The New York herald., 1864-08-18
AFFAIRS ON JAMES RIVER.
Our Naval C0rrespOndcnce.
BELOW AlKEN's LANDING, JAMES RIVER. Va,
August IA 1854 (


Below AKEN's LANDING, JAMES RIVER, Va,
August 13, 1854
Evon,s are rpenlng The mind upon whom
the nation conferred recently its highest military
honors Is working out in his way the grand prob
lem Of the conquest OF secession and treason and we
will but patiently wait and while wait assist aud
strengthen and with united aud determined hearts
condemn and crush all intermeddling, from whatever
source i may spring, then may look forward san
gune speedy success trusting and believing that the
first snow OF the coming winter shall be mantle
bemacal Of restored peace purifying the land or s
blood stains, and removing from sight all those signs
which have marked the course OF the war.
Beneath current Of every day routine which marks
the time here going and maturing and
favoraby progressing plans which, known among the
loyal people OF the nation, would the clouds Of
doubt and despondency which have been permitted SO
unreasonaoly gather and cause the cheeks OF the
leaders OF banch and their hearts TO fail them
for the cause whose dying .hroes even now are con-
vulsng their empire, and in whose dying struggles
witness subrity of treason and an extent Of crimo
such the world has never before seen.
OPERATIONS THE NAVY.
The operations OF the navy in mis- becoming
even Interesting than they have been thus far.
The rebels bold and defiant but it is only seeming;
for the from the gunboats scatter them
like chan in the wind whenever they appear the
river bank.
The guerilla bands of the confederacv have
shown and proved themselves to be and consist
Of the most contemplate and miserable spec-
mems OF humanity which ever disgraced the
forms of men. With light field pieces they
the river bank covered by the trees which thickly
fringe it, and open boats. unarmed tugs, any
thing which rey think will be unable retaliate They
have made the most strenuous exertons to close the
river yet has been (and hepceforth viii bel useless
though they had never wasted their ammunition
their long range rifles laugh the venom OF secession as
shown near the founaio head. And the daily
munication remains unbroken
POINTS INTEREST.
There e scarcely point now in this river from Dru
rys BtnGeven from Richmond which is not point Of
Interest In a hundred ways have become as familiar
with the river, its conguratiop, its bridges both
tcon and permanentfor they are building those OF the
latter kind above Drurys BufT-Fort Darling with its
obstructou its batteries all the 1eience in
cuding the iron cads aod rams and gunboats. Indeed
speak o il all denitey-we only wish TO assure the
North that We are familiar with all they are doing be-
here and Richmond; and no changes occur which
we dc not know OF almost immediately
At the further end OF Trents Reach, Few miles s,ove
here and where the distractions placed, ters Is
formidable battery OF from I'VE to eight gus they
see fit to change itand which is lamllarly cal. dow
lets, being the house OF virRinan b. ba asne
Beyond this battery tho iron c,ads hve zone,
being part OF the plan TO do so; though It beaa
the battery On the 2Ist Of June thars
test between this battery and the IRON L. wh,
the demolition OF good part os TIE bsttcry Tis'e has
been ring from this sUce, ari I las oee'l yered
agsn WIN osshss o. scss y % % 'e sIs h snse wele
remaining, but tncy wiz oe brought back pr sume,
upon the slghtest shcv 4 aoy movement.
ssT s.osrYkNTs
To day there he 70 peep some active above
here BY the npvai force, as well as land the par
ticulars OF which bore to have 10 few hours
Our own iron oads laying above here Trents
Reach with other naval vessels This morning. fine,
clear lovely morning, and. though warm tempered by
gente breeze-we were startled by hearing reports
from rebel guns, and coming In the direction OF or Just
seven miles distant or across the land about three and
half. The firing commenced about six O'Clock, and con-
tinued half an nour more when it was replied to by
which batteries have number able to menace the
rebel ron.cads in the reach above Foxs ferry, or to
change their line Of Ore and close up tHowcts." IN
all probability II occasioned by the fact that
within few days large Union force bad been
and they already strongly ntrenched and secesh
might we'll save their ammunition for they viii need
IL In short time. But they evidently had not dls'
covered the adroit movement until 1t late 10
make stubborn resistance, and so they are today
noon the firing from both aIdes was quite rapid
cads evidently are holding their fire for some game
hs ro has BEEN
nicated 10 the dry wood around From noon until two
o'clock this firing became slower, and during the after
was continued only nj long Intervals The rebels
are evidently getting tired especially from the fact that
the position Of the batteries on tbc south bank overioks
them and can do them much damage
The firing seems TO bs kept up all along the river as
well wo can hear the guns Deep Bottom and all along
to City Point II Is evidently concerted matter, either
20 cover up q movement Of the rebels or y try the
strength OF the Union vessels II will prove useless
expenditure Of ammunition 70 the rebels.
ADMIRAL LwRa SUCCESSOR.
Since Admiral Lee has gone away TO other points
his squadron, Captain Melancthon Smith, the COM
mander OF the iron clad Onondaga has assumed COM
mand OF oil the naval forces In James river captain
Smith, n 1 am not mistaken, had command OF the Ms-
sisspp during the attack Forts St. Philip and JACK
sou and the occupation Of New Orleans lie Is very
highly esteemed brave, Christian genteman fnd
certainly the OF the Mss sIpp In the above rnon.
toned actcn reminds OF the days Of Paul Jones' ~ DO
catur and Ferry TIE other commanders assccinted with
him Qse gentlemen Of high moral and intellectual worth,
aud ffom them We may hone and expect much 70 30
doue could possibly be accompAsd ID By any company
OF naval officers.
crAps
ehort way above Coxs ferry and in the reach below
Drurys Bluff, the rebel lying They consist OF
the Rchond, Virginia and Eredericksburg &. with their
tenders (ugs) and tho guuboats jamestown and York.
town. They have moved further doxn-on the day
Of the light with Howlesbut since that time have 70
msned above, where they probably vnl stay. Ins
rebels building batteries along tho rvcr above nere
Dut We believe the work will prove not Gloves LABOR
lost" but hates labor lost for tHe Union vessels are
going up there despite gusras deeys batteries despite
rams and aunbcats and obstractyus and torpedoos.
am % prophet nor the Of Trophe but The success
Of General Grant At vioksburg ,and she passing OF the
orss 10 the Mississippi BY Csptn snithwho thea oom.
mandcd the noble steam " gate Mississippi, ana VINO
outted the prncs Of reosl ironcads. the Arkansas,