Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-27
TELEGRAPHIO NEWS,
FROM JAMES RIVER.
Rebel Naval enstration-AttemPt 70
Pass Our Batteries-Uuer failure Of
Success The Rebel Ganbsat Drewry
Destroysd-The Fleet Driven Back.


Rebel Naval Demenstration-Atte Dt t.
Pass Our Batseries-Uuer failure Of
Success-The Rebel Ganbeat DreWry
Des,ressd-The Fleet Driven Back.
(Dispatch TO Baltimore American
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 26-I learn by the steamer
which arrived here this afternoon from the
James river, that the demonstration OF the
Rebel IRON elads and rams on Tuesday morn
hs m came near pIovlng a serious affair 70 MS
Had the ram Richmond not grounded the
whole Of eur fleet Of transports, with an the
buildings and immense stores at City Point,
would probably have been DESTROYED The
is said to have turned tail and Fan away. For
this disgraceful conduct IL is reported ne has
been dismissed the service.
Another Account.
HOSTILE PREPARATIONS OF THE INBhrs
FLEET IN JAMES RIVER.
CITY PoINT, VA, Jan. "a q. m.-Since the
withdrawal by Admiral Porter OF so large q
proportion Of the naval armament heretofore
on the James river and in Hampton Roads for
onenslve operations against Wilmington aud
many minds lest the enemy should take ad-
vantage OF their absence to precipitate their
iron-clads upon us, and infiict more or less
damage before the necessary concentration of
gunboats to resist their advance could be con-
veniently made. These fears have had addi-
iopal confirmation within a few days, by re-
ports OF scouts and deserters, who concur in
stating that such an attack had been deter
mined on by the Rebel commanders. and that
its execution would be attempted during the
present state OF high water.
Preparations have been quietly progressing
on our part to give the buccaneers a much
warmer reception than they seem to expect.
Last night three rebel iron clads, resembling
the Atlanta in size and appearance, dropped
down the river from their anchorage, just
below Fort Darling, and succeeded In running
past Fort Brady in the darkness and fog unin-
jured.
At O'Clock this morning they were reported
lying under cover of the Hewlett House Bat
terry, busily engaged in removing the hulks OF
vessels sunk in the channel of the river by us
last summer. They came with torpedoes, pre-
pared for blowing up all distractions in the
channel, and succeeded in exploding one about
daylight
One of the rebel craft managed to get past,
with the assistance OF lighters, it is supposed,
and was acting as cover TO the rebel working
parties on the sunken vessels.
Slow but heavy firing has been going on since
the enemys intentions We're discovered this
morning Comparatively but few guns can be
brought to bear upon them from the north
bank Of Ae James, but the right of General
Ferrero's line on the south side OF the river is
craft
NINE O'CLOCK A. M.-General Ferrero re-
ports that the guns of Fort Parsons, on his
line, have exploded and sunk one of the rebel
IRON and disabled another. The two re-
manning yessels-there being four in the feet,
instead OF three, as first reported-appear to be
aground considerably up stream from where
his guns are in position. The shot from his
batteries strike them fairly at every discharge,
but are shed off with little or no apparent dam
age thus far.
The indications at this writing are that Wig
orous co. operation OF the navy would insure
the immediate and complete destruction OF
them all. The attempt will undoubtedly be
made before morning, as the high tide at that
hour would greatly expedite their escape
In no case need fears be entertained for the
safety OF this point, for ample arrangements
are made for the stoppage and destruction of
the vessels miles above here.