The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-23
ADMIRAL LEES FLOTILLA.
Resuns Of the Naval Operations ON the
James River.

Mr.. =. Q. osBoN's pBspATcH.
JAMES hvER, Va, May Is, 1854.
The feet which has been clustered at Newport's News
for week more got in readiness the Sd TO movc
on it's appointed mison The day spent In making
preparation and she vessels Increased by
the addition OF OF the doubeenders Acting Rear
Adniral Lee bos,ed his flag board the steamer NAL
vern which has been pu. into complete order TO bo tho
flagship in place Of tho Minnesota, which mas moved
down Hampton Roads, TO be sort or receiving ship
Tor the OF men into the navy lrcm the army
The feet OF Eewpors News consisted of the IRON clad
Roanoke. the Quiniard battery, called tho "oncn
daga and having two turIets, in each OF which ls
fifteen inch gun and two huudredponnder Parrolt the
Tecumseh one turrot the Cannonicus turret the
Saugus turret and the Atlanta. The Mackinaw Euaw
and other doublcendcrs; tho guuboats 0sceola Dawn
| Commpdoro Jones, Commodore Morris, shawsnean and
| a number Of powerful armed tugs.
The order given to &c: underway that evening and
| take respective places 10 line, FOR the mornings
movement Large numbers OF scbooners arrived, and
the army transports and STEAMBOATS, also came up
large numbers, OF them Aled with troops The
river on Newports News was flied with the fleet
now gathered thero. The army vessels, with their
lights displayed, made most beautiful AMI interesting
sight The tugs steainng around with their lfelike
movements; the hustle about the landing the drum and
fife sounding tattoo the army steamers; the whole
assembling OF the accommodating steamers formed
and afforded pleasure which does not frequently see,
aud which Is effsced the memory.
The Admiral the head tho officers IN charge OF their
respective steamers the zeal which inspires all hands;
the proper emulation which il fo the prize which it
Ia sought gain, make this gathering or intense sg
pticsnce and trust all loyal people may have AN
opportunity 10 rejoice at the success which all 80 earn
esy hope may result from the einceucy Of this gathered
| feet
The neet which on the evening the 4th quietly lay
OIL Newrors News ~ anchor above City Point, the
next evening. A. halipast two O'Clock on the
morning Of the 9th all hands were called on
order TO get underway obeyed. Al quarter to
ave A. A. the fleet was wen underway and INC morn
ing just well broke, and OF the most beautiful and
| quiet mornings ever saw. Tho river was without
ripple and the air mild yet invgorating and the morn
ing mist slowly and gracefully rising from over The land
TIE feet sailed 10 the following osderFirst. the IRON
clad 1ecumseh then the Canoncns iron clad the augus,
.ron clad and the onondsga rou.clad and all OF the
honor ctsss. Behind came the Atlanta. formerly the
rebel and captured bv Capt John Rodgers Of the
Monitor Weehawkcn, in Warsaw Sound. Ca. with these
armed tags snd double enders, and then gum
boats, behind line OF tugs steamboats,. schooners,
soope and all sorts and Sizes and classes OF vessels SO
/; long line that We cannot see both EMS,
Son after Ave O'Clock we passed CavlnvDe the place
formerly Owned by the rebel pirate John " alIl',
quariers, sc, The Admiral then along the line
his flagship tho Malvern passed oy and up the line out
OF sight.
( To one who can now the whole line II forms in
teresng and imposing sight. The ronclaus in advance
in the distance seeming 80 small ss TO he scarcely per
| ceved the more imposing and graceful eunhnats aud
double enders; the barges and steamboats, nled with
troops-- is beautiful sight. nany oi the steamboats,
n tho line, and connected with the movement. bear
names which 10 New Workers. familiar as
household words. The Meamora the sylvan Shore aud
t seven oclor A. ~ the feet passed Point OF Shoals
igat, aad al s:l5 - sowed down few ninutes at Deep
We 5000 passed Grove wharf where was encampcd
wagon tra,p.
