The New York Herald Newspaper, May 19, 1862, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 9382. NEW YORK, MONDAY, MAY 19, 1862. IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTH, RUMORED EVACUATION OF WELDON, N. C. Arrival of the United States Transport Gen. Burnside. Gov. Clark, of North Carolina, Brings Jeff. Davis to Terms, ‘The North Carolina Convention and the Rich- “mond Rebel Authorities at Loggerheads, The North Carolina Troops Called Home by Gov. Clark. NO. MORE AID TO JES. DAVIS & CO. Virtual Restoration of North Carolina to the Union. ZZow the Conscription Act is Viewed in South Carolina, &., &., &. Reported Evacuation of Weldon, N. C. Barrmore, May 18, 1862, A romor is current here that Weldon, N.C., has been evacuated by the rebels. Arrival of the Transport General Burn- side from Newbern. ‘The United States transport General Burnside, Captain ‘Wilcox, from Newbern, N.C.,and Hatteras, arrived at ‘this port this morning, after a passage of forty hours, having on board one hundred and sixty-five siek and ‘wounded soldiers and seventy-five officers and privates onfarlough. She has also a very large mail from New- ‘Dern, Roanoke and Hatteras, and six hundred packages Of merchandise, consigned to Adams & Co.'s express. Nothing of interest had transpired at Newbern. General Burnside returned to Newbern from Roanoke on the 13th to review the troops. The troops areallin good health. The following are the passengers by the General Burn- aide:— Lieutenant Colone: Robie, Eighty-ninth New York Vo" Tunteers; r 8. A. Allen, Captain E, E. Lapham, Captain L. E. Kent, Fourth Rhode Island; Lieutenant 2. A. Green, Ninth New York Volunteers; Captain J. H. irk, Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers; Prof. B, Malli- port, Engineer Corps; Dr. Stone, Twenty-third Massa- ebusetts; L. P. Walcott ,C. H. Foster, of North Carolina; Hi. Hayne, New York Volunteers; L. Kraught. At a meeting of the passengers, held May 17, Colonel J. C. Robie presiding, and Charles Henry Foster acting as Secretary, it was Resolved, That our warmest thanks are hereby ten- dered to Captain D. D. Wilcox, commanding this steamer, for his kind and courteous treatment during the passag from Newbern. His demeanor to us all has been gen Yous and gentlemanly, and it is due to his care and vig! ant attention to our wants that a trip which, from the rous! of the weather on first day; and the ‘erowded condition of the vessel, might have been, had ‘we been left to another, exceedingly disagreeable, was rendered most comfortable and pleasant. His table has Deen sumptuously spread and attentively served, and nothing that was attainable for our accommodation has doen neglected. Glorious News from the Old North State. We are indebted to Charles Henry Foster, of North Carolina, who came passenger by the General Burnside, for North Carolina papers of a late date, from which we extract the following glorious news from North Caro- al [From the Newbern Progress, May 10.} ‘The information which we givo below ts gratifying to the lover of his country. North Carolina at last begins to awake to the fact that J. Davis & Co. have been making a cat's paw of the Old North State to poke their chestnuts out of the fire, and refuses longer to submit to the disgrace and burden which has been imposed upon her by the scoundrels at Richmond. The old pa. ‘triotic fires which burned so brightly at Alamance and Mecklenburg are rapidly developing themselves, and we trost will burn with an increasing brilliancy upon the altars of liberty, North Carolina isin a fair way of Doing regenerated from the thraidom of sin and rebel- dom. We trust that this may prove the harbinger of Detter days, and that bright prospects are ahead for our Deloved country. We obtain the news by way of Wash- Ington, and direct from Raleigh. The arrest of Mayor Respess, of Washington, N. C., ‘who was seized in the night time iu the most summary ‘manner and hurried off to Richmond in irons, is creating ‘& most intense excitement m the State. The Governor of the State (who is not in prison, as reported), backed Dy the Convention, sent a peremptory demand to the Richmond authorities for the immediate delivery of the person of Mayor Respess, who was kept in close confine. ‘ment. His trial was in progress when they received the demand, and the authorities at Richmond informed the coommittes sent by Governor Clark that there were a few more witnesses to appear in the case, and they desired ‘to complete the trial. The committee informed the au- ‘thorities at Richmond that the person of the Mayor must de delivered up forthwith, otherwise Nerth Carolina would send a force to back up the demand of the Convention. Mr. Respess was delivered over to the committee, and went to Raleigh rejoicing. He was set at liberty: and is now on his way home to Washington where the Union citizens are preparing to give him an ovation. This committee was also instruc ted to, ‘and did, deliver en order