Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-04-21
NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

The New York Herald of the 9Th contains letters
from Washington, in this State giving full accounts
of the operations in that quarter The writer dates
his letter twelve miles below Washington. and says
they are SURROUNDED en- all sides by rebels. He
says: - ..
"Oa Saturday last, March 2s our pickets beyond
the blockhouse on the Washington side of the Tar
river were driven in by large force of rebel cavalry
and inlntry, as were those also upon the opposite
shore, and about noon of the same day 1t was dis
covered that the town was being invested upon all
sides. Gen. Foster, at Newbern, was Immediately
informed of the aspect of affairs, and the forces
placed in the best positions possible for defence.
Both armies remained quiet until Tuesday morn
ing, each seeming to have no particular Anxiety 10
expedite hostilites. On Monday Gen. Hill sent in
flag of truce TO Gen. Foster, with communication
whose substance, rumOr says, was to send all the
women and children out of town, as he (lill) had
determined to take and destroy it. Gen. Foster
refused to receive the flag of truce and sent the
bearer back without an answer. This course is I'M
derstosd to be in retaliation for the<course of Gen.
Hill in refusing to receive flags of truce from New
bern. At LOON on Monday, Gen. Foster sent Capt.
Lyon with one of his companies of North Carolina
Volunt GERS with one small field piece, to Rod
mans farm, the south bank of the river, mile
and a half below the town, to throw up an earth
work but they were soon attacked end driven from
their position by the rebels. They fought deSpe-
rateiy, however, but finally had to retreat TO fat
boat, which they had brought with them, on which
they escaped. The mex: morning they attempted
to land again but when within about five rods of
the shore they were opened upon by the rebel mus
kerry, and, though they saved their small piece,
were repnlSed. Capt Lyon was severely wounded
in three places and has been sent, with the other
wounded men, to Newbern. The first Lieutenant
of Capt Lyons company, VIM. II. King, is now
upon the farm, and the second Lieutenant Lafayette
Riggs is under arrest in Washington for deserving
his company in the morning. The captain and first
Lieutenant are from Massachusetts,, and the second
Lieutenant is native of North Carolina
About daylight this morning, Lieutenant 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 gen.
erations when the event shall have passed into his
country'S history, and when he shall have been
blessed with descendants to boast to. He brings
cheering news from General Foster and the beea-
guered garrison; but most of 1t would be contra
band; so shall omit writing it
At ten o'clock this morning Lieut. Williams of
General Spinolas staff, not to be outdone by Lieut.
Cole, volunteered to make perilouS reconnaissance
OF the south shore below the Hills Point battery.
He left in company with boats crew Of picked men,
and made the landing at the mouth of Blount's
creek, three miles oelow the battery, when he vas
fired upon bya squad Ofrebels. This satisfied him
that the woods were not unoccuped, and that his
"erring Southern brethren" would pay no regard
to the fact that his father was an immense demo-
cratic politician of Western New York so he ab
breviated his visit and retired out of range of the
rebel rifles, when he cooy adjusted his field glass
and took SURVEY OF the premises to his hearts
tent lie, too, will have something to brag Of
Lieut.. Williams reports that the woods back of the
shore and fort are alive with cavalry and infantry
a story which is corroborated by the assertions of
contrabands who have come off to- US in "dugouts"
General Prince has arrived here, but brings no
additional men or means. Oh for few more gun
q four coftb i,fop o,,lo
Of the transports which have teen gouged out of
this department by muiishnesS and the laundering
stupidity of the Washington Cd. c. "Inen of brains"
If Washington and Newbern fall now we may thank
the War Department and the GeneraLin-Uhief, and
General Hunter for it, and no one else"
THE NAVAL FIGHT AT CHARLESTON
The Washington City Chronicle of the 18th, Lin
coins organ, gives the following account of the fight
at Charleston:
The gunboat Flambeau arrived at Old Point
Saturday afternoon, with the officers of the iron
clad heokuk, which was disabled at Charleston and
sunk next day. The following are the particulars
OF the engagement, which were furnished the Bal
tluore American by participant:
The teet after leaving Hilton Head. rendezvoused
IN the mouth OF the Edisto. All arrangements be-
ing completed the feet left in detacbments and
assembled off Charleston on Sunday, the 9Th inst
The iron-clad feet crossed the bar and entered
charleston harbor On Monday. The Keokuk draw
ing less water than any of the others was sent in
front to lind the channel and replace the buovs
Proceeding up the main ship channel the KaoLnL
Iound an easy and unobstructed entrance The
Aeokuk returned to the feet on the morninu of
the 7th. A0'N'"s VI
Ice commanders Of the various vessels were or
oereo to proceed up the channel to within one thon
sand yards of the FORTS and then attack nriacnoII,
Foit Sumter The rebels withheld their fire until
we go5 well up in the harbor. The fronsides
On fort Moultrie and dropped her anchor,
.Npslhg dangerous to take her up farther. Atthis
Aaoment there seemed to be a temporary misnndsr.
ssssnaing by our commanders. Some four or five
hunored guns now opened upon u.s. Such a fire
was never, perhaps, equaled in the history of the
world II was met bv the Keokuk with heroic for.
s"onDJ nile balls were striking her, one for every
oeconu, aer guns were worked with precision and
T'sor, their weight and force making their mari ON
1orG BANTER. lit soon became apparent th,t tho
neohuK was not as imPregHable as Erricsot,,s Mon
tnasas an Iron-clad she was failure The
i paiis seemed to penetrate her as easily as a
tnr.ut vessel abe port holes or shutters Of her
-uIIels became Jammed and her guns perfectIv nm
,maIuageaole During the thirty minutes She Tos
n.uef t9ls tire one hundred shots struck br ;nsS
- wNso" aoere l0aSer-kae shots or sncb nc IrouIg
r;JJo5 or 70 70 SINK In lesway She was perfactIV
Who'll - L hef nag was Shot into tatters and the
co;; go VI 1er sides badly bruised or pierred De-
Gaeavlng the severe injury Ehe had recc;nad fer
x1uinra slgnalled her to retire onT or ot;a tne
was safely accomplished ' u ''0tiOh' wnIch
e. the monitors Nahant and ,Cstski,1 had r,o.J
Sumter pR port Of the -Keok1k, aad engaged FoLt
distances ne Ironsdes sn other yes sells. at Iongsr
Sumter and i,Ilding their alterations between
TV;thSS are was thus poured ara - 1le IorIef
when 0tg5ngsgement lasted from ono ,,,,.;,r.
ing the rebe1 retired slowly receiving a., retOrn'
The woe sosl nre until out of ranoe %EA re'urn-
SsnAWkan wac sas;raoS