On the following Tuesday, April 4, Acting Ensign Milton Webster and myself went ashore for the purpose of ascertaining the whereabouts of Paymaster J. W. Sands, who had previously gone ashore. At a point midway between the cliff of the river and the town, we met a colored man who told us we had better be careful, as there were rebel cavalry in the town. We then went away from the town in a line parallel with the river, across a ravine which was at right angles with the river. Just as we had crossed the ravine, we saw the rebel cavalry coming down on the opposite side. We took to our heels and ran under fire till we got to the woods, and thence to the fleet. When we arrived aboard the Valley City, we found that Paymaster Sands had returned on board, and had taken about the same route ashore as we had.
On Wednesday, April 5, the marines were put in line and marched into the town under cover of the fleet; but as they marched in the rebels marched out. Acting Ensign J. B. Fairchilds was very seriously wounded by an accidental discharge of his own pistol before starting.
On Thursday, April 6, several officers and men of the fleet were ashore, but did not go into the town. In the afternoon many of our men approached near the city, where the rebel cavalry could be seen plainly. Paymaster J. W. Sands and I had walked about one-half the distance from the river towards the town, when we saw the rebel cavalry. We then returned nearer the river, to a cabin in which two very old colored people lived, in the rear of a large log on which Captain J. A. J. Brooks was standing, we both went into the cabin. After a few minutes' stay there in conversation with the colored people, I happened to look out of the window and saw the officers and men of the fleet running. I immediately said to Paymaster Sands, "The rebels are coming!" Then we ran out of the cabin under fire down toward the fleet. The bullets fell all around me as I was running, and just as I came to a path which led down the cliff, on which a lot of scrub oak was growing, the fleet opened fire, and the branches of the trees over my head were cut by the flying shells. I immediately fell out of range of the shells, and took an unfrequented path which led to the mouth of the ravine. I soon arrived at the mouth of the ravine, near by the river. Meantime the fleet was keeping up a rapid fire. The remainder of the officers and men came down, but soon learned our supposed enemy was the 3d New York cavalry, who also thought we were Confederates. This cavalry force had made a raid from Weldon, and had approached the town from the opposite side from where the fleet was laying, and in so doing captured the rebel cavalry in the town of Murfreesborough. There was fortunately nobody injured. The horses of the cavalry were covered with foam and very much heated—so much so that the saddles were taken from their backs, and they were led around for an hour before they cooled off.
The same afternoon, after the third New York cavalry had arrived, many of the officers of the fleet, feeling they might visit the town with impunity, did so. Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Lieutenant Joseph P. Fyffe of the Hunchback, James M. Battin, chief engineer of the Valley City, Paymaster J. W. Sands and myself, by invitation, took tea with a Mr. C—— of the place.
The next morning, Thursday, April 6, the third New York cavalry marched through the main street and left the town. All the windows of the houses on the main street were closed, and none of their occupants were to be seen. This was done in contempt for the Federal troops. After our cavalry had departed, the officers and the marines returned to the fleet, and at 4:15 p.m. got under weigh, and arrived off Winton at 10 p.m., where the fleet remained for some time.
Wednesday, April 10, at 12 m., the Valley City got under weigh and proceeded by way of Edenton to Plymouth, where we arrived at 2:15 a.m. the following day. At 3:05 a.m. we got under weigh and returned to Winton, where we arrived at 12 m. At this point and time we first heard, through the New York Herald, that the Confederate troops under General Lee had been driven from Petersburg by the Federal troops under General U.S. Grant. There was great rejoicing aboard the fleet. The U.S. steamers Shamrock, Wyalusing and Hunchback, fired a salute in celebration of that event. At 3½ p.m. the U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead proceeded to Murfreesborough, where we arrived at 6½ p.m.
Friday, April 14, at 7:50 a.m., the Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh, and proceeded down to Winton, where we met the Wilderness, with Commander Wm. H. Macomb and Lieutenant Commander Earl English aboard, when we received the news that the Confederate forces under General Lee had surrendered to General Grant.
The U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead were ordered to proceed to Murfreesborough and deliver the news to the citizens at that place; and now, after having read a copy of the New York Herald, they were thoroughly convinced that the war was over. Saturday, April 15, at 11:45 a.m., the U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh and proceeded to Winton, where we arrived at 7:55 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18, we first received news of President Lincoln's assassination, which event cast a gloom over the entire nation. At 12:45 p.m., the U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh and proceeded up the Chowan river to Blackwater river, up which we steamed to Franklin, Virginia, where we arrived at 8 a.m. the following day. We visited the people ashore at different times during our stay at that place. Thursday, April 20, at 8½ a.m., the Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh, and proceeded down the Blackwater river to Chowan river, down which we steamed to its mouth, where we anchored.
There are a great many fish in the Chowan river, and the Valley City has often caught shad and herring by the barrel, in a large seine which the inhabitants of that vicinity use for the purpose.