Year: 1862

Our Suffolk Correspondence.


SUFFOLK, Va, Dec IS, 1862


On Thursday noon last column under the command Of
Brgadcr General Ferry left here for the purpose
gagng the attention Of the enemy the Backwater The
consisted of cavalry artillery eight regiments
of infantry Apontoon tran made Of old canal boats
from the canal which runs through the Dismal Swamp,
was also attached to the expedition.


The column proceeded on the South Quay road and
halted for supper about six o'clock having then advanced
about miles. They moved on towards the Black
water which they expected to reach about two O'Clock
next morning. but the wagons were laden so heavily with
the pontoon boats that detention of several hours
caused by their sinking deep into the muddy cypress
swamp, through which portion Of the road lay was
deemed important that the column should reach the
Blackwater before daylight and the pontoon tram
would have been left behind to enable it 70 do
80; but the road being exceedingly narrow with
deep bitches each sde found impossible for The
cavalry and infantry which behind them, TO pass,
and in some cases delay OF two hours would cnsue Day
light, therefore, revealed the advancing force to the
enemy, it not arriving at the Blackwatcr before
O'Clock yesterday morning.


This afterwards proved TO be Of little account as the
rebels have had nmeIy warning Of approach at
least two days previously The passage Of the river had
been perfectly free Of obstructons while piles Of





side heavy bleck house and large number Of rife pits
had been constructed to assist in repeing invading
enemy. To add to the difficulty Of fordng the river the
water which days previously had not been more than
to three feet deep had risen u twice that
dcpth that the cavalry, instead of walking across
compelled to swim to the opposite side in the
face OF prepared enemy.


But for these difficulties pan first suggested by Gen
Ferry and afterwards ordered by Gen Peck must have
al
companies Of infantry behind tho cavalry ford the river
dismnt the infantry drive the enemy from the heavy
underbrush and hold him in check until the ponoon
bridge laid By this plan crossing Of the
Backwater would have been effected without the aid Of
artillery as it believed the heavy guns woula
warn the enemy at Wakefield ard Franklin, and,
a much superior force being at both these places.


rapid reinforcement could have been sent by railroad
and the fresh troops being thus precipitatcd in
whelming numbers force would compel thom to
fall back. This afterwards proved correct.
Two companies OF the Thirteenth Indiana were now.
mounted behind the cavalry and the whole attempted &c
cross, but were met with such voes misketys
and artillery from the opposite bank which, added the
unexpected depth o. the water rendered the crossing
impossible without serious loss OF life. The whole were
therefore, recalled Three pieces Of artillery under tho
command Of Captain Howard were ordered mp and
choosing favorable position for the guns heavy fire of
drove them from the bank and the firing stll continu
Ing they retreacd and fell back out OF the
going pockets opposite Zun about mile and
naif up the river rerortcd that the enemy were at
tempting to cross ut the railroad bridge and that The
Union pickets had been fred upon by both inran.Tv and
artillery who were assembling that point in lar &c mum
bers evidently with the intention Of oulanking Cen
Ferry at once ordered his Adutant General Cant Ives
with regiment of infantry and section Of artillery TO
this point for the purpose Of dispensing them Arriving
than an eighth Of mile ds aht, their battery in fun
view, and the infantry showing themselves on the out
side OF the works with apparent impunity The section
rnder the COMMANDED Lieutenant Beecher of the Fourth
1 United states artillery, now commenced CALLING fire.
under the cover Of which company Of the FIFTY eighth
Pennsylvania depoyed skirmhcrs to the banks Of the
river for tho purpose OF picking of the encys artillery.
men on the opposite side Three shots slcnced the rebel
battery, and dozen more destroyed the fortcatinDs
and drove the enemy away. hcy taking with them large
gun which had been mounted on truck and run from
place 10 place upon the railroad track aud which they
fred very rapidly doing, however, but little
The party under Captain Ives returned the main
body, where the firing had been going
hours driving the enemy back 50 efcctuay that three
companies Of the Thirteenth ndana crossed the Black


in the face Of large force Of the enemy who had doubt
less been attracted by the firing and had arrived to rein
\ the place in the cars from Wakefield.


A. the expedition was partially diversion in favor Of
| other and more important military movements by our
nrccs and as Cen Ferry had received orders to be
ticnlaly cautious not TO bring engagement.
were recalled from the opposite side. and returned with
captain and twelve men whom they had captured. The
whole made preparations to rctrace their steps and
at halfast ten O'Clock this morning the last OF the
column passed through Suffolk on their way the
The rebel captain wounded so seriously that il was
/ necessary TO bring him In an ambulance.
our " tnree Killed eleven wounded. The
mys was much greater, the prisoners reporting as mary
as thirty killed and wounded by artillery lrc the
CROSSING


We compelled to leave and destroy one old wagon
which stuck deeply In the mud that found i'm


possible to cxtricate IL. The contents taken out
before setting II on fire.


Before the hoad OF the returning column had reached
here and believe before they started honeward
secession reports Of disastrous defeat, OF captnred
ponoCn train bloody rsulse while crosslug the
and hasty retreat spread like lightning bJ last nght
AMI this morning, and galant fellows marched
| through the village they greeted with .scring
smiles from the male secossnnists and demon
strativc evidence Of satisfaction from the females one
an old woman waved her hands as soldiers passed
her dwelling, and said II prayed 10 God al last night
that YOU might live to the Black water and
now my prayers have been answered for you were driven
back you lied 10 cross and have come back faster
than you WENT Another, seeing some men who had
been manning the battery walking behind the artillery
and suppoebg that because they had no myrkois .v
had been away 70 aid them IN their frht cried
out where's your guns The next time you bcnr them
they will be turned against you &c


The following list OF our loss az far as could col
lect up TO the me for tc train leave for Norfolk
Lieut.. John Robinson. 9Th Massachusetts,.
Lieut.. Barr, 90. ], 9th Massachusetts


One OF the ltth Pennsylvania cavalry.


WOUNDED.


Sergeant Of tho Mounted Rifles.


Private Mcfarland, 18th Indiana, leg shot or morts,v


Private Hinton, Co. r, 18th Indiana.


Private Braay, Co. 9, 5sh Pennsylvania. IN the leg by
n ehstf