crews landed and proceeded
to burn some one hundred and nfty plank and log
houses, used by the rebels a. quarters, which
were entirely consumed, after which the boats
returned to their ships, loaded with blankets.
quilts, medicines, and inuskets, left by the rebels
In their flight.
We nett proceeded to the town of Tappahan-
noe, some two miles above Fort Lowry, arriving
OF which at O'Clock, we fred blank cartridge
and hoisted the white Gag Of truce, which was
responded to from the people Of the town (what
was left Of them) by displaying q great many
white fags After coming to an anchor, our
Commander, with his gigs crew, proceeded to
land, when they were met at the beach by large
concourse Of Pers ons, Of all colors and II seemed
with great demonstration BY the darky population
one old darby woman exclaiming, Bress God
de YANKEES hab come at last" The rebels have
sunk the lightship and a large schooner of
Lowry's Point Ajax O'Clock D. m, the Amer.
can flag was run up over one Of the largest houses
in the town, when II was hailed with enthusiastic
cheering by the crews Of our own gunboat,
subsequently our Commander was informed that
one Of the people Of the place had said az soon an
we left II would be torn down, our Comm auder
then politely told them IL II was, he would give
them six hours to leave the town, before he burnt
IL. When our men first landed, an old negro
told them not to drink any liquor, a. Il was all
poisoned; and on landing the second time thew
were invited to drink by one Of the Inhabitants.
but they very politely declined the Invitation 10
do 30. We were also informed there by contra.
bands that four large schooners and other obstruc
tons are placed in the narrow channel of the
river, Ave miles this side Of Frederic ksburg. TO
prevent our approach to that place, where lie the
steamers st. Nicholas, Eureka and Logan, the
former having two guns mounted on her.
As far as we could learn, there are no rebel
soldiers on the neck Of land lying between the
Potomac and Rappahannock, excepting few
Pichet cavalry, which are mostly composed Of
Marylanders, to prevent the escape of negroes
The company who fred on our boats the morn
Ing Of the Iith, we are informed were composed
Of Marylanders. and II was astonishing that none
were killed or hurt, as there were over forty
shots Erred into the boat, at the distance OF TWEEN
y I'VE yards. II wss quite amusing to see secesb
and others Of TaPpahannock, leaving in all di.
rscuons when We arrived on the town, some
that remained running to and fro with white
rags suspended on broom handles, and an
old dukey had bleached salt sack tfsd In a
limb OF tree, waving II at the rate of 2. 40 on
plank read The town Is very prettily situated
on tie left bank Of the river, some nfty miles
below Fredericksburg. Itcontains two churches.
jail, hotel, ard large steam saw. mill, and
many handsome old mansions, but are fast going
10 decay, Ike the rest Of the old ancient towns of
TIE Revolution.
AFsn I5.-Laid a Of the town during the
night This morning, about O'Clock, espied a
sloop coming down nom the direction of Fred
ericksonrg, when we gave chase and captured
hff' sne proving to be the Reindeer, Capt. All
worth, who made his escape In a small boat She
was loaded with oysters, shad, cedar posts, car.
Pet-hags, containing quantity Of clothes for the
rebels, with lot Of letters, from which we l..,n
fhabthe rebels are evacusting Fredericksburp
and talk Of burning the town 70 keep /, from fall.
ing into our hands. At O'Clock we got under
weigh and proceeded down the river TO Co,b,n,.
Creek TO cut out some schconers which Ar. a,
thsre, which we did In nne style, bringing ont
two very nne schconers, one of them being the
sidney Jones, Of Baltimore have NOT learned
the name of the other
just below Corbins creek we came 10 anchor,
and sent the boats crew ashore 70 storebouse a,
the whirf, when they soon returned with two a,
cesh soldiers, In uniform, they nabbed At the
store. They told our captain IL he would let them
alone, they would let him alone, and they wanted
10 20 ashore again but they were told they would
have TO 20 washington ffst; when one Of them
exclaimed: eel have horse ashore, that coat me
i've hundred dollar" {" 30 much the befter,n
'sy the captain, /" we Will take the horse too %
There were also lot Of contraband goods found
IN the store which were tahen but the liquor was