The Daily Dispatch: March 10, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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The affair at Gloucester Point.

The information by parties from York river fails to confirm the reported fight at Gloucester Point on Sunday morning. On the contrary, passengers by the York train were positive in their assertions that nothing of the sort occurred. It is probable, therefore, that the "heavy firing" heard at day break was neither more nor less than the reports of Heaven's artillery, which took the people of Richmond by surprise at that early hour. Our information, which we regard as entirely reliable, is to the effect that a body of Confederate cavalry reconnoitered the enemy's position last Friday, and ascertained that the pickets of the enemy had been called in, and the troops withdrawn from the outer line of works to the strong fortifications on Glances or Point. These outer works, which are about a mile and a half this side, were entirely deserted. It was not deemed advisable, if, indeed, it was contemplated, to attack the Yankees in their stronghold, where they would have received additional protection from the guns on the York side of the river; therefore, after completing their observations and shelling the woods in the neighborhood the Confederates withdrew. A Yankee gunboat visited West Point on Sunday for the purpose of looking after matters in that locality. She gave chase to a schooner, but failed to capture her, and soon afterwards bore away down the York.