The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-11
The James River AScended to Within
Sly, Miles Of Fort Darling.
FIRING Upon the Gunboats from
the River Banks.
Explosion Of the Torpedo Under tho Cunboa
Commodore Barney.
thirty Men Washed Overheard
All but Two Saved,
DE-, &C., 10.
MR.. Edwin e. Do Nyse's Despatch.
OK TIE JAMES RvER, August 8, 1868.

mr.. Edwin f. De Nyse's Despatch.
OK THE JAMES RrER, August 8, 1863.
REcoMoHaANcE
Fort Darling, the James river was made on Tues-
~, August 4, by tho gunboats Commodore Barney,
Captain Huse; sangamon (Monitor), Captain Nicholson
and the armed steamtug Cohasset, Captain Coz.
MAJOR 0KKRAL FOSTER,
With party consisting Of tho following named officers,
accompanied the expedition and present throughout
~ subsequent engagement. I'm board the John Faron
~ Generals special boat Brgadier General H. NJ
aaglee, commanding Seventh army corps; Brgadier
General Edward E. Potter, Chief Of StaY; Major c. 8.
Stewart Engineer OF Fort Wool Major Edward N Strong
AddeCamp; Captain Louis Fitzgerald, Aid. de Camp,
nd Lieutenant p ". Farquhar Chief Engineer Of De-
fartment
THE GuNpoArs
rot under way from Newports News at about twelve
o'clock noon, and proceeded lsisurey up the river
chptan 0ansevoort Of the Roanoke was on board the
carney acting nag officer Of the little feet The trip
quite pleasant, and there seemed no probability OF
my attempt being made 10 bar the progress our yes
sss But a. the boats were
PASSING AmKNs LANDING,
about sixteen miles above City Point, the Commodore
Barney, being in advance and having the Monitor tow
was fred into BY rfemen shore The volieys OF mus
retry ach accompanied the continuous rattle Of the
shaspshooters pieces very severe and lasted for
swenty minutes. The rebels, however met a vigorous
reply from our gunboass, whose bravo commanders,
nothing daunted, boldly kept on.
Up THE MvxR
No other incident Of exciting nature transpred until
NJ feet had reached point the river within six miles
u Fort Darling Here. "a usual, the Barney 70 the
hrunt Of the misfortune torpedo exploded under
hsr starboard bow The effect Of this exposon was ter
rio 10 appearance, but luckily did turn out % bad
ser all The vessel was lifted by the shock upwards Of
0 feet out OF water and immense Jet Of water was
hurled from her bow fifty feet in the air at least falling
ovsr and completely deugng her. and washing overheard
nirty men Nowithstanding the desperate condition Of
sairs boats were Immediately Manned and tho unfor
MAlw We're rescued by their faithful brethren from
watery grave. Two Of these men only, named Martin
grout seaman, and L. Gamble (colored) were drowned
Sss rest were all picked up With the exception Of two
slaroe who swan ashore.
Il was now discovered that
THE BARNEY WAS aADLY mJuHxp;
much that it found necessary point head
DT tho shore The Cohasset, however, took her
shortly il being found that her engines completely
asablod. further advance considered useless
Dasmuch ~ the men on shore there doubt.
% for tho purpose Of exploding the orpodoes beneath
vessels they attempted pass. SO she expedition
returned 10 Dutch Cap where anchors dropped
Me night.
ME oonnopoRn BARMY
as here repaired shghy and tho next morning taken
N tow The Monitor the feet moved down the river
saiu. mile below their anchorage the enemy opened
them with artillery aud musketry, the latter fire
ssing unremtting and terribly The Barney with
usual LUCK. among the first to fall under tho
bio severity Of tho engagement Notwithstanding her
asahled condition she calamity replied 70 every shot.
Ter armament conssted Of five nine inch gnns and
roc hundsed pound PARROT, rined.
A RUNNING Y1Gn
was now begun and kept up along bus fos dis
sance. Tho banks either hand found TO be
nigh that was simply impossible 70 elevate the guns
- TO reply the rebels with any degree OF precision
snsc,ivcncss.
