Newbern progress., 1863-01-21

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1868.
The following was received at headquarters
day:
Fortress Monroe, Jan. 9, 1868.
To Major General Halleck General in Chief:
GENERAL-A party of cavalry and infantry
was sent out from Yorktown by Major Gen.
Kcyes, and landed at West Point night before
last They returned this morning with a large
number of animals and eight loaded wagons.
They destroyed the depot and the rolling stock
at the White House. burned a steamer and
several sloops, boats and barges laden with
grain, and sustained no loss whatever.
JOHN A. DIX,
Major General Commanding.
UNITED STATES STEAMER MAnAsKA,
Yorktown, Va, Jan. 8, 1868.
Reconnaissance IN Force to the White House,
on the Pamuakey Riuer- Capture Of Horses
and Wagons, Ordnance and C,mmissary
Stores-Burning Of the Rebel Steamer Lot
tie Maynard, Itco SchoOners Loaded acith
Grain, the Railroad Depot, DC, dc.
Commander Parker. in command of the
nayal forces on the York river, with the United
General Putnam and the transports Thomas A
Morgan, Winnissimmet and May Queen, two
squadrons of the 9th New York cavalry and
one company of infantry on board, left this
place on the evening of the 7th inst, on a re-
connoissance up the Pamunkey river.
At A. NJ. on the following morning the
cavalry and infantry disembarked at West
PoInt-situated at the mouth of the Pamunkey
with orders to penetrate to the White House,
while the gunboats proceeded on their way up
the river meeting with but little or no oppo-
stion. At 9 o'clock A. NJ We arrived at the
W hl;e House, finding the cavalry already
there, and actively engaged in destroying much
valuable property belonging 10 the rebels, con
slstns of the steamer Lottie Maynard, which
was found lying at the wharf, in complete run
ming order; but necessity c,mpelled us to set
bar this side of the White House. Two schoon
ers loaded with grain for the rebels were also
burned at their anchors.
We captured twenty five wagons, thirty five
horses, forty mules, besides two thousand
bushels of grain, stowed in large building
1ulit tor the purpose; also forty barrels of
Whisky and large quantity of suffers stores. |
The horses and wagons, with the mules, and |
IS much grain as could conveniently be |
,rought, were sent with strong guard to
est Point, arriving safely at o'clock P NJ |!
# the same day.
On orr return down the Pamunkoy the gun
oats Mahaska and Commodore Morris fred |
ccaslonal shots into the woods to dsperse any
entureseme rebel sharpShooters who might |
e proving around. Boats crews were sent
shore to tear up the railroad track which runs
long the banks of the Pamunkey, and to cut
ne telegraph wire, which apparently had been
ut recently repaired, which duty was per.
'rmed most effectively.
The result of this reconnaissance has ex-
eeded our most saRguine expectations, and
Ill, doubtless, be productive of good results
oubtless the rebels were taken completely by
lrprise at the sight of the gunboats, which
'e the first that have penetrated so high up
MS river since the evacuation by Mcclellan
II the vessels returned safely to their anchor
,e, with no casualties worth mentioning.
Commander Parker, who personally planned
I'd commanded this reconnaissance, is worthy
much praise for the usual prompt and ener-
tic manner in which he conducted the whole
Fair. Major Hall is also worthy of praise for f
S active cooperation and prompt performance c
the part allotted him in this expedition. q