From the Potomac.
The Federal authorities are really out-viewing the Sepoys in acts of barbarism and ferocity.
They have converted this war into a crusade against women and children, rather than conducting it on those high and honorable principles recognized as legitimate among those nations professing to be enlightened and Christian in principle.
As an instance of their atrocity we copy the following from the
Fredericksburg Herald, of the 17th instant:
On Sunday morning last, one of those Yankee tugs that have infested the
Potomac for months, drew near and commenced shelling the house of
Mr. Withers Waller, whilst the family were all in bed, in fancied, peaceful security.
As may well be imagined, the occupants were alarmed, and well they might be: shot and shell falling thick and fast around their domicil from an enemy only a few hundred yards off, who regarded neither womanhood nor childhood.
Mrs. Waller ran out of the house with nothing but her dress hurriedly slipped over her night clothes, in her bare feet, flying for safety!
Mr. Waller secured the children, and hastened them and
Mrs. W. to a ditch, where they were hidden and comparatively safe from the demon attack of the heartless foe.
The tug fired from 30 to 40 shots, but did not succeed in materially damaging the house, though their shells burst and fired eight stacks of straw, which were of course destroyed.
The Yankee tug was armed with two 32 pounders and a rifle gun.
Mr. Waller's house is in
Stafford county, less than a hundred yards from the river, and some four or five miles above.
Aquia Creek. The attack was, altogether, one of the most cowardly and mean that even a Yankee could penetrate.
From the Fredericksburg Recorder, of the 17th inst.,we extract the following:
‘
The only matter of striking interest that has occurred on this river since our last, has been running of the blockade by several small crafts on Sunday morning, whilst a strong wind was blowing down the river.-- Our batteries failed to do any serious damage to the small fry vessels, though it is reported that the
Pensacola attempted to go down and was driven back.
It is said that
Braxton's battery, from this place, fired some five shots into a tug on Sunday'morning, doing it serious damage.
This is reported to have occurred just below
Evansport.-- Very severe firing was heard up the
Potomac for some five or six hours this morning, but where or what it was we cannot say.
’
