The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-01
TIE SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
Our Operations In the StOnO River.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.


The late operations Of In the Stone river,
though decisive in their Character and perhaps nos
yet ended nov ,rtheless worthy record. They
commenced the morning OF Saturday, July 2, when
admiral ahgren entered the river with the flag steamer
Philade, ha, followed, by the soop Pawnee, the
steamer Harvest Noon the stein eunboat Wnona, the
bontauk and the ronclad Lehgh. The steamer
McDcnourh and the mortar schooner Racer, previously
stationed blockaders the mouth Of the Sono, also
joined the expedition, the design Of which 10 cover
the advance Of land forces up James Island on the
left bank and up Johns and the right bank OF this
stream.
No difficulty was experienced In ascending tho river
until after passing about me- above Legaresvile,
when on both sides OF the river were found extensive
earthworks Of most formidable character. Fort Penn
berton, Fort Prngc, Battery Tynes and the extensive
OF which they only the salient points. pro.
baby difficult TO carry by storm Wagner itself
The active lighting done entirely by the iron clads
ehh and Montauk, the sloop Pawnee, the
Mel enough and the schooner Racer the rebel
papers have set up howl Of rejoicing supposed
serious injury OF the Monitors may here far
anticipate 10 say that injury whatever received
by any OF the vessels engaged this that by the
posicD OF a shell the deck the Montauk men,
who had neglected to cover when ordered TO do each
lost eg. This the only accident that happened to
the navy during these operations The accidental drown.
ing ~ twenty coIored soldiers while being owed In
incidents Of the engagements with the enemy.
These engagements continued for eight days success
slvely-ir,m sunday, July TO sunday; July 10: On
naval, their ioracations and also from their rifle
pits in front OF them, and each day their re was re-
turned with interest On almost every day their guns
were siIenced on almost every day they attempted to
exesd their rifle pits. but were driven back by the we'll
directed fire Of the ho wizers the decks OF the IRON
clads which effectively while the
vomiied desructvey from their eleven inch and aeen
On Friday Jolly g. the land forces round IL impossible
TO advance further these Islands without stormna the
rebel batteries and 70 storm these was deemed mprac-
ing he plans OF General Foster on the following day,
the rebeis having received extensive renforcements,
charged twice in force on our troops but were promptly
The conclusion was nov arrived at by General Foster
nighs and sunday The whole expedition may be charac-
rized repetition Of memorable in history and in
song. .s-y g-l T.. ~. l....e .~..-r..
The king Of France with forty thous and men,
Marched up the hill. and then marched down again.
There is certainly 10 inquire whether these fire.
mating In nothing OF moment. worth repeating
Some incidental advantages, hnwever-some diversion
approaches 70 Charleston-may have been gained and
am assured ths end is not yet.
only the Admiral and the officers under him. but Gene
raj Foster aso Ard his principal officers have expressed
great at the assistance rendered by the navy
Our shot shell have been well directed. From the
turrcs Of the Lehigh and Mcntauk could see them
strike. sending the managed bodies OF men. stacks OF
fire pound shot the ried howitzers
pestedy drove the rebels 10 considerable numbers from
their rifle pits. The fire from the rebel works has not
well directed, and, lar naval force has
been Concerned. has been without effect. having often
observed the well directed fire from the deences Of
Charleston able that the rebels artll
lery men have not been here
Admiral Dahlgren needless Of personal danger kept In
the advance frequently board the leading Monitor.
This, however, his custsm He never asks man to go
where Dc dop 60 nmss ,ns admiral ss and 'as
nvdious Captain Bach Of the Pawnee Lieutenant tom
mander johnson and Lieutenant Forrest OF the Iebign
Lieutenant Commander kilebrown and Lieutenant VIM.
whitehe id, both temporarily attached TO the Montauk
Lieutenant Commander Phythan OF the McDonough and
Acting Master Finney, OF the Racer.
General Hunter and the Press Corres-
pondents.
General Hunter has addressed the following letter
the Governor OF west Virginia
HgApop ARuRs DEPARTMENT wssr VIRGINIA, :
CUMBERLAND, Md, July I3, 1864. +
To His Excelency A. |. BoRkxAS, Governor OF West
sir-I have the honor 70 acknowledge the receipt Of
your communication dated July TO- 1894 relative the
case Of James Wharton ESQ., editor aud proprietor OF
the Prkersburg Gde and have first to state, In reply,
that abou, hours previous TO the receipt OF your
orders had been given to the Proves, Marshal for
Mr. whaons release, and he bad been released before
| your letter reached my hand.
And now a few words the which led TO Mr.
wbartons arrest and the temporary suppression Of hs
| Journal.
AS 70 the "critcsm your (mgl conduct" in which
Mr. WHEATON INDUCED, aud TO which you refer, agree
With yoa that there was, course offence whatever.
10 merely matter OF taste on his part, nor
noticed BY me until ,on called my attention thereto as
But Mr.. Wharton In the editorial which led 10 the
suppression Of his paper stated, first: that General
Hunter, with his command, have principally passed
through city (Parkcrsburg their way east" This
was contraband news, and was utterly untrue Much
| Parkersburg and was detained there for some time
the appearance Of the artse hurryng forward the
10 the second place. Mr. wharton went on TO say In the
same artcls:.We are sorry 70 80 20 much suffering
ns div soo Ssa asd Of 80 S
sueriDgs OF the soldiers IN their movement from Lynch
burg 70 Charleston were terrible and thsy half require
That there was ''soms sunsrine among the troops is
nsH forms an Inevitable para But on sarsfu inquiry,
personally and through many officers employed for the
us esss o. death BY hunger wss on me other hand
4 my medical director, Surgeon Thomas b Reed, an
od5csr q large military sxposiencs and excellent
limited prvasIous apdgrcas fa!aues q The march, the
health q the command was throughout far better thsn
esmpS ISs worst enemies 10 health srs ncs prVasons
and fatigue. The RIGHTEOUSNESS Of an le camp, The
The hospital returns mr. quicker and more seriously than
oil suffered In their march from near Lynchburg
near s:rsy Bd 20 ans % met us
Meadows Blu but which had bsen removed from there
without Authority uads, the Influence o. s.|,eds
| fold ther own force of STATE militia
Apart nom The fasty Of these allegations, therefore,
could any statements Be more calculated 70 give saA
and coport V The enemy than The announcement that
my whole command was "worn out and thai they "haH
\ rsquks rest and surgical oarsP
Il my pleasure believe that no troops IN the eer.
vice Of the Union enjoy to-day better average o. health
cvok and spirtD than the forces composing he late 81.
petition towards ~ pchburg While many Of hs cayalry
korsss broke doWn from fasgus and shortneee Of dry
forage, The appeared ouly 70 harden and become
more thorough soldtsra There ae 10 every army gu-
bsrs nAccntsnts and alarmists uct only . ths rsn,
but, regret 70 say, acugst the ofcsss, and scme
whasoa Aoard What he reported haA no dcobt - tne
tine ordering hin arrest but even that Wa no jusM
cation FOR the publication OF hls statements u time
when he knew that my command W. again being pushed
I forward win every energy 70 meet Me enemy.
Having sesn statsmsnts vory similar 70 thoee o. the
fsrkersburg Gazette certain OF the wheeling and other
papers, would suegcst n In ccnsonaAce with your udg
mem, thas copy OF This hotter sbotId be furnkbsd 70
whatever paper You are ~ The habit q using for making