April 14.—This day the Potomac flotilla visited the town of Urbana, Va. A boat’s crew was sent ashore there, but when within a few yards of the beach, they were fired upon from the rifle-pits. No one was injured. The boat received several bullets in her hull. The Jacob Bell being the nearest in, immediately opened fire upon the rebels, which scattered them in every direction. After this, the flotilla proceeded on its voyage toward Fredericksburgh. Arriving opposite Lowry’s Point batteries, they commenced from the whole fleet to shell the works and fortifications, driving out the pickets who had occupied it since its evacuation.
After the shelling, the boats’ crews landed and proceeded to burn some one hundred and fifty plank and log houses, used by the rebels as quarters, which were entirely consumed. After which, the boats returned to their ships, loaded with blankets, quilts, medicines, and muskets, left by the rebels in their flight.
The fleet thence proceeded to the town of Tappahannock, about two miles above Fort Lowry, arriving off which, a blank cartridge was fired and a flag of truce hoisted, which was responded to by the people of the town, by displaying a number of white flags. The commander of the flotilla landed, where he was met at the beach by a large concourse of persons of all colors, and received with great demonstrations by the colored population.
The American flag was run up over one of the largest houses in the town, when it was hailed with enthusiastic cheering by the crews of the National gunboats. Subsequently the commander was informed that some of the people of the place had said that as soon as the National fleet left, it would be torn down. He then politely told them if it was he would give them six hours to leave the town before he burnt it
Information was given by the contrabands that four large schooners and other obstructions had been placed in the narrow channel of the river five miles below Fredericksburgh, to prevent approach to that place, where lie the steamers St Nicholas, Eureka, and Logan, the former mounted with two guns.—(Doc. 132.)
—This day, below Pollocksville, near Kingston, N. C, a skirmish took place between a detachment of the Second North-Carolina cavalry regiment and the Yankee pickets. Lieut.-Col. Robinson, who commanded, is probably a prisoner. Capt. Turner was hurt by a fall from his horse. Two privates were seriously injured, and five wounded with gun – shots. — Richmond Whig, April 17.
—The issue at Yorktown is tremendous. When the battle does come off it will be a fearful one, for the stake is enormous, being nothing less than the fate of Virginia. Having taken months to prepare, having assembled such a force as the world has not seen since Napoleon advanced into Russia, McClellan feels that to him defeat would be ruin, while confederate soldiers and leaders feel that not only their fate, but the fate of their country, is staked upon the issue, and they cannot afford to be defeated. The contest cannot long be deferred. The news of a terrible battle may startle us at any moment. We trust that our people arc prepared, not only to call upon God to defend the right, but, under God, to defend it themselves, with brave hearts, strong arms, and sufficient numbers.
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Wave, Richmond! all thy banners wave,
And charge with all thy chivalry!
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For not only the fate of the temporary seat of Government, but of Eastern Virginia, and even more than that, trembles in the balance. We presume that President Davis himself will be on the field, as he has intimated. He will share the fate of his soldiers in life or in death, in victory or defeat.— Wilmington Journal, April 14.
—The bombardment of Fort Pillow, on the Mississippi, was this day begun by the mortar-boats of Flag-Officer Foote.—Official Despatch.
