The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-22

THE JAMES RIVER FL0TIlLA.
The Advance Of the Union Iron-CiAds-
Search for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
the River, sc.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.

the river, dc.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Brow FoRI DARLING, JAMES RIVER, May IL, 1854.
Preceded by come Ugh, draush, gunboa,s, engaged in
sounding the channel and searching for torpedos the
rou.clad feet, consisting Of the recumseh, ouoadaga
Saueus and Canonicus gradually closing upon the
rebels at Fort Darling. During the pact two days
have made considerable progress, destroying number or
most powerful ;orpedoes advance up the river,
and capturing several members OF the various torpedo
gangs employed IN laying these Internal machines
In attending 10 the batteries by which they TO be
fred from the banks. enclose specimen OF the water
proof connecting wire OF Of these machines "a
up yesterday. Some OF these torpedoes OF
power. Que tina, captured last evening contained
charge Of one thousand eight hure1 pounds o. gunpow
DER These are specially INTENDED ior the bencG 0, tho
Monitor feet but all charitable Efforts Of the rebels
will prove abortive, unoeasng warness ard vigilance
\ can counieract them.
The temporary soppage Of mail Communication with
| this 1eei prevented my sending report had pre-
pared Of the destruction OF the gunboat Commodore
Jones' OF which unfortunate event eye witness.
After this occurrence the iron clad feet fell back few
the removal OF large numbers OF orpedoes and 70 avail,
| the further advance q General Buffers army.
On sunday evening, the 18th, got under
way and steamed ahead towards Fort Daring IL was
nearly six O'Clock when We came up with -Four Nile
Bend of which poin, the Commodore Jones bad her
reer brought 10 so dsaslrous termination or the IN
faed vessel nothing remains In sight her and
stern post, With stray timber here and tbere pTotrud
ing from tue water. Hers unquesonaby OF the
most cotopete instances o. destruction by submarine
battery 10 which vessel bas been subjected
utilization being utter and instantaneous The torpedo
fred right an ds6its and directly under her, up
raising the centre OF the ship, which burst asunde the
explosion rent the air aud then, amid cloud OF smoke
and steam 1.-The whole body OF her hull and upper works
rent uto thousand pieces, ano worst Of ALI numbers
| or her unfortunate crew we're propelled into the
| air, like q shower q missiles bclched forth
from The crater OF volcano. when smoke drifted
from the scene the snDken Framework and ribs OF the
stroyed vessel were all that remained OF the Commodore
Jones except nnumersbe splnered relics Of the wreck
| which covered the waters around the fatal spot.
Inc recent rams have made the current o.
ames more rapid and his turbid OF darker hue
IMAM usual Ibc scenery along thc rivers banks
serene aud peaceful IN appearance indeed the total ab-
scncc on All sgus Of lie, We proceed mile after mile
becomes quite saddepng. II grevous 10 think coun.
Try so blessed and smiled upon by nature should become
desohe and forsakeD. Every true American heart must
pray that The loyal forces o the nation may continue
their victorious progress against treason Conducting and
10 conquer until the Union has boon restored and ,ne
| war happily terminated that
| The widows tears, the orphan'scrie
| The dead mems blood, the pning msiden's rroaus
4 Yor husbands fathers and betrothsd lovers,
1 That shah be swallowed an this controversy,
may 10 afnct ears and rend hear,s: and
That, with her bleeding wounds healed aud the sun OF
freedom bcamrg more brightly than upon her our
beloved country may once again be blessed with peace
prosperity and bappiness