From Suffolk — the capture of the Stripling battery.
Passengers by the care yesterday evening mention no change in the position of affairs at
Suffolk.
The flag of truce boat at
City Point, Wednesday evening, brought, among other prisoners, 119 men, who, with a battery at five guns, were captured at farm, on the Nanesmond river, Saturday night last.
A sergeant in the battery gives the Petersburg
Express some particulars of their capture:
They were ordered to the locality named on Thursday night, and having placed their guns in position annoyed the enemy's gunboats and transports very much during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
One of the
Federal gunboats was sunk by this battery, and others seriously disabled.
Sunday night, soon after dark, they were suddenly startled by a loud cheer in their rank, and soon perceived that three Yankee regiments — the 9th New York, 9th Connecticut, and another from
New Jersey--had, by a circuiting march on the south side of the river, crossed the stream in transports some distance below them, and they came up in their rear.
The support was a brigade at least two miles distant, but they gallantly stood their ground, and gave the enemy fight, killing and wounding, he was subsequently ascertained some thirty or forty of the invaders.
We lost one man killed, and had four or five wounded,
Capt. Stribling stood his ground firmly, and only surrendered after he had discharged every barrel of a pair of five shooters.
We lost three 12-pounder
Napoleon field pieces, and two 24-pound Irons Howitzers — the latter were captured by us at
Harper's Ferry.
We lost no horses or harness, there having been left behind when we occupied the position on the .
There were out fifty-five of
Capt. Stribling's command present.
The other prisoners were attached to two companies of the 14th Alabama regiment.
We understand that
Major Gen. Longstreet's chief of artillery, protested against occupying the position as it was too much exposed; but his remonstrance were of .
The prisoners were conveyed across the river immediately, and by a circuitous route through many flats and swamps marched to
Suffolk, where they were confined in the jail until Monday night when they were paroled and taken to
Norfolk by rail.
They were then placed on a transport and carried to
Hampton Roads.
Here they remained at anchor until Tuesday, when they proceeded up
James river to miles of
City Point.
Here they anchored for the night, and resumed their journey at an early hour yesterday morning, reaching
City Point about 9 A. M. at the mouth of
James river they saw two iron clads and a large war frigate at anchor.
In marching through the streets of
Suffolk Monday evening, at twilight they were strongly guarded.
An elderly lady made her appearance at a front window as they passed, encouraged them with the remark. "God bless you, my brave boys." She was ordered by a Yankee officer to hold her tongue and close the door.
Further on a was crowded with young ladies who waved their handkerchiefs and hats most enthusiastically.
The prisoners responded with a wild cheer, which resounded throughout the town.
A Yankee officer rode up and commanded the young ladies to assist from their rebel demonstration; but nothing daunted, they waved their handkerchiefs all the more, and the
Confederates cheered louder and louder.
The ladies of
Suffolk, our boys think, are overpowered, but not .
All the commissioned officers captured have been confined in
Fortress Monroe.
These attached to the battery captured are
Captain Stribling and
Lieutenants W. C. Marshall,
Grifton M. Hogons, and
T. Marshall Archer all of county, Va. The names of the commissioned officers of the two
Alabama companies captured our informant was unable to learn.
The jail at
Suffolk is filled with political prisoners and refractory Yankee soldiers.
Among the former are the Messrs.
,
Dr. Ed Phillip,
Dr. and son, and
Capt. Cohoun, all of Nansemond and county.
There are several from the counties of
Gates and
Camden also confined there.
These were captured by
Spear's cavalry, while the road.
command, made up of Irish and Yankees, declare that they are for presenting this war for fifty years, if so long a time be , for the suppression of the rebellion.--The soldiers from
New Jersey say that they will under no circumstances remain longer than the 1st of May, at which time their term of enlistment expires.
They are for letting the
South go. Our prisoners say they were kindly treated by the enemy, and for on the best that their Commissary could afford.
