Yankee Account of the Siege of Washington, N. C.
The New York Herald publishes a couple of columns of correspondence about the position of affairs at Washington, N. C. The correspondent commences his letter by saying that he wishes he was "to home," as he can't see exactly how the Federal are to get out of the scrape. It appears that at the first appearance of Gen. Hill, Foster, the Yankee General commanding at Washington, sent to Newbern for General Spinola's brigade, to be sent to his assistance by water. It was sent on steamers but could not get by the batteries. A gunboat was sent for to "remove the obstructions," and came but couldn't succeed in removing them, and the brigade did not get to the town. The correspondent says that Gen. Foster refused to received Gen. Hill's flag of truce, calling for the removal of the women and children, because Gen. H. refused to receive flags of truce from Newbern. The letter, which is dated on board of one of the steamers attempting to reinforce Washington, says:‘ At daylight this morning we were under way again, headed up the river, proceded by the gunboats Lockwood and Allison, and two sailing vessels, which had on board six small pieces of artillery.--The gunboats proceeded to the vicinity of the fort at Mill's Point, and opened upon the works at short range. They were replied to sharply for a while from eight guns, two at least of which were twelve-pound or Whitworths. The Lockwood was struck twice, but was not much injured--one of the shots striking her smokestack and the other hitting her guards and glancing off. No one was hurt on our side. After a fight of an hour and a half the gunboats came back and reported that it would be impossible to silence the battery, as the guns were so high upon the bluff bank as to be nearly out of range of our guns.
At daylight this morning Lieutenant Cole returned from Washington in safety, having passed the three batteries twice during the night, a feat of which he may proudly boast to his succeeding generations when the event shall have passed into his country's history, and when he shall have been blessed with descendants to boast to. He brings cheering news from General Foster and the beleaguered garrison but meat of it would be contraband so I shall omit writing it.
At ten o'clock this morning Lieut Williams, of General Solanin's staff not to be outdone by Lieut Cole, volunteered to make a perilous reconnaissance of the south shore below the Mill's Point battery. He left in company with a boat's crew of picked men, and made the landing at the month of Blount's creek, three miles below the battery, when he was fired upon by a squad of rebels. This satisfied him that the woods were not unoccupied, and that his "erring Southern brethren" would pay no regard to the fact that his father was an immense democratic politician of Western New York, so he abbreviated his visit and retired out of range of the rebel rifles, when he coolly adjusted his field glass and took a survey of the premises to his heart's content. He too, will have something to brag of. Lieut. Williams reports that the woods back of the shore and fort are alive with cavalry and infantry — a story which is corroborated by the assertions of contraband who have come off to us in "dugouts."
General Prince has arrived here, but brings no additional men or means. Oh for a few more gunboats and a few regiments of the infantry and a few of the transports which have been gouged out of this department by mulishness and the blundering stupidity of the Washington, D. C., "men of brain." If Washington and Newbern fell now we may thank the War Department and the General-in-Chief, and General Hunter for it, and no one else.
The steamer Spaulding from Morehead City, N. C., arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 12th instant. No communication had been received at Newbern from Gen. Foster since Wednesday night. Women and children are leaving Newbern. Seven thousand Federal troops attempted to reach Washington from Newbern, but were driven back by the rebels on Wednesday eight miles, with a loss of about 50 men.
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