to the Virginia chivalry that North Carolina was capable of managing her own affairs, ‘and that no mere of her citizens must be taken out of the ‘State. In connection with this matter we also learn thet J. Davie afew days since ordered Governor Clark to fur- amish them all the means of transportation and defence pessidle to aid him in the passage to and through the cotton States, and also for additional troops. Gov- ernor Clark, backed by the Convention, informed him that he had recsived all the aid from North Carolina that he could expect, and that hereafter no more troops would be permitted to leave the State, and has ordered all the North Carolina State troops home. Governor Clark informed the rebels that they could use the railroads in retreating homewards, and that they ‘would run their own risk of being intercepted by a Union force at any part of the State. ‘The above information comes froma member of the Convention, Governor Clark, of North Carolina, 0: the Act of the Rebel Military Aue thes. {From the Raleigh, N. C., Standard, April 26.) ‘State oF Norn Carouna, Executive Dar artMenr, Rauman, April 16, 1862," ‘To Tue Prorie or Nortu Caroma — By an advertisement in the public papers, signed W. 8. Ashe, are informed that he will appoint, and send agents t se every eounty in the Blate, to borrow, roe, ‘and if necessary, to impress, all the arms now the hands of private citizens. Any attempt to scize the arms of our citizens is di Foctly at variance with the constitution, and in opposi tion to the declared policy of the government, which makes it the duty of every citizen to keep and bear arma, and ts the arms of the militia even from execution ) Tmurt ¥, 08 an act of the high. uty, you should discover to ‘State euthorities all public arms, maskets , Within your knowledge, and of selling to the arms, the property of individuals, which ‘The colonels of the several its of militia will act aa agents for the State, and wiilMotify me whenever any euch arms are delivered or offered to them. Their an Carious Hint Concern the Rebel Con- seription Act. (From the South Carolinian.} MILITARY LAW OF CONSCRIPRION. ‘We learn by telegraph of the passage of a pili by Con. gress, press} inder conscription all over eighteen and under thir and to raise a vast and permanent army without reference to the States. This isa great and mighty stride to a military consolidation. If it be abso- lutely necessary to save us from a conquest by the we are willing to submit to it, but we fear the mind must prepare ilself for a great change in our “We Have id ‘rom the Raleigh Standard, April 26.} The following trom the Kichmond ®zaminer hits off the blood and thander destructiyes, who talk, talk; but who can’t be dragged into the war except by @ rope. ‘The gentry of that school are filling the offices of the South, and will back and back, as the enemy advan to the Gulf, unless they can find a hiding place 8001 or will go over to the enemy ‘‘horse, foot and dragoons. Let the government purge the offices of the land for con. seripts and make them fight:— * The bare conjecture of the possibility of the enemy Teaching Richmond has been enough tofdevelope the meanness and cowardice of a number of our bogus pa- triots, who are now intent to save their carcasses and property,and who congratulate themselves that they have not committed themselves in any way that the enemy can reach them, as ‘‘they have not borne arms.” We do not invent this wret con- ogy to put in the mouth of any man. We have ‘d it from the lips of a man who had boasted @ while ago that be ‘“bi on secession,’ and who, day and night, from telegraph office to War Department, and from street corner to street corner, has gone about complaining that our troops are cowards; | that the government is not redhot enough; and that | separation with the Yankees should be made wide and impassable by the living hell of an endless war. “It is sickening to see the amount of time-serving and truckling meanness in a considerable portion of human creatures. Apy one who saw the aisplay of tergiversa- tion last spring in Washington city, in which fire-eaters suddenly became petitioners for office under Lincoln,and hot-blooded secessionists were tranformed into ‘hen hussies” to take care of their women and children, may be prepared to witness in Richmond, if it should ever be occupied by the Yankees, similar displays on the part of “original disunionists,” whose only part in the war has been*‘to bring it on,” to talk beligerently at the tele- graph office, to hanker around the War Department, and to spit fire on the street corners. “Some of these brave street corner politicians are constantly ring desperate advice to others; and while rich ,. e-eater is advising all penniless men to leave their families to starve and ‘fight for Mberty,” nosooner is his own name enrolled for the militia than he puts a pitch plaster on his back, sneaks by stealth up to the Board of Exemptions, and gets a certificate of exemption for weakness of the spine. So Mr. Firo-eater ‘does not bear arms,” and, although he has boen writing political tracts all his life, or in some way firing the Southern heart, or preaching orally dame nation to the Yankees, he expects, should they get to Richmond, to save his money, stocks and plate because ‘she hag not committed himself in any way that the enemy can ?