lower poin, OF jamestown and point
cluster of los basracss partially desroyed
Triangular fcr with angles pointing 20 the river. they
wers unoctar:ed, although tirocg force would be able
| 20 do us mu,h harm irom them Now, nowevor, with
forces in possession o this sScon tho batteries
4 csEthwcgks are useless.
with General Rn.lpr aud board passed by up
The General, with glass Ia hand stood the pilot
house and looked with much apparent interest upon the
long line which ne was SO RAPIDLY reviewing
There Ia accompanying the feet little steamboat called
the Inma, not larger than good sized yaw!. so small
,ha, tho wheel house looks thcagh ne
would ca Isi2e che seems 10 be cher hook -
and reminds OF the litie bugs which the
OF The water shooting here and there drop
ping behind the feet aud again coming up by and
away OF toward the mouth OF tho Chcsabominv
which are passing The river opens out into the
Janos s banks frnged with soft, green foliage,
looking would seem, too peaceful be the stream
TO which history will give name which viii recall the
most lamentable Of campaigns.
we soon passed deserted plantation the chief house
Of which stood upon the bank though WITH windows and
blinds open no one was visible
About In sight OF General Buffers boat
and = number OF other army steamers aud transports
which had gone mp during the night and were now along
side OF Wilson'S wharf the name OF the locality. Two
three canal bQats number OF barges and steamers
| unloading soldiers who were forming in line upon
the bank. Two batteries Of artillery had disenbarked
and there others soat Gen. Bner's boat pushed
OF and again moving up the stream. Tho largo
steamer Planter also came by, loaded with coored
| wilson's wharf was left in the distance aud
tho feet continued its way unmoested and quietly
The negro troops who landed At Wilson's wharf arc
already pkotDg the banks OF the river above the land
Al ba,i.pagt twelve O'Clock Fort rowhaan came into
view This tort IL situated on the southwest bank OF the
river where II makes bend to the northward and on
blun from which the woods have been cleared II Is
extensive work, and with sufficient force for its de-
fence, might make stubborn fight stil our guubaats
af shn farfsH
catops The OF the blum forms s.eop doclivty
from the river TO the tops close to which Is tho face OF
river The Planter and Greyhound along.
side base OF the bu and some OF the men landed
10 zee II anything could be dscerned 10 or from the
fort they came back 10 the ships, and the steamers
Oh again.
OF the feet, stopped, and of Windmill Point We
arrived 81 Harrsons bar and the iron oads passed
oyer IL hne syle and safely Al the wharf arrsons
Ssrsases Tc ihs Fe5i6.a, Vi ssw srcasa And under
The porco OF nne mansion q group meu. who had
opposite bank For two hours have much sig.
Mailing tho elevated points OF land along the river
oonysyed rom point 10 point 70 the rebel capital
Az three O'Clock the vessels arrived OF Jordans Point,
and she beats ere putting on from hs different steamers
the vessels again get under way steaming up tho river
Just ahead Of US is Cty Point the place Of exchange
Gag Of truce boat New York makes her weekly or ri
weekly trips rrom Fortress Monroe The point makes |
hppomatiox and James rivers, aud also the eastern
terminus Of tho Petersburg and James River Railroad
The land tho Point quite abruptly 20 an elevated
plateau upon which number Of houses and signal
station which, within the hour after We came sight,
was occupied BY signal officers Troops are landing
and The shore Ia covered with shem, army wagons
cassons aud all the paraphernlia Of Boat after
boat moves up 70 the landing, until they
the river and other vessels, vim their loads obliged
10 pass by the Appomattox and 70 he bank OF the
James above, where they, 700, beginning 10 dssm
bark their troops
Tho Admiral 10 The iron clad recumsen continues on
the other iron cads and naval veeres following and MI
come 10 anchor about two miles above City Point.
steam boats from the harbor and rivers OF New York.
ocean stean,ers propees and canal boats move up 70
the Shore with their living loads, and quickly emp
tied Of them
Tho s r. spauldlDs nov movss up, crowded with |
Night falls the scene, and the quiet Of evening |
~stbers around Abe region.