SoRsorK LADiEs' GuyBoAI,
10 General Jessup, Lieutenant Colonel Charles whpple
ommanding which had started from Fortress Monroe
Wednesday, the 5th inst with dispatches for General
Foster met the feet at Turkey Island. She mme-
liasy hitched the starboard side Of the Monitor 10
accelerate her speed the Cohasset being already htched
the port side, the Barney being in tow behind the
Monitor.
he enemy opened 90 again In the most determined
manner with four pieces o. artillery ana any quantity ~
1o.e Barney hote met with thc nst mshap. usual.
soi shot struck her under tho guards aba the wheel
house and fifteen inches below the ne penetrating
hall and passing through tho coal bunker and boS,
thus finally disabling vessel occtualiy Tho havoc
saal ras worked on her by the enemys shot she'll and
bullets is almost Incredible. There Is scarcely
vr.lon Of the boat but has beon penetrated
SuIes or solid shot, shells passed through the officers
rHs shatterng every thing, and scattering furniture,
bses woodwork 10 the -four winds Tnc sharpshoo,cs
wee thick uIrn the banks. that IL would been
s-.o.ess slaughter 20 have manned tho guns. But IL
wonderful fact that notwithstanding bullets
tnnaly piercing the vessel on every sdc and erraic
ssclis iwih their peculiar and spluree, went
ho nag through the craft IN every direction search Of
prey our loss sums up a good round nanght.
lKrLtExy.
srmp,sed Of twelve pounders served with spirit.
The General Jessup received the irs shot n her steam
drum while the second that hred struck the port
side the Coassct passed through her engine room,
STRUCK the niiors dccS ard exploded and lodged tha
piccrs In the Ne of Jessap. Another shell passed
hrongh the yaw and uadcr tie counter of the latter
vesse gancing and tearing the timber thus Just fang
to penetrate 10 ths The iron saie1 aseFn wa
pierced, ana bullets imbeddod Ia almost every
timber.
rur noxuos, c.rrsrs Husr
throughout the night moved frownngy on IN contempt
silence, and did not often den 10 re.y 70 the
puny he was struck several times, bat a sght
dcuiation ~ her armor the only result
Captain HIse, u the Commodore Bsrney. anpiaycd
throughout tho lry nx emergencies 10 which be sub
was on The hurricane deck imost the Whole time ex.
psso4 u tho cnemyl torrbio ure, and by hrs gallant
ae eas dons hlm.slf =, e, ana The navy TIE hghest
ABOUT bis lead In AL drccons, and passed thr
hs speaklns trumpet
and eevora, cthers wern the when the expo
son OF the torpedo took place beneath bows or the
Commodore farney The mmsdite effect or sccld.u
vs the starting ap ~ her guards 'cr inches The flames
FROM the torpedo penetrated, bat ~hen vessel act
tl~d agan the water rushed perfect torrent and
tAs sassll that saved her from total destruction.
Or oA-rAN
While the cohasset bad the Barney IN Tow CAPTAIN Coz,
OF the former vessel. the pilot house directing
myvements under the ore n the enemy While thus
eHxed solid shot struck him fair 10 the bscxf course
killing him instantly
Paymaster Jsrnven OF tho Commodore Barney had bis
room knocked into pi By the rebel shells and he him
calf vas slLghtIy injured by sphters.
ovrrEpa sARvrr,
who, one and all distinguished hemseve By their cool
ness snd bravery under the trying crcumsiance- In
which they we're thrown as foll0vss-
Ltsnq voisnfsr Lieutenant Commando 1--Samuel
Hne
4dtno Erros and Sssrufsrs ONo~--B p. Ttass
Acting A,siadn Sntpeor-Jame~ Kinn.sr
i,ttrg Asriranf PayWaasr<-TbomAr Jerpegan
xcsing Enag~s-Adams Parker. q. ! 0bsawm ana wm
xs.,nc sdssy's Nste--Johu A~psnwau
xcfno TAiri .ssmaT E~g~ovs-Hirarn warner fAct
- sps pcers n the Barney ssoex 20 their r.,.