éAch him.’” Shame, unutterable shame, for such a plea! The truly brave and patriotic man, who, by his misfortune, has been prevented from serving in the field for his coun- try’s cause, would disdain to make this a plea for his safety. Ho will be glad for the trialof his man- hood—he will rejoice to answer to the enemy who con- fronts him, that though his hands have not borne arms, his soul has—and he will be proud thus to relieve him- self of the disgrace ot not being found in the field by ex- plaining that bis absence from it was a misfortune, un- welcome to a brave spirit, and not a coward’s refuge. News from Norfolk and Portsmouth. {From the Norfolk Day Book, May 12.) The destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard, together With the vessels lying there, was, on the approach of the federal troops, begun about ten o'clock in the morning. Fire was first applied to the Plymouth, and in a short time thereafter every vessel was in flames. Thedry dock was also destroyed, as wellas all tho buildings in- side the yard, with the exception of some two or throe near the wall, which were not fired through the fear that the flames might be communicated to Gosport. About four o’clock a quantity of cotton left behind was burned near the railroad depot, and some two hundred and fifty boxes of tobacco thrown overboard. ‘The steamers Selden, Kahukee, Harmony and others were fired and completely destroy during the afternoon. A fing of truce from the Coufederate troops, in charge of Colonel Preston, of General Huger’s staff, reached Portsmouth yesterday afternoon about six o’clock, and proceeded to the Navy Yard. We were not able to learn with certainty the ebject of this flag, but presume its mission was to make some arrangementsfor the removal of the sick Southern troops at the naval hospital. {From the Norfolk Day Book, May 16.} The inflated prico of provisions which has marked the to collapse. This is owing to two causes—one is that very many families have laid in large supplies, their pautries presenting the appear- ance of very respectable grocery stores, thereby lessen. ing the number of purcha-ers; and the other is, that our monumental neighbors have begun the exportation of goods from Baltimore. Colonel Powell T. Wyman, commanding United States forces on the Portsmouth side of the river, has issued an order, in answer to inquiries, stating that persons going about the city, quietly attending to their business or leasure, will not be interfered with by the guard at any our of the night MOVEMENTS OF SECRETARIES SEWARD AND WELLES Our Naval Correspondence. Unsrrep Staves StramEn Starving Stones, May 14, 1862. Arrival of the Steamer Baitimore—Its Important Passen, gers—General McClelian a Quest on Board the Boal— Navai Movements, de. The steamer Baltimore, Acting Master Germain, which left the Washington Navy Yard at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, has just arrived, making a fow stoppages on her way hither, Considering the passengers she brings, it would appear that the energy exhibited by President Lincoln, in his landing at Willoughby Point and the cap. ture of Norfolk, has become contagious, and that the venerable Chief of the Navy Department is not disposed to take things so easily as some people are dispoxed to give bim credit for. The Baltimore brings the following passengers -— Hon Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy; Hon. Wil- liam H. Seward, Secretary of State; Frederick W. Se: ard, Esq., Assistant Secretary of State; Commander Dal greu, Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, his son and danghter; Attorney General Bates; Mr. Faxton, Chief Clerk of the Navy Department, and son; Dr. Whea len, Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, his lady and son; Mrs. Commodore Goldsboreugh, son'and brother, and Miss Goldsborough. Genera! McCletlan is now @ guest onboard. At his request Sommander Smith, Flag Officer of the York River squadron, on board the Wachusett, and Lieutenant Commanding Stevens have just been ordered by Secre- tary Welles to the James river, leaving Lieutenant Com- manding Murray in command of tho equadron, This moment (six o’clock P. M.), Master Com: French, of the Stepping Stones, has received a despa' from Commodore Wyman, of the Potomac fiotilia, order- ing him to leave forthwith, ee te departure to the Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac, and to rejoin the Potomac flotilla, reporting to the Commodore on board the Yankee, at the mouth of the Rappahanock. Our Army Correspondence. ‘Commentanp, Va., May 14, 