The New York herald., 1862-02-24
OPERATIONS ON THE POTOMAC.
Our Naval Correspondence.

UNITED STATES STEAMER STEPPING STONES,
CcC0ocAN BAY, PoToMAc RIVER, Feb. 20, 1862.
Spirited Action In Occoquan Boy Betcecn the Stepping
Stones and Rebel Bahery-The Enemy Supposed 10 be
Badly Damaged &C., dc.
Quite brisk little action has just taken place in
guam Bay between the Stepping Stones and rebel field
battery Of five guns.
This morning ran alongside the Yankee, now the
flagship, when ricd twelve FOUNDER, belonging to that
vessel, was put on board Of Tho gun, which, while
on board the Yankee had been mounted slide, was
placed on aeld carriage in view of our high bulwarks
Idevtenant Commanding Eastman came board, with
tho gigs crew, 10 take temporary command. We then
csst or towing the launch Decatur with full crow from
Che Yankee, commanded by Masters Mate Lawrence, a
young gentleman that Captain Eastman generally inrusts
with specis! duties, such as that Of to-day.
II was evident that something was up and 1t soon bo
certain that Occoquan Bay to be reconnored
We up three four miles when the launch was east
ooss and proceeded towards the shore to search
houses the beach, We threw in one shell from the
rine, usder OF which the landing was Effected
The Stepping Stones then stood towards q schooner
lower down the creek. On way four horse wagon
was seen making its way along little above the beach,
We lay 10 fer short time when the launch again came
alongside, and made fast The officers and
crew had found nothing suspicious in tho houses. We
then stood for Freestone Point the launch having been
again sent shore on the way down for another domi-
ciliary vintaton, but nothing illegal found Suf-
Gent time had now elapsed for the rebels to bring their
forces down, when Captain Eastman once more gave
ORDERS 10 move up the bay All hands quarters
and overy preparation made for fight, when, on ar
irving abreast OF the schooner, little above Free.
stone foint several men moving about little
way from tho beach. Iife was Immediately opened
from our rae and seconded by smooth bore twelve
FOUNDER which within range as We were only five
hundred yards from the shore. The shells went right
70 are Mhh nns ea @ ns
been thrown in when the enemy opened fire u.s. His
shots, at hrs foil very short but some Of them, which
ricochettcd, came near enough. Al length, when we
had got tho proper range OF shells burst right In
the mds of the enemy, and must have done exccu-
tion. This followed by successive shots which OK.
piodsd ia the right place. The enemys fire waxed
fast and furious. Hardly second interviewed between
each gun snd the smoke curled away In white wreaths
20 eeward The smoke OF their guns and the flashes Of
fame wero iperminglcd with those from exploded
shells. We had now moved of to such distance that
the smooth bore Of the launch and OF no
further use, and had TO ring but still the shells
from the rife were thrown with wonderful precision,
those from the enemy falling short and skipping along
the water At length the enemy opened fro from gun
of much larger calibrc than the rest, sending shot
osor the heads Of tho men working % tho ,ss' rise'
Captain Eastman had narrow escape. Another shot
went over the hurricane deck between the smoke stack
aud the walking boam; another passed close the
OF the pilot house fourth swept the quarter
deck, In about the same direction as tho first. while
another struck tho American ensign passing through the
second white stripe from the top and close the Union
of the encmys shells struck the water about twenty
yards from us, and exploded throwing upwards tongue
Of flame, succeeded by smoke. with ono solitary
seryiceabe gun at that range match for tho
enemy with his Eve, but still the unequal contest
kept up with great spirit on our part till tho exhaustion
of our ammunition compelled us TO retire.
The last shot wo fired was at the distance Of
two miles from the enemy, but he continued
TO blszo away at us, till long beyond his supc
ror weight OF metal. We used percussion Shells not
OF which, save the last failed reach the shore
aud when is remembered that we were in motion with
rather rough sca on the whole time, the accuracy with
which the shells exploded in the midst Of tho enemy was
almost marvellous Captain Eastman sighted tho gun
himself several times, and every Of his shots told
The number OF shells fred by was between twenty
and thirty, while tho rebels must have thrown much
hundred. We were not struck, and none OF our
mon HIT while thcrc every TO believe that
several of thscnemy killed. or, at least wounded
As reconnaissance, tho affair emnently successful
IL Ia almost 10 that officers and men be.
shayed with the accustomed bravery OF American sailors
Captain Grumley, Of tho Stepping Stones is sick but
me left bs bed and present, though actively en-
gagged, throughout tho whole affair.