The New York herald., 1863-04-22
TEE WAR In EASTEIN VIRGINIA
The Recent Fighting on the
Nansemond River.
Capture Of One Of the Ensmy's Batteries and
Two Hundred Prisoners.
DETAILS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
O0lcial Dispatches from General Dix
and Admiral Lee,

&uu humlrdl LoOs
TO-. &o, H.
Despatch from General DIX.
WASHINGTON, April 2l, 1863
Tho following has been received at tho headquarters Of
FORTRESS MosRos, Va, April 10, 1868.
MAJOR General HAILEcx, General in. .Chier:-
deem due TO the at Suffolk notice briefly
their gallant conduct during the last six days. On Tues.
day General Pecks right attacked and tho enemys
advance was galanty met BY General Fosters Light
troops. and the former were driven back 70
their line Of pickos. Anderson's division was on.
gagged At the same time tho water front
with gunboats and batteries, and suffered ma.
teraly.
On Wednesday rebel battery Of twonty FOUNDER rnsd
guns was siencod eectualy and attack the Smith
Briggs, armed quartermasters boat was repulsed.
Repeated attempts have been made upon our lines but
have oil failed. The stormng OF the enemys battery
the west branch Of the by General Getty
and the gnboats under Lieutenant Lamson Of the navy
and the capture Of six guns and two hundred prisoners
close tho operations Of six days against tho enemys
large force very satisfactorily.
JOHN A. DIX, Major General.
Despatch from Admiral Lee.
wAsHrsGroN, April II, 1858.
Ine secretary or the Navy has received the follow
ing
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP NINNEsorA)
Oyy NEwPoRrs News, Va, April 20, 1888. !
SiR-Yesterday the joint expedition, conducted by
General Getty and Flag Lieutenant Lamson, easily cap
tured the troublesome battery at West Branch containing
four field pieces and about one hundred men. am In.
formed that great credit s due 10 Lieutenant Lamson for
the prominent part he took In planning conducting
this handsome affair. General Getty acted very hand.
beld tho Init
night, aided by the cross-nre OF our vessels.
Yesterday the enemy unmasked new and heavy bat
terry situated the head Of West Branch near Minors
town. Red Perry and commanding the lower Nanssmond
In the direction OF Portsmouth. From this battery and
from the shapshootes on the lets bank the Barney was
sharply fred yesterday, without, however, receiving
much damage =.
Ihave the honor 10 DO, sir,
Very respectfully yours,
Acting Rear Admiral, commanding North Atlantic Block
aiding Squadron
Two hours and half later Admiral Lee tesgraphsd
that the number Of Aed pieces taken In the captured
battery referred Ave. and tho exact number
prisoners hundred and sixty -ons that Lieut.
Cushing reports that the battery msntioned in hi
previous despatch had been that the enemy was
in retreat, and that the army might cut OF rebel br
gads.
Our SUFFOLK Correspon dence.
SUyToLE, Va, April 20, 1868
General Cety's Operaions-TAe Enemy Opsn F;pe on he
Gunooats-Ryly Of TIE Latey-7Ae Rebel Works Breach
ed-Landine Of ne Milaary-TAe Work Thken in Ms
Reor-Cdp<nre Of the Gsns-Ltx Of Officers CaptuYed-
Our Loss-Statcm<M Of the Rebels-Ndriaos in Camp
Further Lta ofsAs wouwdsd-Sutlers, dc.
At yesterday afternoOo portion Of the force
under command Of General Getty, accomplished quite
feat Of daring.
Major General Peck for two days pas had been watch.
Ing good opportunity 70 launch out upon the suemys
lines with view 10 the striking Of quick sharp md
decisive blow.
On Sunday morning the enemy opened our eunboass
from OF his earshworks about eight mes down the
Nanscmond river. The gunboats Immediately replied,
and In less than two hours the ceased
forces land and water, having completely sencsd that
Of their adversaries The firing from the gunboas was
that the parapcs Of tho ensmys works were
deeply plowcd with shot, and cut away in thirty
| forty places.
Just about dusk Sunday evening gunboass again
opened with much vigor Of firing upon the snemys line
OF batteries. He replied In good earnest. Thus matters
remained in this direction for nearly hour While this
going on couple OF gunboats that had an
anchorage just around the turn Of the point or land on
which the euemys batteries were located together
bridge across The water Of The Sanscmond rv"r In hs
way detachments OF infantry, Numbering nil about
four hundred men Gone de!schment being from the Eighth
New York Voantcers passed over 70 tho opposite bank
No had they landed and formed than they rapidly
pressed In direction TO the Of tho encmys 'front.'
As as tho rebels wore come upon In any force
| our men fred volley and charged at the point
In surrendered after very brief but spirited resist
ancc. The Eighty nihth charged battery Of six pieces
was known a. tho farquer County Battery. 8
Tho bri da M
Major General Floods division.
Tho captured officers names follows
Captain Robert NJ STRIPPING, commanding battery.
Leutensuts VIM. c. Marshal, NJ N. Rogers and 7. n.
Archer. also Of the battery.
bama.
Lsussnsnts D. Eawards, Geo. Reese. A. A. Thornton
We had thrce killed asd twelve wounded In tho charge.
The captured officers say they arc perfectly mysiined
Of suffolk the general Impression among the army was that
the federal works there would be Immediately assaulted
lhsy say 'ns' !, s s airing S q % our sharp.hoo'ers was
| their guns; that the railroad 10 not In operation
from the Bckva.er down ,h.ir prssen. location, and
thas two divisions lett the Army o the Kappa
snd marched ali the way locality 70 this one
interesting marriage ceremony place on Sunday
evening between Mr.. VIM. Reed, OF the Ninth regiment
New York (avkins zouavcs), and Miss Sarah Holland
OF suG0'k. The csremony was performed by the Rev.
D. Henry Miller, chaplain Of the Fifteenth regiment c. "
Toe bride spoken OF as youthful and beautiful New
York Is a. be the iuturc homo Of the happy pair be-
ieyc this Is q relative OF Alderman Reed Of New York
All the prisoners now in our posscssn will b, sen, 40
| Fortress Monroe today Tho following are additional
names OF those wounded
- Clancy, Company y. Ninety niath New York Vol.
| untcors, gunshot wound In the leg.
JACOB Menu Comprpy u, gunshot wound In tho mouth;
dangerously.
We received Richmond paper yesterday. which states
| In an editorial, that General Longstrcet has OF
the nnest armies In the coDfederacy; that Suffolk
Il made for the Yankees that fears
be entertained this point and that the hearts and
horcs OF the Southern people, now tht General Long
has been elevated 10 lieutenant gencralhlp
With him Ia all his movements against "ths encmy.n
The paper s,aes that the Confcderatcs had pos.
Session of Washington, North Carolina.
some q the traders around town not yet their
scare 1hrce so'd out today 70 Mr. j. J. Beascu suter