1862. Arrival of Secretaries Seward and Welles—White House in Our Hands, The steamer Baltimore, having on board Secretaries Seward and Welles, arrived at two o'clock P. M. to-day— Captain Dabigren accompanying them. They were re. ceived with the honors due them. Escorted by Genera! McClellan and a few members of his staff, they proceed- ed to the headquarters, They will be the guests of the General during their stay with the army. At six o'clock their presence was made known to tho diflerent brigadier generals, who ealled out their regiments and passed them in review. It was raining quite hard at the time, but neither the objects of the ovation nor the mon paid ang attention to this fact. They gave cheer after cheer, with that beartiness soldiers only can give. Secretary Seward was on horseback. By bis side rode General McClellan, Secretary Welles rode in acarriage. General Stoneman returned this connoissance with @ portion of his regiment. He took the lead a short distance of @ division which left re this morning. Having taken possession of the “White House,’ the former residence of General Lee, the rebel General, and turned the same over to our General, he sent two detachments of his men in diverse directions—one to burn a bridge to interrupt the pro- gress of the rebels, and the other to get possession of some additional barns, in whieh are stored several thou- sand bushels of grain. They carried their point in each case, ‘Twenty-seven prisoners and deserters, them a captain na three lieutenants, were added to-day to our lists of those rebel representatives. In appearance, t! aro a counterpart of thse preceding them, and cores. rate former recitals as to the tdemoralization and future movements of the reve! art Onr division starts at half-past six o'clock in the morn- ing. As i# generaliy the case on the evening before iking tents, the ka are lively to-night with prepa- ratione to comply with the order. The spirits of = men are moro jubiiant as our proximity to Richmond ing toe ndtarial rogicon in which we bore been encased ing tho w been encam; singe leaving Yorktown. pea News from Temmesse Lovrsvitix, May 17, 1962. Major Helveti was released by Morgan, at Sparta, Tea- nesses, on Thursday, and is now at Nashville. Major H. says Morgan had sixty men with him whoa he left. Captain Dwyer Mortally Wounded. Puravecema, May 17, 1862. Captain Dwyer, of Company K, Thirty-eighth Now ‘York regiment, of Elizabethtown, Fssex connty, is at the St, Joseph's Hospital, mortally wounded. J. B. CRAWFORD, Surgeon Pounsyivania Volunteers, PRICE TWO CENTS. THE REPULSE ON THE JAMES RIVER. The Vessels Engaged with the Rebel Batteries and Lists of the Officers Attached to Rach, Sketch of James River and James- town Island, &e., &e., &e. The despatch that was received at the War Department on Saturday last from Williamsburg, Va., gives us the intelligence that the gunboats Galena, Monitor, Arcos” took, Naugatuck and Port Royal were repulsed from Fort Darling, seven miles below Richmond, on the previous day, and that a portion of them had returned to James-~ town Island, in James river. Lieutenant Morris, commanding the Port Royal, brought down with him a number of those who were killed and wounded during the engagement, and seyen- een of the former have been interred on the banks of the river. There were @ number of the wounded still on board when the despatch left, including Lieutenant, Morris, It appears that the one hundred-pound gun of the Nau gatuck burst at the first fire, ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. No official report of the gunboat, aflairon the James river has been received at the Navy Department. The messages received on the subject indicate am opportunity todo better in the future. The river is now clear of ob- structions to within eight miles of Richmond, At that point there is a heavy battery mounted on a high bluff, and the river is temporarily closed to navigation by sunken vessels, among which are said to be the York- town and Jamestown, and by piles, chains, &c. The Monitor could not elevate hor guns sufficiently to reach the high battery, which rendered her useloss. The banks of the river were filled with rifle Pits, from which an incessant fire was poured upon the fleot, a part of which was engaged at from 600 to 1,000 yards from the main battery. After an action of four hours the fleet, finding it impracticable under the circumstances to silence the battery on the Diuff, withdrew. Our loss was thirteen killed and eleven wounded. Among the latter Lieutenant Morris, in the leg, by @ Minie ball, but not seriously. It is expected that full particulars will be received inthe morning. Reception of the News in Washington— Explanation of the Cause of the Re- pulse. Wasuinaton, May 18, 1862. ‘The repulse of our gunboats by the rebel fort on Jameg river, just below Richmond, as stated in a meagre despatch, produced much excitement here, until ex- plained that for some time past the