The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-10

AA011WNINO y a.,
TINE afMBta1 tRmuloa.
CAPTURE OF rHR .UND1RwR1T1R.n
(rKom ouR own coaRrssoxpnxrl
KrssroH, N. G., Feb. =.
Just where the Trent river Joins its waters
With the Nsuse, situated on point Of land
which borders either stream, Hes the little
town Of Newberu. = place Of some note In
North Carolina. Soon 1ter the iAll Of RoA-
noke Island, on the 1Ath day Of February,
1861. It fell into the hands Of the Yankees,
since which time It has besn In their posses
sion and hes been the seat Of some Of their
most important military operations. Imme
diate'y after occupation extensive fortinea-
tions were erected, and the lines extended
over some 20 miles Of surrounding country.
The regiments stationed here have been
composed principally Of men from Nassa-
shusetts and New York, tho blackest Of
Abolitionists, full Of schemes and plans for
negro emancipation, equalization and educa-
tion; negro regiments have been organised /;
companies Of disloyal Carolinians putin ser.
vice against us ; the most tyranical rule es-
tablished !; and both men and officers have
been guilty Of tho greatest outrages ana
atrocities. For many months they have
occupied the town securely, pstAinipg undls
turbed possession, scarcely dream1ng Of the
possibility of an attack. In the river some
two or three gunboats are generally lying,
either anchored of the town or cruising up
or down the Neuse or Trent, to the great
terror OF the Inhabitants living near their
banks. Tho largest of these gunboats was
the "Underwriter," the capture Of which
forms the subject of my brief sketch.
Undoubtedly large majority Of my read
ers will remember the account wrote of
Capt. Woods previous expedition on the Rap
pahannock, in which he boarded the "Satell-
ite" and ''Reliance, !" and It will be, therefore,
unnecessary for me to go over again the de-
tails of preparation and departure usual up
on such boating parties. Suffice 1t to cay,
then, on the morning of Sunday, 31st Janu.
ary, our boats were launched in the Neuse
River, and in an hours time we were pulling
down towards the. appointed rendezvous
some forty miles above Newbern. One by
one the boats came In, and at midday we
only awaited the arrival of our commander,
Capt Wood About two o'clock his boat
rounded the point, and he stepped ashols
into the brigandish looking bivouac We had
established. Without delay the arms and
ammunition were distributed, the boats
made ready, everything put ship-shape for
henight, and between two and three O'Clock
we hauled out into the stream.
The boats were arranged in two divisions,
the first under com mand of Capt. Wood,
the second under Lieut.. B. P. Loyal, and
the two forming parallel to each other, We
pulled rapidly down the stream. Thetrip was
one Of some little interest, but it would eK-
ceed my limits to give a detailed account of it.
The river is wide and deep, the banks low
and bordered with gnarled cypress trunks
whose branches hang over the waters edge
forming a wall on either side; woodlands
unbroken, forest upland giving place only
toswampy lowlands with dense undergrowth
aud ds5ris Of fallen logs, huge jumpers, and
dead trunks, which waved their Titan-liks
arms against the deep blue of hesky. Wind
ing and curving in many turn, the river
seemed succession of little lakes; wild
ducks rose at our approach, and dcw with
rapid wing into the forest coyerts, and from
the oozy banks sprung the startled muskrat
and otter into the depths below. Silently
the two black lines of boats filed down the
stream with muftled oars, lSsuing no sound
but the steady dip as they fell into the wave
Sometimes fallen logs obstructed the way,
and the monotony of the hour was varied
by boat aground, with those astern crash.
ing into them, piling one into the other be.
fore the line could be stopped. Night came
on, and the shores grew dim, dusky shad-
ows fell upon the water, and the red tints of
the west faded as the stars appeared from ze-
NTH to horizon. Just before dark the boats
were hauled alongside each other to receive
instructions, and this done, Capt. Wood of.
fered up fervent prayers for success, asking
God to Judge between Us aud our enemies,
and once more We were winding down the
Neuse. The night was very dark, and it was
with great difficulty the way could be traced,
the only bearings being taken from the faint
light of the sky seen through the tree-tops.
shove. About 8 o'clock we came into the
open country above Newbern, where the
river widened and the chores grew low and
The night was foggy and thick;
some rain fell.
To get fair understanding Of the plan.of attack,
may say briefly that II was intended Gen. Pick
cit should open upon the Yankee lines early in the
morning TO divert thelr attention and drive them
back into the town. He had with him two brlgades
-Clinsman's and Hokes's-while Gen. Bar
ton had bean scnt up the Trant to fall upon the
town simultaneously with those in front. Ia add
tion TO this, Col. Dsarng, With small force ofia
fautry, q battalion OF cavalry, and two pieess ef
artillery had been sent the Neuse to threat
en- Fort Anderson, and prevent rcinforeemcnts
from Washington. This was he position of affairs
Q, an early hour this morning
Itwas hard on TO four before we came opposite
the town, and 30 dark and fOgyy we could see but
short distance beyond our bows The day before
IL had been asserained the Yankee sunboats were
iG the Neuss, but upoa reaching the position for
merry occupied, they were no where 70 b seen.
For an hour we cruissd around from point 10 pOint
trying In vain to make their lights, and At last, day
light being close 1t hand, we were foread to give
up the search and return up the river. There were
no gunboats In the Ncuss.