THE ADVANCE AGAINST RICHMOND: Commodore Goldsborough with a Formidable Fleet Gone up the James River (5/20/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 5/20/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Monday. May 19.

At the time of the preparation of this dispatch, no official dispatch had been received regarding Commodore GOLDSBOROUGH'S expedition up the James River, but the following statement, gleaned from the Evening Star and other sources, it is believed embrace the material facts:

Commodore GOLDSBOROUGH was accompanied by the steam frigate Susquehanna, and the gunboats Dacotah, Maritanza and Wachusett, and the tug Zouave, the latter mounted with a single gun. He found the first rebel battery at Day's Point deserted.

The rebel flag was still flying over the battery at Hardy's Point, fifteen miles above Newport's News Commodore GOLDSBOROUGH, on arriving within range, at once shelled it, and on receiving no response, after duly reconnoitering, landed a force of marines, who found it deserted, and most of its guns dismounted. Through a solitary inhabitant picked up there, he ascertained that on the previous Wednesday night its [???] garrison of four hundred rebels evacuated it.

He then proceeded up the river, finding all the many rebel batteries between Hardy's Point, Fort Hunger and Jamestown, deserted, with their guns mostly dismounted and rendered temporarily useless. He took means of securing all the ordnance thus left by the rebels.

Near Jamestown he met the division of his squadron that had previously gone up the river, under Commander JOHN RODGERS, and learned the history of the day before at Fort Darling, and also of the bursting of the Naugatuck's large gun, and the evacuation by the rebels of all their fortifications and batteries below Fort Darling, supposed to have taken place on the previous Wednesday night.

When last heard from, on Friday, Commodore GOLDSBOROUGH was continuing his progress with most of his squadron up the river above Jamestown, securing the ordinance, &c., abandoned by the rebels as he progressed.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Advance Against Richmond: Commodore Goldsborough with a Formidable Fleet Gone up the James River – 2
The Situation in Virginia: The Opposing Armies – 2-3
News from the South: Movements of the National Fleet on the Lower Mississippi – 3
The Department of the Rappahannock – 3
The New Mexican Expedition – 3
Important from Washington: Gen. Hunter’s Order Repudiated by the President – 4-5
Editorial: The President and Gen. Hunter – 5-6
The Situation in Virginia – 6
Where Our Iron-Clads are Weak – 6
A Waste of Troops – 6
Up the James – 7
From Gen. Wool’s Department: The Occupation of Suffolk by Our Forces – 7

[GranTorino]

The war didn’t stop the dog show.
4000 dogs,400 breeds.
Quite a contrast with what is happening down South.
Also noticed the use of the word railroad more frequently instead of just calling it a road.