rebels have been obstructing the river at that point with sunken stone, immediately under the guns of @ strong fort upon a bluff, so high above the river that the guus of our vessels cannot be elevated enough to reach it. It is quite certain that an attempt was made by our guuboats to remove these obstructions, under a fatal fre from the fort, which was able to pour its shot with accuracy down upon them, while they could not reply with any effect. This fort can only be reached with mortars; but if the obstructions could be dragged out of the channel the gunboats might easily pass the fort and have the city of Richmond at their mercy. ‘The Naugatuck carried only a single gun—a rifled one hundred-pounder Parrott. The bursting of this piece at the first fire renders her unserviceable until the shat- tered Parrott can be replaced by a more reliable piece of ordnance. Description of the Union Gunboats, ‘The following is acomplete description of the vessel® engaged in the above action, with a list of the officers attached to each:— GALENA, A description of the new iron-clad gunboat Galena having already been published in the Hxraup, we will \erely state here that ehe was partly built at Mystic, Connecticut, and afterwards brought to the port of New York to receive her armament, armor and machinery. After arriving here some very important alterations in the plan of the construction of her armor were'made, by which her strength and power of resistance wore ren- dered much greater than was at first deemed practicable, ‘The object which it was designed to secure in the cour struction of this vessel was deemed almost impossible of accomplishment, and the project was, therofore, like the building of the Monitor, an experiment. To the well known naval architect, Samuel H. Pook, of Boston, is due the praise of putting into successful operation what seomed wholly inconsistent with itself—that a vessel could be built two hundred fect long, thirty-six feet breadth of beam and one thousand tons burthen—the size and description of a war vessel of the ordinary construction, which would require the depth of about twelve feet of water, and yet be strong enough to sustain a shot-proor covering, have a draught of water of but ten or twolve feet and contain engines and machinery which would give her a speed of about twelve knots per hour—in short that she should be entirely seaworthy, as perfectly adapted to the purposes of cruising as wooden vessels in common use, and, in addition, be impenetrable. That all these desirable objects have been accomplished we have had ample proof from the tests already employed on her, In her trial trip from the Continental Iron Works, at Greenpoint,to the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, she accomplished about six miles per hour under only a half head of steam, minded her helm beautifully,and her machinery worked with the utmost satisfaction. After receiving her outfitand a picked crew, she sailed from the Navy Yard on the 23d of April, making a speed of about ten miles per hour. After arriving at Fortress Monroe her masts, rigging and other objects on her upper deck were removed, so that her smoke stack and pilot house were the only objects which afforded a mark for the enemy above her covered deck. The particulars of her recent engagements having been already published in the Heraxp, it is unnecessary here to repeat them; it is enough to know that in those engagements she has given unqualified proof that she is an iron-clad vessel of ‘no mean power of resistance, and is destined to hold a very prominent position in the history of the American Navy. ph designer was Mr. Julius Patterson; constructors Messrs. Maxon, Fish & Co., and the general superintend- ‘ence was conducted by Naval Constructor Pook. Annexed is a list of her officers: — Commander—John Rodgers. Lieutenant and Executive ( —L. H. Newman: Acting Masters—B. W. Loring, A. W. Emerson and 8. B. Washburn. Assistant Surgeon—R. 8. Van Greson. \cting Assistant Paymaster—J. H. Sellman. Ftd rst Assistant (Acting Chief), J.W. Thomp- Acting First Assistant, A. G. Pemb! ‘Assistants, A. 8. Chapman and Frank A. Bresmon Acting Third Assistants, Thomas Milholland ay Dopbe. Beatswain—Robert Dixon. Gunner—J. D. Boovom. Acting Master’s Mates—A. Meliram, A. MoCleary, E. A. Gelando and J. H. Jenks. ‘The Galena also carries a sergeant’s guard of marines and a crew of about 100 men. MONITOR. Although a fall description of the glorious little Moni- tor has been published in the Hnatp twice, we gives few particulars concerning her, feeling confident that everybody is interested in her movements. ‘The trial trip, after the vessel had been finished, was anxiously looked for, not only by tho public, but by Captain Ericsson and Albau C. Stimers, Chief Engineer, United States Navy, together with Isaac Newton, First Assistant Engineer United States Navy. Under the care and superintendence of these two last gentlemen the e- tire vessel and machinery were built. On Thursday, the 26th of February, she loft the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, on her first trial trip; but her steering apparatus not working satisfactorily, she put back to have the necessary alterations made.’ These were ar- ranged ina short time, and on the 3d instant she went on at trip to test her steering qualities, having on board a Commission composed of Commodore Gregory, Chief Engineor Garvin and Naval Constructor Hart. She left the Navy Yard at balf-past ten o'clock in the morning, ‘and proceeded down outside the Narrows, where her guns were fired and the vessel manwuvrea. The Com mission reported verbally to Commodore Paulding that they considered the boat vory successful, One man steered ber with perfect orge and facility. sar. She made a complete revolution with the helm hard over in @ space of three times her own length, the timo re- quired being four minutes and three-quarters. It had been feared by many naval officers that when the guns were fired the concussion within the turret would be too great for the men to bear; but it was found that, on the contrary, the concussion within was less than it was without the turret, nor was it at all s« @ upon the ear in any part when a charge of canister, weighing one hundred and thirty-five pounds, was fired with the full charge of fifteen pounds of powder. Her speed by the chip-log was six and a quarter knots an hour, with sixty- five revolutions of the engines. The boilers, being new and greasy, foamed so that the engines could not be worked up-to their maximum speed. The Commission expressed themselves agreeably dis- appointed at the performances of the vessel in every respect, the only difficulty being that the iron pilot / house affected the compass,a matter which was after” wards easily adjusted. She isa long, wide, flat-bottomed vessel, with vertical sides and pointed ends, requiring but a very shallow depth of water to float in, though heavily laden with impregnable armor on her sides and a bomb-proof deck, On which is placed a shot-proof revolving turret, which contains two heavy guns. She is so low in the water as to afford no target for an enemy, and everything and everybody is below the water line, with the exception Of those persons who are required to work the gums in the turret. The following is a correct list of her dimenaions :-— Inches. 1” Beam of lower vessel at junction with upper. 34 Beam at bottom, ,. Height of turret... Diameter of pilot house. Height above deck... ‘The pilot house is only a few feet above the deck, the holmsman standing on a platform below it. This, with ‘en turret, are the only things above the surface of the leck. The keel of the Monitor was laid on the 25th of October, 1861, and steam first applied on the Slst of December thesame year. She was launched on the 30th of last January. ‘The exploits of this glorious little craft are go fresh in the minds of the public that it is unnecessary to go into details about them. Suffice it to say that on the ninth of last March she very opportuncly arrived off Fortress Monroe, engaged the Merrimac, and in a couple of hours. forced that supposed impenetrable monster to retire, disabled so badly as to render her almost useless after- wards. The following is a correct list of her officers:—- Lieutenant Commanding—George Jeffers. Lieutenant and Executive 5 ‘Acting Masters—L. M. Stor ‘W. Webber. Acting Assistant Paymaster—Wm. F. Keeler. Acting Assistant Surgeon—D.C. Logue. Engineers—First Assistant, Isaac Newton; Second As- sistant, Albert 8. Campbell; Third Assistants, R. W. Sands, M. T. Sunstron. Acting Master's Mate—George Frederickson, NAUGATUCK, This little steam battery was built by Mr.Stevensas & partial illustration of some of the principles of hig famous battery, and presented to the United States gor vernment by him. She carries one 100-pounder rifled gun amidships, and twosmall howitzers. Many doubts were expressed as to the efficiency of this boat; but the following statement of her performances during her recent engagement, with the Merrimac, firing with @ range of about four miles, sets aside all doubts as toher efficiency as a powerful engine of war:— ‘The Naugatuck then fired at the rebel town and Jamestown, which were lying yeyond the Mer- rimac. The practice was excellent, and her gun showed an extraordinary length of range. ‘Turning her attention from the Merrimac her shots were directed at the rebel |, and of four fired all appeared to strike near the obyect aimed at. The rebel vessels fell slowly back and the firing soon ceased. The practice and of tl Naugatuck’s rifled gun excited great admiration, and if brought into play would probably have prevented the rebeis from capturing any prizes. Im her late engagement off Fort Darling it is said her one hundred-pounder Parrott gun exploded. As we have already given a full description of her in this paper, we merely annex a list of her officers:— HTlfoallttal