Startling news.
We learn through
Capt. Hill, of the steamer
Schultz, who arrived here last night at 10 o'clock, that our batteries at
Day's Neck and Bluff, on
James river, were attacked by three of the enemy's gunboats yesterday morning at 8 o'clock, and silenced in a short
The steamers
Patrick Henry and
Thomas on both arrived here yesterday evening a late hour, and are now at Drury's Bluff ting further orders.
It is believed that a river at that point will be properly obstructed by the sinking of boats and vessels.
One of the vessels which attacked our batteries at short range was the iron-clad er
Galena.
The two others were supposed to be wooden vessels.
The Curtis Pack was last evening taking troops for Drury's Bluff.
We also learned the passengers from
Norfolk that heavy ding was going on at
Sewall's Point Craney Island yesterday morning.
We learn from
Captain Hill that he was day ordered by
General Magruder, (now sick at
Westover,) to take on at Berkley Clarf 110 barrels of flour and a large of bacon and beef, and proceed at up
Chickahominy river to supply Commissary Department of our ar y. After having loaded,
Capt. Hill proceeded thout delay; but upon arriving at Shop ari on
James river, received a letter from
William H. Southall,
Esq., a magistrate of ries City county, in which it was stated a heavy fight was then (Wednesday ning) progressing at or near
Dia bridge in
James City county, immediately opposite his residence at Mount ry, and expressing apprehensions that a of our army had been cut off.--We make this extract from his letter:
‘
"From appearances the fight seems to approach Trower's Point, at the mouth of
Dia Creek.
I fear our army is cut off.--God help us in our struggle for independence.
There is a lighter now crossing the river at the month of the above creek, loaded with troops."
’
Capt. Hill, learning this information, and rtly after meeting the
Patrick Henry and
Thomas Jefferson on their way up, deemed it dent to return to
Richmond with the commissary stores.
We are no alarmists, but in view of the ts above stated, we earnestly urge upon every citizen to be watchful and determined to meet the invader with an undaunted spirit, should he succeed in making his way to the vicinity of
Richmond.
