ose entire
strength was some six thousand men. The marines continued the
skirmishing until nightfall, when they were recalled, having
throughout the day behaved admirably, retaining the good reputation
which that branch of the service has always held.

THE VALLEY CITY ENCOUNTERS A BATTERY.

No sooner had the Valley City, which continued to be the leading
vessel, shown her head around the point, than she was saluted by a
battery which the rebels had placed there so skillfully as to give
them accurate and deadly aim. She replied with great effect, and
silenced the battery; but night fell, and the firing ceased. During
the night all the vessels were annoyed by the rebels, who would
sneak up under cover of the trees, fire a volley upon our decks,
and skedaddle, their retreat being often accelerated by a wholesome
dose of grape. During the day the Valley City had suffered badly
from the rebel battery. Pilot John A. Lewis was shot through the
head with a Minie ball and instantly killed. He was buried on the
bank of the river--the rebels, with their accustomed barbarity,
firing on the burying party.

A shell exploded in the pilot-house of the Valley City, badly
wounding her other pilot. A number of her men were also badly hurt.

THE FLEET IN A TIGHT PLACE.

The 21st and 22d were passed in shelling the batteries on Poplar
Point, and endeavoring to drag the river for torpedoes, that were
now thicker than ever. As fast as our boats would leave the ships
to commence dragging, the rebels would open on them, wounding and
killing the men. A new battery opened on the Valley City,
inflicting serious damage on her. The other ships, with their
hundred-pounder rifles, drove the rebels off repeatedly, but only
to return whenever our fire slackened. It was plain that we could
no longer do without a land force to drive the fellows off and
clear the way for our dragging boats. Every moment the rebels
thickened in the woods; the trees and bushes were alive with
sharpshooters; batteries were discovered in process of erection in
our rear; and in a word, the position of the squadron was critical.

THE FLEET WITHDRAWS TO JAMESVILLE.

Commander Macomb again sent a despatch to the colonel commanding
the land forces, begging him to press forward without delay. The
reply was that the army