Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-09-03
THE RELIANCE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN
BURNED.
THE REBELS FOOLED IN THE MAIN OBJECT
OFTHE EXPEDITION.
THEY WANT TO SEIZE SEA-GOING STE AN
ERANDPUT TO SEA AS PRAFATEERS.
A REBEL EXPEDITION TO CAPTURE SOME
OF IHEGUEBOATS ON THE POTOMAC.

The staff boat Ella arrived this morning,
Trims ing up Commodore HARDWOOD; the expedi-
ton sent up the Rappahannock TO re-capture
the gunboats Satellite and Reliance having re-
turned, being unable, in consequence OF the low
water, to get higher up than Tappahannock.
One Of the seamen OF the Satellite, D. A.
Flibbins, also came up on the Ella, he having
made his escape while they were marching to
Richmond. He reports that on their being
landed at Urbana, they were transferred to the
charge Of some fifty cavalrymen, and that
Capt. Robinson and his brother were both put
in irons, because they were once in the Con-
tederate cavalry and deserted; and they were
formed in q body, with the cavalry around
them and starred on their march tn Richmond
on foot, going at the rate Of about fifteen miles
per day. They were treated with tolerable
kindness. When they arrived within few
miles of the Pamunky river, (about IL o'clock
on Tuesday, Mr.. Flibbins determined to at
tempt an escape, and made an excuse to leave
the party, and at once went down into deep
gully and hid himself. The rebels searched
for him Intellectually, and he laid there until
night when he arted back towards Urbana,
reaching that place on Wednesday night,
where he procured a canoe and came down to
the m nth OF the river, where he got on board
the Currituck. He did not see more than two
hundred and fifty rebel troops, (and those
We're cavalrymen,) during his march to the
Pamunky. The Satellite had been carried up
to Port Royal, and the Reliance was reported to
have been burned the machinery and guns
having been first removed from her.
The rebels were in high glee on account of
the capture, but their expedition did not fully
accomplish their objects. Lieut. Wood, who
had command of the rebels, asserted that they
after capturing the Satellite and Reliance,
would wait Tor the Currituck and board and
capture her, and then the three vessels would
60 out in the bay and capture the first sea-
going steamer to which they would transfer
the guns and ammunition of the three boats,
and put to sea as privateer; first firing the
beats and setting them adrift.
For the purpose of capturing the Currituck,
after they landed the prisoners at Urbana,
they took on board the Satellite about $50 men
and went down to the mouth of the river to
wait for her; but fortunately her arrival was
delayed, and her non appearance caused them
to be suspicious, and after capturing the
schooners they put out up the river without
accomplishing the main object Of the expe.
dition.
An expedition, numbering between four and
five hundred rebels, consisting in part Of the
same party who captured the two boats, left
the neighborhood Of Port Royal on Tuesday
for the Potomac for the purpose OF capturing
some Of our vessels. A party of cavalry are
with them who have been seen lately about
Matthias and other points on the river. 1t
-et known what means they propose to
make the capture, but it is supposed that thew
intend to fix up some of their old batteries on
the river, as they have recently been recon.
noitering about them.
Jack Tye, the boaswain Of the Satellite, who
was so badly wounded during the engagement,
died on the Currituek on Tuesday, and was
buried at Point Lookout yesterday
1t is our belief that by this TINA Gen. Meade
has either recaptured the Satellite or forced the
rebels to burn her