The national Republican., 1862-05-15

Passage .p the James Bitsr-Lsstsr nom
o. board the osisnA-.' hssgensat with
the ksbe, Forts-Flight OF the Rebel
canboat,-on for City Point.
From the Balimore American.
We are Indebted TO friend for the following
extracts from letter from u relative on board
the iron-clad guuboat Galena engaged in the
movement up the James river:
GuNBoAr GALENA,
Sun6Ay, May IL.
DEAR BROTHER. l shppo' by this time you
have heard OF the Gslens leaving Hampton
Roads. was glad Of 1t, for sach fins ship a.,
this ought not 70 be kept idle In sich times ~.
these, and The boye were all anxious for Hght
We got under way and lait the Road. fifteen
minutes past Sven O'Clock on the morning Of
the 8lh. and It was not long TIL We parsed Sew
slls Point, without one shot being fred at u.
Az we passed Newport News We we're hailed
by loud and long cheers from the men Of the
fort, who we're glad TO seek US make move 10
help their brother soldiers.
But We had only pass ID them about twenty.
five minutes when, 70 our great joy, battery
hove 10 Eight. It was first seen BY the we'll
experienced eye Of our gallant Captain He
gave orders to Lieutenant Newman to call all
hands to quarters, wkich he did In his cool
way. for be is always ,ol and brave This or
der was promptly obeyed by The crew. who
thought every moment an hour to try their
skill on The rebels. They soon had chance,
for, fifteen minutes 10 tan O'Clock, the ball war
opened BY our pivot.gun forward. The sho,
fell short The second and third were fred,
but there was no reply. We ran 10 under their
gun range, but all OF the shot fell harmless
sgainst our iron sides. I hardly think they
knew what was coming at them. We let fly
from our whole battery, and made II pretty
VAIN for them. We sailed back and forward
by the tort three or four times, and soon lev.
eled their flag aud made 1t drag 10 the dust.
After On action Of forty minutes they ran like
"red sharks" a. they always do, from the
well.directed lre Of our brave sailors Not
one shot struck US up to the end Of the engage.
msnt
Fort No. 2.-The action commenced abou,
one O'Clock, three quarters Of an hour alter we
had silepced the first battery. In this fort VIZ
fouud more formidable opponent than the
first. It mounted twelve guns, and after On
hour and fifteen minutes bombardmsnt eleven
Of them were silenoed. The remaining one
fought rs for an hour sftsrwsrd. making this
bombsrdment Of two hours and fifteen minutsa'
duration. The gunboats Aroostook and Por,
Royal were with US, but did not take active
part in the engagement, though they did soms
execution Win tnelr long guns.
FLIGHT OF REBEL GUHBOATs.
"he rebel gunboats Jamestown and Patrick
Henry were lying under the guns Of the second
fort, but instead Of assisting Its dsfeucs, they
got up steam and ran away with all speed to.
wards Richmood. Our damage In the engage.
msnt was small One shot struck the ArooBtook
and went through her bulwarks under the
hammock net'ings. No one was injured. One
or two shots struck us, but they only left their
mark on our iron mail and glided OF.
After passing the second fort we started up
the river, but the buoys have been removed,
and there We stuck hard and fast, waiting
for high tide. The batteries silenced were
called tbe Upper and Lower Shoal Batteries.
Great praise "a given to Capt. Rodgers, Lieut.
Newman, and Engineer Thompson.
We are just getting Oh shore, and boat has
come on board from Gen. McOlellss, by which
send this. We will be OF ior CITY Point In
The morning. s... 49,. . ., .r'HGu ...
i Your, &C., JAS.