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

gineers got up steam, the firemen took
their places, the pilot was at the wheel,
the quartermaster on the deck, and the
officers at their posts Everything was
made ready for sailing, the boats were
hauled alongside, the anchor raised, and
just as day was dawning the c. S. steamers
Satellite and Reliance got under way and
stood up the Rappahannock. About sun
rise the anchors were dropped off Urban
ma. BOHEMIAN.
On BOARD STEAMER SATELLITE,
Rappahannock River, Aug. so, 1863.
AS 1 remarked in my previous letter, the
work of clearing the decks Of the steamers
and of securing the prisoners occupied but
few moments. The men Immediately after
took their positions, and a stranger would
have supposed the crew were engaged in
the regular routine of daily duty. The boats
were made fast astern, everything was hauled
taught on board, ropes coiled up, and guns
prepared for a fight. Lieut.. Wood was on
board the Satellite, and, Mr.. Hoge being
wounded, Lieut.. Hudgins, the second officer
in command, was put in charge of the Re-
lance. He was ordered to follow close after
the Satellite, which was to be taken up the
river by Pilot Moore. The engineers, Messrs.
Bowman and Tennent, soon got up steam
and reported the vessels ready to move l
was on the Reliance at the time, having gone
there TO attend the wounds of Lieut.. HOge
and Capt. Walters, both seriously hit, and
lying side by side in the cabin. The former
was the first upon her decks, and fought
with great daring; but, alas. just liz the mo-
ment OF victory he was struck in the neck by
pistol ball, falling upon the desk close be-
side the Yankee Captain. Midshipman
Cook was also hit by two balls, but as the
wounds were slight he insisted upon doing
his duty us soon us the flow Of blood was
checked. A deserter from our army lay dy-
ing upon the deck, and three or four Yam
KEGS and negroes had wounds from cu;iass
or pistol On the other vessel the wounded
were more numerous, but they were attend
ed by the Surgeons steward on the steamer.
None OF our men were hurt on board of
her.
Just as the first gray streak Of day ap-
peared in the east the Satellite moved out,
followed closely by Lieut.. Hudgins. Pine
run up occupied some three hours, and a
little after sunrise we dropped the anchors
off Urbanna. The first thing was to get the
wounded and prisoners ashore. Milship-
man Goodwin had charge of this, and in a
short time all were landed and delivered into
the hands of the cavalry waiting to receive
them.
should here mention that on the day we
launched our boats in Mcachum's Greek, Col.
to the public, brought his reg iment down TO
cooperate with US. This was exactly what
we wished, and no better officer could have
been selected for the service, or one who
would have given greater satisfaction to us.
His regiment, the 5th cavalry, was raised
principally from the counties around, and
knew every path and by-way in them. Upon
his arrival We felt secure from any demon
stratiOn on land.
With the assistance of Mr. Goodwin, /
soon got the wounded on land, and had them
carried to "Roseguild," the residence Of Mrs.
Bailey. where comfortable beds and rooms
were provided for them. tthus had the
wounded of both vessels together and could
better attend to their wants. The Yankees
had no medical officer with them-only two
surgeons stewards, both Of whom seemed
ignorant of their duties, and not inclined to
assist even their own men. The ladies of
the surrounding country soon began to col
lect at the house, and they gave me material
assistance. Late in the evening boat was
sent Otf for me, and / went on board the
Satellite, leaving the wounded in chalke OF
DR.. Nicholson, Of MiddleseX county, gen
tleman well known in Virginia. To his pro-
fessional skill the sufferers are much in
debted.
Meantime the prisoners had been takes by
the cavalry and were on their way to Rich
mond.
Unfortunately for US neither of tAIse
steamers had beyond few hours coal. The
Currituck, the remaining steamer on this
station, had gone up the river to coal-ul in
tending upon her return to relieve thest for
the same purpose. 1t. Wood determined,
however, to make the most of the little on
board Expecting an encounter Will the
Currituck, Col ROsser had furnished tom
his regiment Capt. Clay's company of Sharp.
we meet her. Capt. Fendall Gregory, and
1t. Mum, of the same regiment, also accom-
panied us. Owing to the difficulty in getting
q sufficient amount of steam upon the Re
lance, we were delayed until dark before
starting, but about o'clock got under way
and ran down the river. But something was
out of order on the steamer; she could not
be pushed above two knots an hour, and lost
steam as fast as little could be gained; CON
seouently she was soon far behind. We
waited an hour for her to come up, and then
found her SO disabled as to be OF little use
before extensive repairs could be made. LIT.
Hudgins was therefore sent back with her
and we went on alone.
This was Sunday night. 1t was IL o'clock
before we reached the mouth OF the river
and ran out into the bay. The sea was quite
high. with a strong s0ntheasterly wind, and
every prospect of an approaching storm. -
Having so little coal, il was impossible to &c
far but 1t. Wood started boldly mp the bay
to ace what there was aaoat. The waves
were every moment getting higher, and tht
Satellite creaked and groaned IN every seam
and ran her head heavily against the sea, q
II trying to commit suicide at the cha$rin o
capture. Although much indisPosed, piioe
Moore managed her admirably, and kept hel
we'll against the storm. After cruising awniit
up the bay our course was turned towards
the Eastern Shore Some few sails AEef'
seen looming up through the dark, bnt thel
were small and hardly worth the time wnei
| larger game WAS expected. - o'clock W
sea was very high, md about MI the Satellite
could staAd. H.wonld have ayailel No llffl
| then To have made out sAil, for the sea VA
too rongh Cor boarding and our small hoaf
would probably have swampcds IN sncl
wesfhef At.2 o'clock We turned back, an
. & little before. day made Gtingay Poinf---
| Fearing tn Curyii1ek might bare returne'
dusing the uight and dropped Into the an
chorsSs, Il Wood sent pp = AienA llgst