The New York herald., 1864-04-22
Attempt Of the Rebels to Take
Fort Gray.
pallant Conduct Of Captain Brown, Of tho
yighty-fifth New York.
FouF Rebel Gunbeata and Ram
Moving Down the River
to Cooperate.
Activity Of General Vessels, thu
Union Commander,
H., Ae., -

O0&Ou VOAuUU00OCIs
~, Ae, ~
Mr. VIM. II. Stiner's Despatch.
FeKrREss MONROE, April 20, 1854.
AN ASSAULT PLYMOUTH, N. O.,
with serce vari0usy estimated at from Eve 10 ten
Thousand men, made by the rebels Sunday after
while General wessels' troops parade
11e alarm arst given by little boy who was out
sdc Of our ne and who came running n to the pckets
with tho startling information that the ''rebes
coming" Almost Immediately picket firing commenced;
but outposts driven in by overwhelming
beRs. squadron Of the Twelfth New York cavalry
wae cent 70 meet the rebel advance guard. After
short but serious engagement the enemys cavalry
Bepslsed with great loss. lieutenant Of the Twelfth
New YORK cavalry was killed and several severely
wounded.
PREPARATIONS poR DEspKRArE Defence
were made by the veteran General wesses commanding
Nhe district, large SCALE The troops assembled
without delay the forts all manned, and in this state
the advance Of the rebel horde awaited.
GENERAL wEssKlIA
General Vessels Litchneld Conn, on Feb.
yuaEy 20, 1902 Az the age OF nineteen he entered mill
aay school Middletown and in 1929 admitted into
West Point cadet He graduated June 80, 1888,
and breve,ed second lieutenant in the Second United
BATES infantry. During 1885 he engaged in the
Creek war IN Georgia. and promoted 70 second lieu.
ssnans June 49, 1885, During 1878 he participated
n the Seminole in Florida, and July T. 1885, be-
same nrst lieutenant. After that had ended the
regiment was stationed in different parts Of New York
etafs. after which II was ordered TO Mex
100, under General Scott, and participated IN the
campaign from Vera Cruz TO the capital On Feb.
ruaTy 49, 1S47. be was promoted to captain, and
gained brevet Of major for galantry &c. at Contreras
and Churubusco August I847 In the former contest
10 severely wounded, but idd not leave the ned
After the close Of the Mexican he went with his
regiment to California, and thence, in 1854 70 Kansas and
Nebraska 10 1858 he had charge OF Fort Randall the
latter Territory, and leoocf Fort Riley, Kansas. On
June Q, 1861, he was promoted 70 major Of the Sixth
United States infantry and during the winter lsel-2
the coonelcy Of the Eighth Kansas Volunteers
which Joined the Army Of the Potomac before YORKTOWN.
On the Goth Of April 1862 he promoted 70 oTgadsr
gsosra and commanded the Second brigade Of Casey's
division during the battles Of Seven Pines, May 81 and
Fair Oaks June 1862. He commanded the rear guard
Of the Potomac army during the days battles and
was nominated for brevet Of lieutenant colonel for "ds
stnguished services at Fair Oaks and during
the operations Of the army from the Chickahomny TO
shs James river.n He commanded brigade under
General Peck Suffolk, joined General Foster In
North Carolina during November, 1862. He participated
the engagements at Southwest creek, Kinston Mount
Olive and Godsboro Bridge and during the campaign Of
Deoember IL Is, 1861 He December 20, .S62,
placed temporarily n command OF tho Department OF
North Carolina during the absence OF General Foster
sad when the army reorgapzed during April, 1868
ne placed in command OF District No. OF the de-
partent subsequently, denominated the District Of Al
bsxare, with headquarters at Plymouth He stll holds
sbs command
sroRMrNG CRAY,
situated some two miles from Plymouth, the Roanoke
river, was momenarly expected and General Wes.
sells expected this rebel TO be merely
allow inston rams TO come feet Captain
Flueser commanding the naval squadron the Roanoke,
called into council by the General and II decided
send several gunboats up the Accordingly the
Miami (faeshp). with Captain Fiusser on board; the
Ceres whitehead and Bombshe at got upderweigh,
and before reaching Fort Gray were fred on from the
shore Our guuboas returned shot for shot with inter
est and soon the neghborhood too hot to hold the
rebel artillery The rebels, however, made determined
attack on Gray and less than three several
assaults they rcpused the most gallant and deter
mined manner by Captain Brown, commanding the fcrt
CAPTAIN BROWN.
CAPTAIN John A. Brown has been in the Of the
country since 1861 when September he ed
che organization OF his company The regiment first
can't 70 Washington thence 10 Norfolk and Afterwards
North Carolina where 1t has been stationed during the
principal part OF Its time Captain Brown certainly
deserves a promotion which appears have been SO
long out Of his reach.
maEysr SLAUGHTER or REHEIs
was made hy our brave garrison Of Fort Gray The gun
boa materially assisted the siege guns OF the fort, and
roured their broadsdes the rebel column repeatedly,
making huge winrows their ranks. This engagement
was only equsied In its aud slaughter by the
eat battle at Malvern Hill, where the navy poured such
raking yolleys grape and shell the eDemys lines
After the third repuse the enemy retired, and up TO
swsive O'Clock Sunday night when my informant eii,
everything quiet
ANOTHER ATTACK
was expected by Brgadier General Vessels. and 70 DO
ansramBcisd by all possible contingencies that might
arsse he ordered all the nc combaants,
end chiea 70 leave the The guards doubled,
che guns shetted and oooe while gunboats lying
"a the sde similar preparations 10 shell the woods
osyond Hweuth on tho arst signal made Of hostile
approach Captain Fiusser remained above Port Gray
a reliable Intelligence brought him that the rebel
rams from Kinston had really come out aad we're e.
I ,aessd 70 mako an attack his Heqi-
n THE cAsuArIIA
a our aide were very Light The officer above mentioned
a lieutenant OF the Twelfth New yotk cavalry, and a
.va officer we're killed also some nve or ak privsies Of
a. cavalry and garrison a Fort Gray. few wornded
ware brought TO the General Hospital at Plymouth, and
psoperty cared for.
GENERAL oRpxas-Ho ST.
u~.oou.ruass, ARMy AND DISTRICT NoRrn CAROLINA,
NswfsaN, N. C., April 8, 1864 I
ma Commanding General has the satisfaction Of
.rrc,no Another expedition against the enemy, which
LII shs military and naval forces OF North Caroline
!, ~ mart shsrsng tho honors equally.
- - ~ ceth rf Colonel Jourdan, commander Of the
~ ss..ss W. a. Rsanort with two hundred men OF the
~ uurased ana nnty eighth New York Volunteer in
ssctrv emssshed on board the United States Gunboat
ssana s, nss. FOR ssS purpose c capturing two
= ~ sssssn Sssaxsd aaDshanS svsSs ana