New-York daily tribune., 1863-08-31
PROM THE PIANKATANK RIVER.
Rebel Attempt 10 Surpris~ n C,nbont-The
Enemy Defeated with Great Sinughfer-
Tale OF two D..crters-A Pirnticai E,pc-
dition Frustrated.
From on Own ccre,ponien,-


WAsnSGroS. Saturday. August ~. lso1
On Sunday last two men belonging Ia the
Coasdefar ,a,y arrived in this city sen, up from the
camp ai Point Lookout, and were ncarcofatcd In tie
Oid Capitol Prison. Their story may be told thus
On the Night u Wednesday Augus, 18th, Lieutenant
wood. Of the Confederate Navy. lct Richmond with
seventy men, also belonging to the Navy with four
boat. loaded upon wagons and about a dozen wagons
containing stores ammunition. etc. The expedition
proceeded across the CAokahouiuy River. and taking
about the route OF tie Army oG the Peninsula, crossed
hc Pamunkcy and Mattapan Rivers, and on Saturday
reached the Pnnkatank River Hero the object II the
erped.t0n became known On this river there l. Sta
toned United States gunhoat. Tie intention Of Lieu
tenant Wood 10 surprise the gunboat, and Nil
capture the crew and then put 10 sea pirate. In
care the boat was well provided with stores and ammu
nitiou bis wagons could return 10 Eichmond II any
thus Was needed be lad all that was requisite with him.
system ~ signals fret arranged with the officer
who 90 be cfi In charge Of the wagons 10 whether
he should come upOr go back To Richmond. Then every
preparation mad, for the success of the expedition.
The men armed with rides. pistols AMI cutlasscs.
On Sunday the force divided si,ty.Dur men to go
with Lieutenant Wood aud the balance to remain with
the wagons Sunday night the party Sc, ont IN the
boats aud soon reached the ncghborhood Of the gun
boa. Instead Of surprising the crew. however the
Rebels were themselves surprised; when within 800
yards Of the vessel the gunboai suddenly Illuminated
aud such deadly discharge poured into their boats that
only Lieutenant Wood aud four men escaped. up 20
this point the story very plausible but the two men
we're Of the party cft with the wagons though not far
distant it Is more than probable that they have cyag
gcrntcd their loss. The of the tale sounds morc
truthful
As soop as the disaster occurred the party with the
wagons became pnnic.strcken and these two men Of
ected their escape. They then made their way TO the
E"ppahannock, having to travel very cautiously 10
avoid the Rebel cavalry, who oI the neck between
the rivers hunting up descrterl and driving In con.
crVts They found they could rely upon the negroes
who knew thc Union men, and the latter supplied them
with PROVISIONS sc Reaching the Enppnhannock they
paid man go In Confederate moEcy to carry them
over From thence they made mi way 10 tho Poto-
mae and surrendered themselves 10 Of The gun.
boats Of the Potomac hotiln o saturday last. they
were 'akon from this runboat just below Matthias
Point, and carried TO Brig Gen. Marston who com
nands at Point Lookout and by him sent to this city
Their two stories. told separately. coincdcd. Com.
AcGraw, who commands the feet of gunboats. says
gunboat Is stationed upon tha Pankatark River and
That for some time past the have been exercising
unusual vigilance lest they might be- surprised To this
vigilance is perhaps due their safety, the expedition
was wcll planned thoroughly armed with all necessary
stores In their wagons and evidently prepared for any
thing but-bcing themselves Surprised.
I" ] know not how tra- the tale may be;p
Jell ths tale a. twas .od to me-"