March 8, 1863, The New York Herald
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, March 7, 1863.
The expedition under Colonel Phelps, to Northumberland County, Va., returned this afternoon, after an eminently successful trip.
The force left Belle Plain last Tuesday, in steamers, and was composed of picked men from the Fourteenth New York State Militia, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth and Thirtieth New York Volunteers, and Captain Virgen’s company of the First Maine cavalry. The HERALD correspondent accompanied the expedition.
Owing to the ignorance of the pilot concerning the channel, and the high wind, the landing at the head of Coon river was not effected until Wednesday noon, when the whole command debarked, and Colonel Phelps, with his staff, at the head of the cavalry, dashed on into Heathsville, the country seat of Northumberland, capturing a rebel soldier and taking the entire town by surprise.
The Post Office was searched, but nothing was found save a few dusty papers and old letters, the office not having been reopened since the raid of Colonel Fairchild, several weeks since.
The jail was next examined, but the cells were empty.
At night the command bivouacked a few miles outside the place, and next day foraging parties were sent out in various directions and the cavalry despatched on a scouting expedition into Lancaster county.
The foraging parties seized one thousand bushels of corn, fifty horses, and mules, a large number of fine beef cattle and quite an amount of medical stores. Two post offices and several stores were visited and two important rebel mails captured.
The cavalry also seized a large number of horses and mules, and are now on their way overland to Fredericksburg.
Among the prisoners taken was Colonel Claybrook of the rebel army. He was in command at Belle Plain and Aquia creek last summer, during the occupation of those places by the enemy, and burned a number of barges loaded with hay, &c., that had been blown ashore in the gale at the time of General Burnside’s last movement. He has also been very active in enforcing the conscription and the arrest of Union people, and his capture has occasioned not a little secret rejoicings on the part of his neighbors. His family were exceedingly violent when our troops visited his house, one of them drawing a revolver upon the officers.
A smuggler, who had shipped across the Potomac over one hundred thousand dollars worth of contraband goods, was also captured, together with two influential citizens engaged in the same traffic, and who have oppressed loyal citizens.
Two clerks in the rebel departments at Richmond were overhauled on their way to Maryland, and a large and important mail found in their possession. Among the letters were recommendations to citizens of Baltimore, and official correspondence to parties in London, addressed to the care of Baring Brothers.
The country is quite barren, and, by the visits of both armies has been stripped of nearly everything. The inhabitants are destitute, and great suffering prevails. The roads are dry and dusty, like summer, and the few farmers remaining are busily engaged in ploughing and preparing for the spring crop.
No rebel troops are upon the neck save a few cavalry engaged in enforcing the conscription and escorting contraband goods across from the Potomac.
Several depots for smugglers are established along the Potomac, but lack of rations and proper transportation prevented Colonel Phelps from visiting them.
Very little Union sentiment was found, though a few welcomed us heartily, and offered their service as pilots, and conducted the expedition faithfully through the tortuous channel of Coon river. A few contrabands came off, but, owing to the small size of the steamers the horses, mules and corn could only be removed, and the beef cattle were left at the landing.
Upon the return of the expedition the high wind compelled the heavily loaded steamers to lie at anchor yesterday in St. Marysburg, on the Maryland shore. While there small boats were sent on shore for water, and a number of contrabands came off to the steamers, but Colonel Phelps sent them back, having no right to harbor slaves from a loyal State. Before their return, however, their owner made a complaint to one of our gunboats lying above, and as the expedition came up an officer was sent aboard with instructions to detain the command and take the commanding officers into custody. A satisfactory explanation was given, and the party was at length allowed to proceed.
Captain Wadsworth and Lieutenant Wilcox, of General Reynolds’ staff, accompanies the expedition, and rendered great service.
Much credit is due to Captain Pitkin, post quartermaster at Belle Plain, for energy and tact in fitting out the expedition. Transportation was very scarce and of an inferior quality; yet, notwithstanding these difficulties, the troops were admirably provided for, and obstacles overcome that would have effectually defeated the object of the movement if affairs had been placed in the hands of a less energetic officers.
Yesterday the steamer Frederick Graft was run into and sunk off Windmill Point. All on board escaped.
Affairs in the army are remarkably quiet, and the restrictions upon the exchange of newspapers have effectually excluded all news from the South.
Simultaneously with the outset of Colonel Phelps expedition, a small force from one of the Jersey brigade started upon a similar raid to a different part of Dixie. It has not yet returned.