New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-10
THE ARMY OF THE JAMES.
A New Movement North Of the JRnies-
Discom6ture Of the Rebeis-Long Tnws
with the Rebel Rnms In tho River
from Oar, Special Correspondent
Hpons ARMY OF THE JAMES,


from Our, Special Correspondent.
HpQRs. ARMY OF THE JAMES, !
NEAR RICHMOND, Va. Dec. {, le6i
In dispatch last evening l mentioned the
crossing of detachment OF colored troops belonging TO
Gen Diapers brigade to the west bank Of the James
River in the vicinity Of Dutch Gap and their having
&c. about n,renching themselves In position on the
other side where they could defend the head OF the
canal NON Rebel sharpshooters when this work shall ne
opened IL be secret TO say now soon VIII be
Tie Rebel pckets along the west side Of the river
WHO had for tie past few days, been pesemptofy or
dered by their officers 20 fire on Gil mounted men seen
riding along side the river were sent skedadhns
in great haste BIZ brigade Of ooored troops drawn
up this bank Of the river supported by Anew pieces
of artiIlsry Under cover Of voley Of musketry and
two or three shos with the field pieces our po toon
boats were launched and the men ferried across the
river without elicting shot from the "denolalxed
Jolnnes three Of whom captured and the balance
became suddenly scarce.
The surprise which this movement has caused The
Rebels i. evidently very great and II is somewhat re
arkabe tha, they have not undertaken TO dslodge as
from position. They threw during the day, yester
day, few shells from a mortar battery with which
shey have been aiterly shelng Dutch GAP. bn' Win
i.e spri, or effect AL their extensive range OF bat
silent and apparently saving their mischief for the next
ovenen, which they are snxiousy awaiting for US 90
fTow this up with. The Richmond papers ali concur
IN the belief that Grant viii again this week upon
that city and deserters and prisoners that they
looked AL day yesterday for the expected attack end
think tina: to-day viii assuredly bring the terrible uai
home 10 them.
Yesterday afternoon near sunset the Rebel ram Rich.
7nond was seen slowly steaming down the James past
Senmes and the other new batteries which they have
recently constructed the re and soon reached
a point where she was In sight wen as range OF Iot
Brady As soon as the Richmond came within unob-
structed range OF his guns Capt Pierce opened FIRE
upon her, The first shot passed less than ten feet
ss:ern Of her; the second about the same distance
ahead while the third took her plump amdships thug
aud must have made her reel for she sackened speed
and came nearly TO full stand stu for minute or two
AID then pulled slowly on down. fourth and fifth SHOT
were sent into her when shc blazcd awey In return,
sud the shore batteries also opened upon For BRADY
keeping UP from that tine until DARK very vigorous
engagement Presently the other two non.clads tho
Virginia and Fredericksburg hove also into view and
came IN for their share Of UNDERGROUND comp!i'
1nsnts which Lieut. Woodruff sest across for their bene'
it, They moved laxiiy down the river, at first mile
and Quarter and then not than mile distant from
oar battery and must have had pounding which they
vii not coon forget while the melee lasted.
Inside Of Fort Brady oil was eager enthusiasm aud
excitement. The few TO the gus with Will.
saue one jocosely calling out Remember the shan
tie, In alusion 10 the destruction Of their log huts
two successive cannonadngs which Fort BTady bas re-
Gently sustained and spoken Of in former letter The
Ielel sLots generally inaccurate, and few wild
spd wide Of their mark Just at dark q couple Of eyi
-. "A 49, n,A etr No
pei. and the splnters Knocked down three men. without
hurting any one. however. Another came through one
OF theeubrSures. narrowly missed dsmountng gan
and spenti.s force in the enbsnkent Of the msgaxne
where it exploded without any damage except TO il
SELL On. exploded overhead and fragments fe in such
rrolimft, 10 Nc tia. the mud thrown up covered US
with shnwes OF mother earth.
Darkness pus an end 10 the firing both sides and
in The moonlight We esoh aftsrvard see the white
smoke Of the where they lag quietly ct anchor
about mie distant from Fort Body in the lend Of the
3iyey. The position which they have taken il one
where they are TO some extent shitted by The low
bsnks behind which they nestled bat where We
give them q pretty lively rahng this morning 10 case
they do not seek another cover. 1t 10 apparent tat
they expected last night sometime to see Dutch Cap
open lis NAV and belch forth multi ude Of non clsds
and that they hare desperately resolved 10 risk the gans
Of Fo Brady in order to plsbt Themselves here where
they car rake the river down 10 the Gap pretty eotu
ally and are prepared to show fair and square :ront
when do come up with our feet They have in sddi
ton to the guns on these rams soms fifteen to eighteen
heavy peoes which they able to concentrate upon
for Brady, and probably hope when We open again to
sienos BY tssining them all simultaneously on Port
Brady.
These are al formidable boats a. We know from
having captured twos and destroyed and caused to be
destroyed two or three more. The Richmond is said
tpbe more heavily plated even than the Tennessee.
The Fredericksburg and Virginia are less thIckly
mailed IT should not be forgotten, however. that
battery which Gen Butler caused to be planted about
mile jurtber ny the James than the site Of Fort