Expedition to the lower Rappahannock —— capture of two Yankee gunboats.
--From a participant we have obtained some particulars of the capture of the Federal gunboats Satellite" and "Reliance at Stingray Point, mouth of the Rappahannock, on Saturday night last. The expedition, numbering some sixty men, under command of Lieut. John Taylor Wood, C. S. N., left Richmond on Wednesday, the 12th of August,and proceeded to the Rappahannock, where preparations were at once made for the work which was so successfully completed on Saturday night. Having secured four open boats, the expedition embarked on Saturday night, and proceeded to the point designated, which they reached about half-past 12 o'clock. On approaching the boat they were hailed by a negro guard, to whom they replied satisfactorily, and in a few moments were under the bows of the boats, cutting away the nettings, and clearing the way for boarding the Yankee crafts. The crews having in the meantime become aroused offered resistance, but they were so taken by surprise at the audacity of the undertakings that they were soon overcome by the gallantry and rapid movements of the men under Lieut. Wood, and finally yielded, surrendering the boats, crews, guns, and everything pertaining to the vessels. In the fight we had three men wounded, including Lt. Hoge and Midshipman Cook. The enemy had one killed--a negro — and six or seven wounded. Lt. Hoge was severely wounded in the neck in a hand-to-hand fight with the Captain of the Reliance. The Captain was also wounded. The armament of the Reliance consisted of one 32 pound Parrott gun and a 24 pound howitzer; that of the Satellite of a 32-pound smooth-bore gun and a 12-pound howitzer. Their crews numbered 40 men each. They had no opportunity of firing their heavy guns, our men being too close to them when the alarm was given. Among the captured were seven negroes, who, with the rest of the prisoners, are expected to reach Richmond as soon as they can be brought. Our informant left the boats on Sunday morning at Urbana, on the Rappahannock river, and it is probable that since then they have been run further up that stream. We saw yesterday, at the office of the Chief Clerk of the Navy Department, some of the captured trophies, consisting of flags, sextants, glasses, and charts of the rivers and coast of lower Virginia. The following is the official report of the affair: C. S. S. Satellite, Aug. 23, 1863.
Sir.
--I am thankful to report to you the capture last night, off the mouth of the Rappahannock, of the U. S. gunboat Satellite, 2 guns, 40 men; and the "Reliance," 2 guns, 40 men.
Lieut. Hoge dangerously wounded.
Mid. Cook and three men slightly.
Capt. Walters, of the Reliance, dangerously wounded, and some seven or eight others of the enemy; one or two killed.
* * * * * Sir.
Respectfully, your ob't serv't,
(Signed) J. Taylor Wood,
Lieut. Commanding.
Hon. S. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy.
(Signed) J. Taylor Wood,
Lieut. Commanding.
Hon. S. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy.
