Year: 1862




began to get under weigh. until BY one they
began TO disappear in the distance, leaving US In
some doubt to whether to be favored with
place in the ranks. The morning. to nine O'CLOCK was
passed by Captain Morris in getting out ammunition ana
preparing for instant service far was practicable
on board the steamer. For time the decks pre-
sented most warlike aspect. Packages and boxes OF
shell grape and canister scattered about in pro-
fusion that would make nervous man anything but
comfortable Just soon as everything was in its place
and ready, q small tug seen approaching US,
and al hurried to the side Of the vessel to hear
the orders that certain had come She passed
and hopes fell to zero, but instantly to fever
heat whom we heard the welcome words shouted from
her deck. she passed by the officer in command 'Cap
tain Morris will get the Jersey Blue Immediately under
weigh follow the feet and report to General Porter
the steamer Pilot Boy" In q few moments everybody
was hard at work. and everything forgotten tho
zeal to carry faithfully the instructions received
and at half-past nine ploughng way
through the sound In hot chase after the
Vessels that had got the Of The Jersey Blue,
not being trammellsd with any boat in tow
took the feet and passed them ALL determined TO
make now for the time that she had been detained
The Brnker, Curew Eagle Sentinel and others all
left behind with their heavy burdens and
up with the main body, and kept along with them,
nothing occurring of note until reached tho
mouth Of the Neuse river, If may except the
empty bottles that passed floating the
water-dumb, but most impressive witnesses Of the
conviviaty going on in the boats ahead Of All en-
joyed the noble OF some hundred vessels thus
bound their glorious mission restore to its original
greatness this splendid country. The rigging every
available spot the different craft instantly seized
upon by the soldiers, and all kinds Of salutatons and
Jokes freely passed the steamers sailed by each
W. had tba tho
at three o'clock P. NJ, and the speed was
slightly checked but not stopped; and this spot
the first gun fired by the second expedition under
the following crcumstances:-There several little
saboa.s huggng the shore, doubt to watch
movements, and they created little curiosity amons
ALL and many were tho glasses turned towards them to
watch their movements. While looking at them
the little gunboat Picket turned Of her and
made directly for the shore where two of the small
saboats lying. We watched her with
the most intense interest, to what she would
do, and also what they would do. She kept
on at full speed until they got within such distance OF
the shore as 1t sao for him to go without the risk Of
running aground, and rounding he perceived = white
smoke curl up from her side and second two after
heard the report of gun The shot struck the water
some distance ahead but inflicted injury; probably
damage being intended By tho aid Of glasses
that small boat had been sent of from her. and
shortly another gun red. BY this time had got
nearly out OF sight, and also getting dark that
10 possible for know tho exact cause Of the
strange course taken BY tho saucy little Picket.


siGNAL FIRES ON THE RIVER.


As went the river there other and stronger
proofs that we were most jealously watched and
telssraphed the forces somebody in
the rear every two three miles large fires wsr
burning, which threw up most dsnss smoke and a.
passed they permitted TO die away. The banks OF
the Nooss river which Is from mos wide are
covered with dense Pine woods and there particular
and most interesting feature connected with it, which u
the number Of farm houses scattered along its very edge
and almost hidden In the thick foliage made several
attempts 10 go. peep al Of the inhabitants
would sometimes in pretty closely to the shore
ccso in fact that had been disposed they might
have picked OF some Of with rife. We attributed
the total absence Of human beings where many houses
were, to the fact that all the in the army
fortincations the coast. and that the women were
somewhat afraid to show themselves.


AT ANCHOR IN THE NsUsE RIVER.


We ascendsd the river about twenty miles, and night
having upon prepared to anchor. Tho fires on
shore began 10 burn with great brancy throwing
up red glare that could be clearly discerned miles
distant. The fleet had all gathered together on the
southern bank Of the river and accordingly turned
cur head In that direction but We were stopped by the
Alice Price, which General Burnside his
headQuatss and directed 10 In TO the north shore
- far possible and than anchor. Captain
Jsckawsy, always willing, obsysd once, and tho
lead in readiness to nnd out how far
could run in The other vessels far from US
on the other side Of the rvcr while we, solitary and
alone, trying 10 find how far We could run our
bow into the opposite side TO thsm. The very
deep The captain expected shosl water every minute
but the lsad showed three fathoms until We got into
such dangerous proximity to the shore that, for
safety, obliged 10 stop. Thoughts Of masked
batteries and attacking parties during the night
ran through many Of our heads, and none
could understand why we should be sent to
such spot, particularly not gunboas
but obedience everything and thus stayed until
Captain Morris got the yawlboa out to 90 and report
General Foster; whom 1t discovered that being
ordered 70 such dangerous position the consequence
or mistake, and wtf ordered 10 take place among
the feet We had the 40 mess Of hearing, short time
after that quite number Of rebel troops shore
only little distance back from where We were lying
The night was clear, warm and moonlight. The men
on board Of the vessels singing and no
would have supposed that the feet lying 50
peacefully there meant anything other than mild
sures. Igot small boat and crew. through the kind
Of Captain Jackaway and rowed about through the
feet visiting Of the principal vessels Signal lights
were flashing on all sides until all the vessels were
safely at anchor, when they ceased, and all out
ward correspondents between the vessels was stop
ped; inside. all hustle and expectation. On
board the Alice Price, the Headquarters OF
General Burnside all the chief officers had collected
the cabin and council hold nearly all night, there
many things to be arranged, orders given and
everything set TO rights for the next day, when
confidently expected that tho forces would move up to
Newbsrn and attack IT, To add TO the scene to rem
der It impressive still had nns music from
the bands the national air being the most prominent
and the best received Of all As the night advanced the
music ceased. the splashing Of in the was
heard but seldom, aud everything settled down into
unusual quiet The decks Of tho vessels were mostly
crowded with the soldiers but scarcely sound could be
hoard on any side The soldiers no doubt we're busy