The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-04-03

greS6 of-0ne mile IN three ana nalf hours
Does the progress made express anything Of
the character of the route7 If it does not,
hardly know what will.
IN THE UPPER END OF THE PASS M
The stream is confined, and rushes along
with great rapidity through its narrow cham
mel, the rate being not less than Eve or six
miles per hour. Lower down there are strips
Of bottom land along the sides which are now
overfown, giving greater width, and conse-
quently less rapidity to the current. But in
no place were we able even to drift with the
current. That would inevitably have dashed
us into the timber and torn our boat to atoms,
From the time we entered the pass until we
emerged from it we could emily keep our
wheels backing, and even this was not enough.
A small boat was requisite on either side, by
which lines were constantly passed out and
made fast to the trees to check our Roadway
or ease us around the sharp bends. The ex-
petition has been facetiously called "the stern
wheel expedition" from the circumstance Of
there being none but stern wheel boats which
are narrower than side wheel steamers) en-
gagged in it; but it might with equal propriety
be called 'the back water expedition" or 1.-THE
hold back expedition" because Of our ad-
vancing only BY holding back.
DAMAGED OCCASIONALLY.
But with all our care and labor it has been
impossible to save our boats from much dam
age Frequently it was impossible to check
the Roadway of = vessel in time to save its
smokestacks, and away would 60 these tall
iron cylinders, crashing through the hurri-
cane deck, and making complete wreck Of
the cabin and light upper works. Again
huge limb would come crashing and smash
ing along the side, tearing away stanchons
and braces, and sometimes even the light
bnlkheads around the upper works. The flag
ship was thus visited, and Acting Command.
er Smiths's cabin turned into q complete
wreck. In TACT, all the vessels look as though
they had been in hard fought battle and
had been worsted, only that none Of them are
damaged in machinery or hull. It has been
most exciting trip; but believe or bear all
have survived save one poor old nigger--a
contraband- belonging to this vessel. He
was lying in his hammock, in the sick bay,
being on the sick list, when a huge limb, bro
ken of by the persistence of our smokesiacks,
came down endwise upon the deck, and pass
ing through, administered the death blow to
poor Cuffee It was more bitter emancipa-
ton proclamation to that poor darkey than
any Father Abraham has issued yet.
BUT TIE RUBIcoN IS PASSED.
We, are through this last of all places
through which steamer ought to attempt to
pass, and there is no return for us. We have
now only to ight orr way out by another
route. To this our minds are fully made up,
and we will doit. say we are through
Our boat is the fourth in the line. 1t is
through, and those behind it are struggling
along. We expect they will get through, be-
cause we have gone before them and demon
strated that the thing can be done. The road
behind as must certainly be easier than we
found it. We have made route ourselves
by chopping down trees. cutting away over
hanging branches, dislodging huge RATS Of
heavy driftwood and forcing our own boat
through. The others have only to avail them
selves Of our improvements, like an ayaricious
tax title claimant to lands. We shall all wait
here until the last boat has arrived. and then
push forward on what we hope to find o little
more practicable route.
ALL THROUGH.
CoLDwArER RIVER, March l, 1863.--The
boats have all arrived in the Coldwater, and
we are ready to push forward again in the
morning according to orders already issued.
Some Of the vessels look pretty hard. The
gunboat RoMro has both her chimneys CARR.
ed away. The tender BAYARD has a hole in
her hull. All of them have their upper works
badly torn to pieces and their wheels more OF
| less damaged; but none are so badly injured
as to affect their working qualities materially.
We shall start forward at daylight in the
morning with high hopes and earnest desires
to meet the enemy as soon MS he can convent
emily show himself. We hear Of him at the
mouth of the Coldwater, which is now report
ed to be only twelve miles from here. It il
said that he has q battery there; but we only
fear be will get away from there before we
arrive. he certainly has nothing at thai
point that can hold out against our force.
Arrest Of Brigham YOung under
the POiygamy Act.