The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-14

slBlldA St4tlOus OUT Oeus DuLlcl HdQ de-
vised plan for evading the misfortune
of their curiosity. Soon, however, all
doubt as to the direction was set at rest
AT o'clock the first steamer Metamora,
with Gen. Smith and staff on board,
turned her prov down the river. Half
an hour later the Arago appeared, with
Gen. Gilmore, and dropped anchor near
the Gloucester side, from which she re-
ceived troops of the 10th Corps
The embarkation passed of with no
thing to mar its success, and was devoid
of any interest more special than al
ways attaches to such scenes. The men
were in excellent appearance and spir-
its, smiling and jesting with one ano-
Their, and exchanging greetings as diff
ferent regiments came near together.
and they were pleased with the pros
pect Of leaving dismal yorktown, and
soon after getting on board the word
was freely passed among them that the
expedition was destined to the James
River.
AT seven your correspondent en-
barked on the Philadelphia steamer
John A. Warner, having on board Brig
Gen Gilman Marston of New Hamp-
shire, and the Slst and Goth New-York
Regiments, which formed a portion of
his brigade The sun sank red on the
river behind US, and at easy speed the
boat proceeded southwark, the night
being starry and still, and only few
lights being visible moving in the rear.
Midnight came, and the Warner an
ehored in Hampton Roads, followed by
the rest Of the feet, as they came in,
and so passed the night
At on the morning of Thursday,
anchors were weighed, and the feet
moved on to Newport News, passing the
iron-clad Roanoke and the bowsprit Of
the Cumberland, and again halted.
The feet numbered about sixty vessels,
large and small, including all sizes down
to the poorest ferry-boat, and as they
stood at anchor scattered over an ir-
regular circle, clustered over with men
like bees swarmed upon the branch of
tree, the scene, though quiet in itself,
was exciting in the extreme At the
pier lay a chain Of pontoon boats, COW
cred with men and in tow of tug; in
| another place were barges loaded with
artillery, which had been taken over
land from Yorktown on Tuesday;
! black Philadelphia side-wheeler, the
Suwanee, dragged heavily along with
one wheel deep in the water, weighed
down with men from the 10th Corps,
and yet towing barge filed with artil-
lery.
All were collected at Newport News
and ready. At quarter TO eight the
feet steamer Greyhound, with Gen. But
Ter on board, passed ahead, signaling as
she went, and anchors were weighed ac-
cordingly, the boats heads turned about
and we were fairly under way, entering
the James River bound for City Point.
The sun was bright and the air hay
The vessels fell into a long line, accord
ing to their burden and speed At
half past nine about thirty transports
were in sight ahead from the deck of
the Warner and about the same mum
Der behind, reaching back into the
haze.
At l01 o'clock the Warner (Which
was nearly in the center of the line)
was passing Hog Point, on the extPemi-
ty of Hog Island, about % miles up the
river, Williamsburg lying directly north.
Here we passed one of the new double
ender gunboats and the monitor
Saugus. Rounding these points, in the
fierce bright sun, the fleet extended
back on the muddy river in a curve
like bent bow; and seeing this long
line, the conviction was inevitable that
although the trial soon to come might
fail, yet success was deserved
Earthworks, all in ruins, except a
small fort, were seen on James Island
on the north bank, which was passed by
the fleet between l. and l o'clock, but
the men and guns which should have
been there were wanting. The banks
of the river were deserted, and no sign
of inhabitants was visible Here and
there particularly on the north side, we
passed burned or broken piers; earth
works which had returned to the dust
as they were sometimes a house and
on james Island clusters Of burned
chimneys. Above jamestown, as the
river narrowed, the sandy banks were
green with woods, and the fires and
houses became more frequent; yet still
the country was a desert, and as the
feet pursued its winding way
from one side to the other with the
channel, over line Of several miles in
length; no living thing was seen, except
the first squad of rebel watchers, who
made haste to communicate with Rich
mond For the quiet and easy motion,
we might have been on a voyage Of
pleasure
At 81 the feet passed Fort Powhattan,
on the south bank, in the second great
bend below City Point; here lay the
famous ex-rebel ram Atlanta.
At 4 .. m, Harrison s Landing having
been passed, while the feet was about
FIVE miles from City Point, the Grey
hound met US, driving down stream,
and, as it passed, each vessel received
from General Butler the characteristic
order, "Push on to City Point All
right" just then the rebels were seen
signaling from the rear Of the Harrison
House, on the north bank, but the ex-
petition being now a race against time,
the boats accordingly pushed on. The
mouth of the AppamatOX was reached,
and the narrow stream was speedily
AlAAtA Will EAb Nccrt41f Ail4OAiE ALEAAA NC
ing several monitors and a number Of
gIInboats. City Point proper was passed,
and the most of the boats finally stop
ped at the first bend above the Appa-
mattox, and the landing commenced
about g.
The expedition has thus far been q
perfect success, and unriYaled for speed
and secresy. 1t is reported that the
rebel signal corps at the point of land
ing did not leave until one, and the con
trabands state that-there was no sus-
picion Of any advance previous to that
hour. For once, it is possible TO hope
that the rebels have been duped and
outmaneuvered- 1t was reported last
night that the pOnto0n bridge had been
nearly laid across the Appomattox, and
the object OF the expedition, the de
struction Of the railroad south Of Rich
mond, viii doubtless be attended %
to-day, and until done j. W.
The Rebel Presidents Message.
lFr m tie Richmond Wing. May.
The message Of President Davis, a.
was TO be supposed, considering the
short time which has elapsed since the
adjournment Of the last Congress, is
not very long document, yet short as
il is il will be found, we think, % EN-