The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-07
GENERAL BUTLER'S DEPARTMENT.
-~D~1>~o~~~o~~o~~O~>>~~>So'
The Details Of the Army Gum
boat Expedition.
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The Affair at Smithfeld and tho
Fight at Ben'S Church.
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Explosion Of the Boiler Of the Gun.
beat Smith Briggs.
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The REBEL LOSS VERY HEAVY.
-. H., -
THE REBEL LOSS VERY HEAVY,
Mr.. VIM. H. stiner's Despatch.


for me purpose capturing large rebel known TO
be congregated there, planned by Bgader General
Charles K. Graham commanding the feet OF army gun.
boats and submitted TO General Butler who approved OF
the scheme, and in consequence General Graham
shaed his forces and by Saturday evening everything
was ready for
THE START.
The force consisted OF the following named vessels
Fagbeat General Jesup commanded by Lieut. Russell pro
em. Smith Briggs, Captain Fred. A. Rowe, Ninety ninth
New York Volunteers. commanding; Flora Temple
Lieutenant Bladenheuser, Third Pennsylvania artillery
and the transport Long Branch. Captain W. Martin,
having on board twenty men Of the Twentieth New York
cavalry, mounted in charge Of Sergeant Hyatt General
Graham, accompanied by his aids, Leutenants willard
Billiard and R. Dale Burton, board OF the
General Jesup The above mentioned fleet and their
freight left Norfolk Saturday afternoon proceeded to
Newports News, anchored until dark, aud then started
for the various points hereafter mentioned.
THE FLORA TEMPLE FIRED on
This boat despatched by General Graham Chuc.
atuck bridge to make reconnaissance prior the in
tended landing of land force. Tn approaching the
bridge arge!rebe force, which evidently the qm
rix opened fire the Union gunboat without, however,
doing any damage The object for which the Flora Tenn
pie sent up being for the purpose OF bringing
engagement, her commander withdrew, and returned
General Graham with the report Of his observations
THE BRIGGS
in the meantime sailed for the Nansemond river on q
like mission the Flora Temple, but not molested
No rebel force observed on the banks OF that
stream, and II any force OF the enemy was
in the neghborhood II at least Invisible
As soon AZ the boats returned to Newports News
Gen. Graham gave orders to proceed for the conlem
plated OF action, and Capt. Rowe, being familiar
with all the streams emptying into the James river was
sent on the Smith Briggs TO
PAGAN sMIrHYIELD,
for the purpose OF capturing two companies OF rebel sol
ders and pieces Of artillery, said TO have been sta
toned in that neighborhood. The information coming
from supposed reliable source, Gen. Graham detailed
about ninety men-viz: twenty Of the Ninety ninth New
York. charge OF Sergeant James Linahan twenty Of
the Mcclellan cavalry under Sergeant Hyatt eleven
from the Twenty first Connecticut and the balance from
| the Third Pennsylvania artillery
| G. LEE,
commanding the Harbor Police this city was also with
Gen. Graham and placed 10 command OF the force
the Smith Briggs, and has certainly made Of the
brilliant fights Of the against great ODDS and
subsequently had swim his life DO hung by the
rebels who long ago offered q prize for his head.
cRAHAH's REPORT.
have been permitted make the following extracts
from Brigadier General Grahams report, in which he
Says
landed party OF ninety mon, consisting OF twenty
cavalry, one howzer squad and the remainder infantry
day afternoon, the slst utno with orders to march
TO Chucatuck, whore informed there a small
been met by smother detachment which left Holloway
Point This latter detachment msrchai far Chuc
com mandng ooer supposed to be the rst de, amen,
sndeavoriDg TO make landing at SmithGeld This last
detachment returned 10 Its place OF landing about
down.
At three clock yesterday AFTERNOON despatched the
sunooas Flora Temple 10 Chucatuck creek but un:ortu
nately she grounded, and remained Ashore until
up with the General Jesup and transport Long
Branch The Flora Temple had been despatched
TO ChucatuCk 20 occupy the attention OF the enemy
shore while the other parties advancing from the
points indicated left smithled at twenty minutes TO
four p NJ having remained there at the request OF the
officer commanding the first detachment, that bis de
tachmcnt might return to the vessels II il met with any
serious opposition before II bad reached distance be-
yond possibility OF communication. Up to the time
left no firing was heard all After the vessels with me
had succeeded 10 drawing on the Flora Temple
ed speedily possible for the the Chucstuck
but II vas quite dark and very hay. onselueniiy
p. H. was informed BY Lieutenant Csmmandsr !. II.
Giles OF the second detachment reporting as already
Immediately thersupon sent orders by the Smith
Briggs the Flora Temple and General Jesup to
the Chucauck at daylight upon and
port 70 me early practicable at the mouth or the
Nansemond. AZ daylight intend landing with detach
ment and feeling cautiously to Chucatuck village
TEE FIGHT At BEx's CHURCH.
Captain Lee, with the Smith Briggs sent through
Pagan creek smtbheld, and arriving there, landed
his force, and marched four and haf miles into the
interior. taking with him twelve FOUNDER boa, howtzer
and the Of the smith Briggs The party bad scarcely
arrived before rebel force numbering at least three
one, opened murderous FIRE on Captain Lees COM
mand. Tho little party Of Union soldiers made most
gallant fight and used their bowzer to great advantage
The rebels had two pieces artillery engaged but Of
them disabled by shot from Captain Lees howit
zsr and made useless for further operations.
RUNNING
was made by the enemy and, finding our troops de-
termned the officer In charge counseled hts men to take
care OF themselves and "skedadds" This fight lasted
from four P. N. until nearly eight, which mostly
skirmshing with the retreatiug foe.
The osJEcT MOVEMENT
was for the purpose OF uniting the forces the Flora
Temple with which Captain Lee had orders 10 form .
Junction Captain Lee was to have marched from Smith.
Geld 10 Chucatuck distance Of nine miles but met with
the obsructicns mentioned above After the retreat Of
the rebel force Captain Lee thought Il mprudent 10
venture further into the country and consequently
tired 70 smhdsld, and encamped there for the night
THE rcKETs
The best possible disposition Of the small force
made by Captain Lee against rebel SURPRISE and during
the night everything remained quiet Towards seven
O'Clock On Monday morning the Union pickets
we're driven in, and, with yell, an entire regiment
OF iufaptry-ths Thiriy.6rst North Carolina, Colonel
Gordou--a regiment Of cavalry. and full battery
Of artillery hove In sight and confronted the gallant little
band which had intrenched itself 10 Of the streets
OF smbneld and used the bowitzer with the most ter
rife eject In this engagement lost several killed
and wounded, but no prisoners.
The rebel column however. merely by sheer force OF
overw hemine numbers, pressed our few men TO tho
rivers edge captain Lees troops dspuiipg every inch
of the road most siubbornly Captain Fred Rowe,
who commanded The smith Briggs. arrived at Twelve
O'Clock and was idle, but Kept his guns constantly
occupied 10 sbelpe The town and the rebels position,
bariIne aentb and Jes,ructcn amcng them At every
sbct still Zoe Of numbers Of The rebel coomn
was too musb ros men aud they we're compelled TO
seek refuge on The soaboai.