Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-21
FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
Especial Correspondence Of the Star l

U. 9. GuNBoAr CGuR DE- LION, Rsppahannock
River, May IL, 1s52.-Editor STAY: This boat
| (Alexander Hamilton, Acting Master, command.
l ing) has, until recently, been attached to the
| Potomac Flotilla. We are now doing picke,
duty on this river, our station being about sixty
miles up. Directly opposite stands the remains
OF Fort Lourie, and another fortihcation intended
"a cover Tor the fort or the water batterieI these
| were all deserted by the rebels as soon as they
heard that he hotilla was coming TO atts * them
4 The Rappahennock runs through one of the finest
| countries ever saw, bordered on both sides by
Il rich, well cultivated farms, well stocked with
| negroes, who appear to be all the persons left;
/ most OF the whites having deserted their homes
/ at our approach. In some cases, where we have
been, we found an overseer In charge of the farm
who does not know or is unwilling TO tel his en-
1 ployer's whereabouts; but we generally find that
he 10 In the rebel army.
| The poorer classes are groaning under the Sc.
cesson yoke, and are longing for the restoration
OF the /" old regime and are only waiting fai
| opportunity to hoist the stars and stripes once
more in this section Of the Old Dominion Even
| In fredericksburg, before the advent OF General
Mcdowell, there was strong latent Union feel
| Ing, only kept In check by the presence OF the
rebel soldiefy.
We made visit day or two since to Port
tifully situated on the right bank Of the river,
thirty miles below Fredeficksbarg, and contains
about 500 people. Ii 10 not deserted, az many of
the places on the river are but few Of Its inhab-
that the Yankees were coming 10 pillage ard de-
stroy their property. We were visited by num-
Der OF the hrst people Of the town, and II any re-
lance can be put in what they say, there exists
In this place, as In most others on the river, a
| strong sympathy for the &" old Governments -
We learned from them that the enemy is in some
force but fifteen miles from here.
The rebe! government here 10 straning every
nerve to bring recruits into their army All the
young men have been forced to enlist by large
parties OF cavalry securing the country and forcing
them into their camps.
We have captured number of prizes among
the rest two small steamers, a large number OF
schooners with their cargoes on board consistipo
OF saltpetre, boots and shoes salt coffee IouoTs
&c. II appears that there has been a regular sy,.
tenn OF smuggling in operation since the com.
mencement Of the war, and the n1odns opsynnd,
has just come TO light. Fast sailing schooners
would load at Baltimore and other northern ports
ostensibiy for Washington. run into Great Yeo-
comico river, where we had no guards land their
goods, and beat hasty retreat. The goods were
subsequently transported overland to the Rama
hammock, and thence to Fredericksburg and other
places or the river.
A few DAYS since we made an excursion IN one
Of the tributaries Of the Rappahanncck called
PiScataway. After proceeding about a dozen
miles our progress was arrested by bridge Our
steamer being TOO large to pass through the draw
we took to our boat, well armed and baving a
l3-pound howitZer in the bow, started again.
We found two large schooners one sunk the
1iher aground, with signs OF her having been
lately In use Finding Ii impossible to tow her
on, we set nre TO her and left her to her fate
In house near by we found a rich prize II
consisted Of large quantities of stores ready for
transportation to the Confederate camps and the
baggage Of a colonel in one Of the Virginia re0i
ments We seized everything contraband in the
name Of the United States We were told hv a
negro woman that the rebel pickets had slept in
the house the night before, and that thew left
when they saw US coming, and were probably
naii way to Richmond, which is not above forty
miles distant. 10y
On our return the man on the lookout reported
cavalry In sight, and looking in the direction
indicated we saw twelve pickets lodging behind
the trees OF small wood a mile distant We
threw shell at them, and as soon az the smoke
cleared away we saw them galloping OFF at a
oreak-neck pace, one Of the horses without. a
rider.
We returned to our anchorage about dark. well
pleased with our days sport, and to have done
bloc ckade.