The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-09-02

snelling the woods, and the fire was ken,
up until the boats were in, when she. too
hastily retreated down the river From
the Philadelphia Inquirer, of the
goth, received since, we learned thai
the Yankee Captain, Hotchkiss, was
Killed, and several of the men wound
ed by guerillas." We have ascer.
tanned also that the Yankees were
ignorant Of our presence, and came IN
the river to destroy the house of Mr..
Jones, now prisoner in the Old Capitol
prison. On the way up, early in the
morning, they had desolated the home
OF Mr.. Hutchins, carrying off everything
possible, and shooting bis stock in the
field.
That evening we pulled up to our
original starting point, and by dark had
the boats again out Of the water. When
the wagons came they were put upon
them, and we started across the country
for new scene Of operations.
Worn out by hard marching and Sc
we're labor, it was necessary to give the
men day Of rest, and it was not until
the 10Th that We reached the Rappahan-
mock. The boats were again launched in
Meachum's Creek, just inside Of Gray's
Point, and about ten miles from the
Chesapeake. Just ut the mouth Of the
river is small bay or cove, called But
ler's Hole, in which the blockaders usu-
ally run at night for safe anchorage.
Fhe river is some three or four miles
wide. Upon the opposite side is Stingray
Point, from which the land runs down
into Mobjack bay and the mouth of the
Piankatank. There are two sets of block
aders here. Of the mouth of the latter
mentioned river the steamers belong to
the ''North Atlantic Squadron" while at
the Rappahannock they are from the ''Po-
tomac Flotilla." They communicate with
each other, however, and are near enough
to signal at night with blue and red
lights. At this time three steamers were
off the Rappahannock-the Currituck,
the Reliance, and the Satellite. One or
all of these we were determined to have.
1t was about o'clock in the evening
of the 10th when the boats were again
manned, and started down the creek
The sun was just setting as we entered
the Rappahannock, and at dark we were
running under the dim shadow of the
wooded shore. 1t was beautiful night.
The land loomed up in the dark, the river
ran calm and placid to the bay, the stars
shone in the sky, and in the East bright
er than all hung the crescent moon
Added to the picture was line of black
boats, filled with armed men, creeping
snake-like over the water, prepared to
spring upon the foe whenever he came in
sight. Late in the night It. Wood called
the boats alongside his own and gave in
structions for the attack; then, after a
fervent prayer, we pushed out into the
bay. From pickets on the point we
learned the steamers lay some three miles
out towards Buffers Hole, but after a
careful search they were not to be found,
and we were forced to return without ac-
complishing anything.
1t was daybreak when we entered
Neachum's Greek, and in half an hom
after the boats were moOred in their
former hiding place. The next night we
tried it, but with no better success. Fri
day, the next day, we remained inactive,
but Saturday night resolved to try again.
1t was late in the night when we
hauled out into the stream, and once
more ran down towards the bay. twas
just such an evening as before, but there
were signs of an approaching storm. AS
we rounded Gray 8 Point the air was still
and sultry. The crescent moon, blood
red and clouded, stood upon the tops of
the trees, the stars shone dimly, the dark
pines threw solemn shadow upon the
water, and from the shore came the thsu-
sand night sounds Of bird and insect
Presently the sky became obscured, and
a northerly storm rose rapidly. Behind
us a black cloud lowered into the sky,
from which came frequent flashes of
and short gusts of wind began
to agitate the waters. Before reaching
the bay the storm had come, and we
were tossing upon the waves like chill
dren's boats, while the wind whistled
with fury around our ears.
Upon reaching Buffers Hole flash
of lightning showed the blockaders a
short distance ahead, their black hulls
rising from the water, some two or three
hundred yards apart. The boats were
now ranged alongside each other and the
plan of attack made known. There be-
ing two of them, it became necessary to
divide our forces, and consequently Lit
Wood, in the second cutter, and Lieut..
Hudgins, in the first, were to attack one,
while Lieut.. Hoge and Midshipman
Gardner, in the third and fourth cutters,
were to take the other. Each man had
white badge around his arm to distin-
guish him from the enemy. Everything
being in readiness, the four boats pulled
towards the steamers in line of battle. /
was in Mr.. Woods party, in the boat
with Lieutenant Hudgins. We pulled
slowly and silently on. When with
in about fifty yards the sentinel on
deck sang out his "boat ahoy."-
Mr.. Wood answered in some unin-
telligible words, and then we gave way
strong towards them. We had the star
board bow, Mr.. Wood the port. Itwas
moment Of anxiety-almost of misgiv-
ing. If the Yankees were aware OF our
approach, destruction was certain. There
was no retreat now-death lay in the 81
lent guns ahead and ia the mad waters
around. The waves had increased, and
the sea was fast lashing itself into fury.
Long black lines started from the horizon,
ran towards US like some huge leviathan,
for moment zaised us in the air, then
xho l.,rl~xx Tbo