The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-31
The Monitor Fleet TN the James River
OUR NAVAL C0KREsPoNDENCg.


UNITED STATES STsANRR TEcuxsEH,
SEVEN MILxs BELOW FoRr DARL,Nc, May 20, 1854 !
From the fact that our ironcnds have been at their
present anchorage in ts immediate neighborhood, for
week past without eDdeay0ring TO force further
passage Of The river, would appear thst We have
reached point beyond which attempt will be made
to advance until important movement shall have
been accomplished by General Buers army, the advance
Of whose extreme right upon the rver nnder
of guns. for other cd and sufficient reason
which il would be mpdlitic TO divulge.
The river this point stretches out into wide open
reach, upon whose placid bosom there 10 ample room
for whole feet TO anchor maneuvre.
About mile above the Union. lines large whe
which the wooded bluffs Of the rver
from the observatory Of which Richmond Is said TO be
plsnly In sight, the rebels have thrown up some earth
works and rife pits: bat wholesome terror Of tur
ro.ed batteries makes them excessively II showing
th,mseves in that locality The guns OF some one or
Of Monitors generally within range Of these
works which have Afforded considerable practice for
some days pas. snd few q our n!esniuct shells N.
yaraby clear The bells out the double quick They
evidently possess no relish for these favoA although
missiles Of SUI dmensfone can c5rtaiply claim
the merit Of novelty with the rebels OF this district.
splendid firing has been made by our Monitors lhe
ncavy booming Of cur grim Danigrens echo and re echo
up and the river, while giant shells explode
with destructive fury within and around the enemy
WORKS at ali elevation Of some two hundred feet and
distant about vWo hundred yards. FFt sHf7t I
Tho confidence heretofore expressed in the power ond
efficiency Of this feet Is fully confirmed by recent
pericncs The and precision with which shots
were sped upon their erraud Of destruction those
vstcd earthworks clearly concentrated that no
gel within range. could stand the immense weight OF
metal poured forth by the terrific broadsdcs Of our
abreast OF the rebel ,ntrenchments 10 which we pay
much attention is sharp bend In the river aud tho
stream beyond 81 once becomes narrow asd tortuous
d.vo Nurk h.lf dnyQ of Ourl
gunboats rounded this bend and steamed slowly
ahead 10 reconuoitre tho banks, search for torpe-
and examine the channel in tho course towards
Drurys Bun. After proceeding for nearly to
| mi es battery, which, with characteristic rebel
rvcr's bank, suddenly opened heavy ire uron them
Ibis battery stood tnickiy wooded curve beyond
which IL ie considered impTcbaoo that tho rebel
iron ciads may have hidden rom view, aud, Is
not the provnce of river boats TO offer sheir light
their brcsdsdes INTO tse enemy s works the oa pra,
dently dropped down the stream and rescned The feet
Between the unioa and rebel forces now confronting
other in the vnity n oo~ anchorage very severe
sng is OF frequent occurrence both by ni.ht and BY
day, with heavy %css Of life reported both sides
Every loot OF gromd at this point hoty contested by
the opposing armies rife pits In tho front having
changed occutaues several times already. The shots
from the asld Sometimes drop into the river few
athoms vessels, SD during recent night at
sky Mghed ny by tho flashing Of the guns
as with berellecsou extensive couIagration wno
the thunder f the artillery the heavy roll OF muskcery
The ye,Ang shouting tho combatan,s were
all clearly adtbIc and gaze evidence desperate
nature of the connict but the wooded bufs along tho
river bank shut out view OF The bloody panorama
| being enscted IN such close proximity TO us.
OF the rebei fropcads rams although most ANXIOUS
70 insiect their fair proportions not yet
cecded IN catching the FIRST GLIMPSE the widespread
newspaper accounts 20 the contrary notwithstanding
they have dcvn the rivec nj all ad
tney take oil sku,k agNn before
Mont r feet up with them.
We have desire 10 the merit OF ar
teen inch shot and shell against Mevrmac No and tn
hiehy vaunseS and dedsnt tort miles above
deOt that thc contemplated combiced assault by 6ot
brsecses Of Abe public will yield pioHtatD
result than that WHICH attended the attack
III years ago.
i; whsn this wished for opportunity arrives
lsbidnE aith that Of the conflict " nc1d
acceG OF tie capture destruction ~ the Richmou
clad fleet conclude with thc gratp wing
nept that glorious star Spangled Banner floats II
'triumph o~er Drys Rua and tho Ceights Of Fort lar
|, ling