From the Southside.
Fights on the river — movements of
Burnside — Dispatches from
McClellan, &c.
The Petersburg
Express, of yesterday, has the following interesting news:
Annoying the enemy.
On Thursday last a Confederate battery of eight guns having been placed in a position on
James river commanding the channel below
Berkeley, opened a very effective fire on several transports, convoyed by two or three gunboats, as they were ascending the stream.
The river was narrow, and as the shot from our guns fell thick and fast among the
Federal craft the consternation among the
Yankees was great.
The gunboats attempted to return the fire, but the elevated position of our guns rendered the enemy's fire comparatively harmless.
Over fifty shots were fired, striking several of the
Federal craft and damaging them severely. --The large transport
Daniel Webster, crowded with troops, suffered more than any other — she, from some cause unknown to us, making slower progress in escaping from the scene of danger.
In addition to the fire from our field pieces, we had some 250 sharpshooters lining the bank of the river, who poured repeated collies on those occupying the decks of the steamers.
Many must have been killed, the range being short and the sharpshooters comprising several of our most expert marksmen.
The
Daniel Webster was lying but a short distance from
Berkeley, Friday, apparently useless, many holes in her sides being distinctly visible, and her smokestack, railings, and other upper works, bearing palpable evidence of the damaging effects of the fire from our guns.
Our men escaped with out injury.
The latter facts we learn from a gentleman who passed up
James river Friday under a flag of truce from
Old Point.
The present position of
McClellan can in this way be rendered wholly untenable.
No river in the
South offers more superior advantages for this peculiar mode of warfare than the
James, and we are gratified to perceive that our authorities have determined not to allow such advantages to go unimproved.
Cut off
McClellan's supplies and check the advance of his reinforcements, and he will soon discover that
Berkeley is no place for him. In fact, the New York
Tribune and other
Lincoln sheets have already stated as much.
We learn from a gentleman who has recently made his escape from
Newbern, N. C., that
Burnside's army headed by
Burnside, have recently left that town, only about three hundred remaining, to protect the place.
They left by water, taking with them all their steamers, gunboats as well as transports, lighters, arks, and canal boats.
Burnside's ultimate destination was not divulged at
Newbern, but it was generally believed that he expected to co-operate with
McClellan in
Virginia.
A gentleman who reached
Petersburg direct from
Norfolk Saturday evening, states that all of
Burnside's fleet, which could be accommodated in the
Dismal Swamp canal, had reached there on Wednesday morning last.
Those coming through the canal numbered fifty-three comprising many arks canal boats, barges, and other craft, drawing but a few feet of water.
On Friday morning last there were over 300 vessels, of various kinds, lying in
Hampton Roads and the month of
James river stretched across from Newport News to the month of
Pagan creek.
Of the intentions of
Gen. Burnside we have not been apprised; but there is very good reason for believing that a movement on the south bank of
James river is contemplated.
With his army on the south, and
McClellan's on the north, the enemy doubtless hope to make a successful movement on
Richmond.
He will be foiled in this, as he has been in every other.
The exchange of prisoners.
Col. Madison Miller, of the 18th Missouri volunteers,
Major Stone, of the 3d Iowa, and
Capt. P. Gregg, of the 18th Illinois, returned to this city yesterday morning from
Richmond.
They came up from
Old Point on Friday night, per flag of truce, as was mentioned in Saturday's
Express.--These officers were captured by
Gen. Beauregard at the
battle of Shiloh, and at their own request were released on parole to repair to
Washington to endeavor to bring about a system of general exchange of prisoners between the two Governments.
We stated on Saturday that they had failed in their efforts; but we are informed by one of the officers that they have not entirely failed, but have strong hopes of bringing about some satisfactory plan.
Col. Miller and
Major Stone returned to
Washington yesterday morning to renew their efforts.
Capt. Gregg returned to
Atlanta.
By this time we think we have as many prisoners as they have, and an exchange should be effected.
Dispatches from McLellan.
A Federal
Captain, who arrived in this city on Friday night from
City Point, per flag of truce, left for
Richmond on Saturday morning with dispatches from
McClellan for our Government.
The packages were labelled ‘"Dispatches from
Gen. McClellan's Headquarters."’ It is probable they may contain reference to matters of great importance, inasmuch as they were sent up the day after the arrival at
Westover of
Lincoln.
