The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-05-28
NOVEMENTS ~ VIRGINIA.


MOvEMENTs N VIRGINIA.
The First Engagement as Fort Darsase-
Interesting Details OF she Cesnsee
The Fortress Monroe correspondent Of he
Philadelphia I.q.irer. gives the following inter.
estiHg account of the expedition up the Janes
river, and the ipJarls sustained ~ our ire. clad
vessels -
LAS: Sunday morning. the Monitor, 0alena,
ana Nsugaiuek started Tor tho rebel capital via
the James river. They we're coon ioliosed by
the Aroostook and Port Royal They silenced
several OF the batteries which lined the shore,
aud passed some with the most cootewptuous
silence. The Captain Of the Monitor stood upea
the turret and waved his cap to battsfy which
ne considered unworthy the notice OF HE pet
although three balls struck the Monitors turrss
With considerable force.
.'The progress Of the feet vas Q continued
success until they arrived TO within about seven
miles Of Richmond Here the river tskss Q
sharp turn around a pr-ciptous bluf, tally .
hundred and fifty feet in height. Upon the scp
of this bluff the rebels have erected . mos. EEL
en,hc and formidable battery, mounting guns
of superior range and calibre. This bassssy
commands the river in the most effective man
an engage ment Of no ordinary character vas in
mnenL
"0n last Thursday morning. q; seven O'Clock,
our flee, formed their line Of battle and coa.
menced the reduction OF the rebel stronghold
From the unusual elevation OF the battery, and
the difficulty men experienced in getting the
proper rai &c, they were, for . time, unable 70
do any execution. In Tire meantime the battery
poured an ilcessant IRE Of ball and shsll 6ssn
upon the decks Of our vessels, aud did q fearful
work.
The Naugatucx, after several brilliant shots,
burst her l0v pound riAed Parrot gun. killing
the gunner and voupding several Others Hav.
ing no other armameniexcspt I've boarding hoe.
i,zers. and being thus disabled, che vithArss
from the engagement.
1.-The GalenX cuff red severely the rebel shots
Kidding her deck With great ease, and several Il
the balls entered her aide. Fourteen q her
crew we're killed and thirteen wounded; the
majority OF tho latter. however, vii recover.
Those who we're killed are terribly cut and uas.
gled-some beyond the hope OF recognizes.
For one hour the Gaena was exposed 70 the en-
tire FIRE Of the rebel battery. On account a The
Mario xness Of the channel, che could not spring
or turn so as to work to advantage.
"TEe Monitor, however. msssf0saed her sxps.
iyor strength aud inruins, absists. The bais
glanced harmless from her tower Of strength and
Tell INTO the placid VI che river. Tes
some tine she labored under great di6icuity 10
acquiring the requisite elevation for her guns.
Bus having once obtained il sne poured her mis-
siles with fearful effect upon the battery, and
thus encouraging her associates, the feet belch-
ed forth such all IRON hail that the battery 80
si'enced for three quarters Of an hour. At this
juncture our vessels ran short Of ammunition
and retired from action, while the rebels reman-
ned their guns and again commenced the con.
fict. A portion Vi the fleet came down the
river to jamestown Island, nearly opposite VII.
| lamsburg.
"The Monitor and Galcna remained, in order
TO keep the rebels awake, the Monitor firing
regularly once in tsO minutes, fully sustsising
the reputation of the cheese box. The ARGOS.
took and Pot Roya! we're not materially in
jured. The action lasted four hours and Q
half constituting one Of the most brilliant ef the
war.
About q quarter Of Q mile further up the
river, the rebels have made strong barricsdets
the further progress OF hostile feet They
have sunk the Yorktown and jamestown in the
| channel, and driven immense piles from one side
Of the river 10 the other, forming Q stockads
similar to that in the entrance TO the Norfolk
tarbor.
THE guns Of the battery are said 10 be man
ned by tine remnants Of the crews Of the Aerri-
msc, Yorkto~n and jamestown. TIE firing vs.
excellent, sbo"ing great deal Of skill
1.-The Naugatuck escaped serious injary By
having her pilot house and deck protected BY
iron rsils laid trsnsversey."
The follosibg has been received at the Navy
Department:
United States Flag Snip Susqusbsr %,
a
SIR:-ln consequence Of . report from Com.
Rodgers, that there we're two batteries On the
south aide Of this river. one At Rock Wharf
landing and the other II HArdy's Bluff or No.
Their Rines' landing. which required siencing. in
order TO open the river 10 get supplies up 70 him,
Of y hich be about 10 stand in need, moved
up TO them yesterday With this ship, the wachu.
sett, the Dacotah. Mariana, and the tug Yosng
America, but tosnd that both had been recently
abandoned and left, comparatively ia . ussless
condition.
AT Hardy's Bluff the guns we're spiked, or.
rages burned and magazines blown no; but Q
little beIo~ it was solitary gun remaining In.
tact, and this ~e put out Of use. At Rock
Wharf landing the gun. we're also spiked and
she carriages burnt, bot neither the magazines
nor the bomb proof had been destroyed. This
I ordered to be done, and il vas efFectsslly &C.
ompiished-
The james river is nov open froo its mouth
up to Wards Bluff, or. in other words, Up V
within s miles OF Richmond, where, - you vii
perceive, by Com. Rodgers report Of this 6ghs,
II is seriously ob-tructed.
! au, very respectfully, your obi serv't,
tSignedj L. N. GOLDSBOROCGH,
Flag Officer, Commanding North Atlantic
BIocbsding Sq0adrse-
To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Of Navy.
From Wsshingte0.