The National tribune., 1885-01-08

"Make believe that you intend to run past
the battery. but when you reach the shelter of
the bluff run the boat ashore, leap out, make a
rush and capture the guns" were Gen. Getty S
orders to Col. Ward.
The Stepping stones steams M the river.
The Confederate artiilerymen spring TO their
guns She reaches the shelter Of the bluffs
lost to sight; bat the moment she comes IN
view the cannon will fame. But she does not
come in view. The pilot has turned suddenly,
laid her side TO the shore and the 800 men IN
a twinkling are swarming over her sides and
rushing up the bank.
The sailors run their iowitzers ashore, drag
them up the bank wheel them into position.
The Confederates are astounded. The fight is
quickly over.
I'VE surrender" shout tne Confederates,
and I6I give themselves up. The Stepping
Stones ferries ether troops across, and strong
garrison holds the fort
Gen. Longstreet was surprised. In mo-
ment all his plans had been overturned. he
saw that he must abandon all thoughts OF
crossing by bridge To capture the Union
line he must begin regular siege-the build
ing of strong earthworks mounting heavy
guns; all of which would require time.
He was surprised at the aUdacity of the
Union troops. A party crossed the Lower
Nansemond, marched out three miles, and
drove the Confederate cavalry.
Two days later Gen. Corcoran, with bri-
gade, made a sortie on the Edenton road, below
Suffolk. and drove the Confederates into their
works.
Every day the batteries were laundering;
but the Union guns were larger and heavier
than Longstreets and had the advantage. But
heavy guns came from Richmond, and on the
last day of April were ready to open fire.
Gen. Hills troops were arriving 10000 men)
from North Carolina, giving Longstreet 10000.
With this reinforcement he hoped to make a
successful assault.
HooKER's MOVEMENT.
We have had an account of the battle OF
Charlottesville but we now see that Hooker S
movement was far reaching On May 2, just
as Longstreet was getting ready to attack, he
received an order to abandon his movement
against Suffolk, and hasten north with all his
troops to join Lee.
He waited till night and then withdrew his
heavy guns, packed up his camp, and started his
long lines of wagons. Daylight came, May 3,
and the Union pickets discovered that the Con-
federate breastworks instead of swarming with
troops, were silent and deserted. Longstreet
was Fastening towards Petersburg. His troops
were toiling along the muddy roads. The rail
road was so badly worn, there were so few cars
and engines, that his troops did not reach
Richmond till the I0th-too late to be of any
use to Lee. Charlottesville had been fought,
and Hooker was once more upon the Falmouth
Hills
The movement of Hill in North Carolina,
the expenditure of sending Longstreet's troops
to Suffolk and bringing them back; all the
marching, digging, building batteries, waste
and expense; loss OF 1,500 men in the
skirmishes-had resulted in failure. Moth
ing had been gained. Quite likely there
would have been far different result if Gen.
Viele had not captured the man with the Con-
federate mail; for with 5000 of his best troops
gone. Gen. Peck would have found it difficult
to hold his line-l5 miles long,-and it seems
probable that Long5treet would have broken
through. As it was nothing was gained, but
much lost, by the Confederates.
Ito be coutiRNed.) -