Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-10
The News From North Carolina.
Gen. Foster Surrounded by Rebels.



Monday, the 30th of March, strong force of
rebels, under Generals Hill and Pettigrew,
marched suddenly upon Washington, N. C.
There are; as nearly as Cal be ascertained,
about ten thousand of them around the north
side OF the town, and seven regiments are on
the south bank of the Pamlico river At their
first appearance, shirmishers had been sent
out by our forces, and were driven back with
considerable loss. Two companies of the
torty-tourth Massachusetts marched right in
to an ambuscade, knowing nothing of it until
short turn in the road brought them under
whitening fire of musketry, from an over
whelming force, at short range. Some of the
first regiment OF loyal North Carolina troops,
under Capt. Lyon, were badly cut up little
further down the river, and barely escaped
with their boats. Three of their number were
killed and six or eight wounded. Among the
latter was Capt. Lyon As soon as she could
ascertain the whereabouts Of the enemy, the
gunboat Commodore Hull opened on them
with shell, and drove them off for the time
being; but during the night the rebels in
trenched themselves as follows: Those on
the north OF the town took position on Red
Hill, an elevation about two and half miles
from town, which commands the national for
titications. The rebels on the south side of
the town occupied Hills Point, about six
miles below, on which was deserted earth
work. and placed eight field pieces in position
to command the barrcades in the stream and
the channel, which winds close in shore at
this point. They were thus enabled to deliv-
er plunging fire on any vessel attempting to
pass. They also took up the buoys at the pas
sage in the "barricades," making it impossi-
bic for large vessels to run by them without
being snagged
Further up the river, Rodman's Point was
fad ,,,I, e., / Al.
second battery was placed, thus entirely
commanding the channel, which, from that
place to the town, is very narrow and crooked.
On Tuesday the Commodore HulPS upper
works were badly shattered by the rapid firing
OF these two batteries as she lay aground. She
used up all her ammunition, and had to re-
celYe the fire OF the rebels without replying,
but she still kept her flag up. Badly as the
vessel is damaged, but three of her men were
wounded-and they slightly. l am informed
by one OF her officers that she was struck by
thirty shots, and not seventy, as some have
reported it.
During the day lighter with dispatches
from the beleaguered garrison managed to
run the batteries by keeping shoal-water at
some distance from the Qualifications. She
was able to get through with only one Shot,
which struck her mldship. The dispatches
brought by her were promptly replied to, and
gunboats were forthwith dispatched. The
transports Gems. Prince and Spinola also
started forthwith with reinforcements, but I'M
fortunately they were not able to pass the
rebel earthworks, and are awaiting more help
in order to reduce the batteries commanding
the river. On Wednesday firing was contin-
ued without much effect on either side. On
Thursday small lighter was run out of the
town with dispatches, and on her returning she
carried fresh supply of ammunition. Mr..
V. Gilbert performed this daring feat.
The rebel Gen. Hill has notified the COM
mander of the national forces at Washington
TO remove the women and children, as he in
tended to shell the town. Up to the present
time, however, there has been direct at
tack upon the town. as the gunboats have kept
the rebel batteries busily engaged
FRIDAY, April 3.-Mai. Gen. Foster is at
the post of danger, and even without addition
al assistance it is thought that he can hold the
enemy in check. More gunboats arrived to-
day, and it is expected that tomorrow morn
ing (4th) will witness fine display of ''nne-
inch" and "l00-pounder rifle SHE'LL" for the
special amusement of the obnoxious batteries
There is, however, possibility that the town
will be vigorously attacked by an overwhelm-
ing force, and that it will be burned before the
gunboats can work their way up the crooked
channel without ''buoys."-M r Times.
ANOTHER LETTER.
PAMLICo RIVER, April I.-On Sunday
morning last General Foster received infor-
nation from the commanding officer at Wash
ington that General Hill, with large rebel
force, had driven in our picktts in front of
that town and was menacing the place on all
sides. General Foster Immediately took the
steamer Faron, Capt. Agnew, and arrived on
Monday morning, to find that the danger was
even greater than he had anticipated. The
Faron was dispatched back to Newbern i'm
mediately, with orders to Lieut.. Col. Hoff-
man to send a brigade of infantry and some
light field pieces as soon as possible and Gen,
Spinola received his orders to get his brigade
ready at half-past four o'clock on Tuesday
morning, and at 10 o'clock A. NJ, he had his
entire command on board steamers and sail
ing vessels, and was en- route for the scene of
action. Nothing of Importance occurred on
the route hither until we arrived at this point,
when we learned that the rebels had erected
a battery ct Hills Point at the blockade eight
miles below Washington, which commanded
the channel of the river, rendering it incum-
bent upon us to lay by until a gunboat should
arrive to dslodge the rebels from the posi-
ton.
THREE MILES BELOW HILLS POINT, April
PIP MAJ daylight this morning we we're
underwelgh, headed up the river, preceded by
the gunboats Lockwood and Allison, and two
sailing vessels, which had on board six small
pieces OF artillery The gunboats proceeded
to the vicinity of the fort at Hills Point, and
opened upon the works at short range. They
were replied to sharply for while from eight
guns, two at least Of which were twelve
FOUNDER Whitworths. The Lockwood was
struck twice, but was not much iniured-one
of the shots striking her smoke stack and the
other hitting her guards and gancing off No
one was hurt on our side. After a fight of
an hour and a half the gunboats came back
and reported that it would be impossible to ST.
lence the battery, as the guns were SO high
upon the bluff bank as to be nearly out of
range of our guns.
About daylight this morning Lieut.. Cole re-
turned from Washington in safety, having
passed the three batteries twice during the
night feat of which he may proudly boast
to his succeeding generations when the event
shall have passed into his country's history,
and when he shall have been blessed with de-
scendants to boast to. He brings cheering
news from Gen. Foster and the beeaguered
garrison; but most of it would be contraband;
SO l shall omit writing it.
At ten o'clock this morning Lieut. Williams
of Gen. Spinola's staff, not to be outdone by
Lieut.. Cole, volunteered to make a perilous
reconnaissance OF the south shore below the
Hills Point battery. He left sin company
with boats crew of picked meh and made