junboats York- Lieutenant Commanding— —— Robinson, First Officer—Lientonant J. Wall Wilson. Second Opicer—K. L. Morton. Engincers—First, Thomas Lingle ; Second , Joseph White. PORT ROYAL, ‘The United States steam gunboat Port Royal is of the same class as the Octorara. She was built at Stack’s Yard, Greenpoint, and received her machinery from the Novelty Works, Eastriver. After completing her outfit at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, she went on a twelve hours’ trial trip, making nine knots per hour under only a half head of steam, answering ber helm beautifully, and re- turned to the yard on the 30th of April. She carrieseight guns, has an inclined engine of great power, with boilers twenty feet long, ten fect wide and nineanda half fect high. Her length is two hundred and eight feet, breadth of beam thirty-five feet, thirteen feet depth of hold, and draws only seven feet. Sho is aside- wheel steamer, having a rudder at eitherend. Onthe morning of the 5th of May she sailed from this port for Fortress Monroe, and was engaged with the Merrimac on the day that that vessel seized three United States « schooners off Newport’s News. Both commander and crew of this vessel have seen service on the Cumber- jJand, inthe engagement between that vessel and the Merrimac—one of the most glorious struggles of the war. Lieutenant Morris was born in Massachusetts, in the year 1826, and was appointed to the navy im 1846. He received his present commis- sion on the 16th of September, 1861. To the beginning of 1861 his seaservice under his previous commission was nearly four years, and his total sea service over ten years. He was three years doing shore duty, and un. employed for fifteen months. Previous to his appoint- ment to the command of the Cumberland, on the North Atlantic squadron, he had been on leave of absence. He was also for some time on the sloop-of-war Cyane, on the Pacific squadron. The heroism which he displayed when the Cumberland was sinking, and her decks covered with the dead and the dying, will never be forgotten. “Men,” said he, when the ship was sinking, ‘shall we give her another broadside?” “Aye, ay ,’? was the response of the gallant crew; and with the last surge of the noble ship, the water rushing through her portholes, her guns thundered forth a final yolley at the Merrimac. Lieutenant Morris, in the late action seven miles be- low Richmond, is reported among the wounded. Tho following is a list of her officors:— Lieutenant eorge U. Morris, Lieutenant—Henry D. Ford. Master—M. 8. Stuyvesant. Fs bey whomnons Van Slyek and k. D. D. Voorhees, istant Surgeon—W. 8. Fort. Assistant Paymaster—Jobn 8. Bates, Jr, Captain’s Clerk—W. H. Ennis. A Masters’ Mates—John H. Marne], James Hunter, Benj, Wood and W. F. Reynolds. ineert—-Second Assistant (Acting Ch w. Selden; Second Assistant, George W. Sensner; Third As- sistants, k. M. Breese, Oscar C. Lewis and F, B. Allyn, AROOSTOOK, ‘This steam gunboat was built in Philadelphia. She is of the same class as the United States gunboat Oneida, built at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, and is considered one of the best men-of-war of her class. She has not been engaged in any particular struggle, until that in which it j8 Feported she was repulsed from Fort Darling, seven miles below Richmond. i River. James river is the largest of the rivers which have their course wholly within the state of Virginia, and is formed by the union of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers, which unite at about fifteen miles below Coving- ton, on the border between Alleghany and Botetourt counties. The river, flowing first southeast, through th® mountains of Central Virginia, is Joined by the Calfpas” tre river from the left, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, through which it forces a passage about fir toon miles northeast of the Peaks of Otter. It then flows southeast and passes by Lynchburg, after which it Changes its course to the northeast. But at the present time the most interesting portion of the river is after yy nas reached afd paesed Richmond. Near that eity the channel is divided by numerous isiands,and the river descends over rocky rapide, about six miles in extent. ‘These passed, the river gradually expands and deepens until it forme itself into an estuary several miles in width, and flows into the southern extremity of Chesa, peake Bay, between Willoughby Point and old Point Comfort. The whole length of the Tivey ig about four hondred avd fifiv miles. and the tide ascends to Richmond, which is about one-third of that distance from the sea. It is navigable for vessels of one hundred and thirty tons to the port of Richmond, from which city the Kanawha and James river canal will carry them for two hundred miles further up the coun- try. The James river flows through # fine and fertile country, and has several towns upon ite banks. From Richmond to the sea the river is tortuous and the bends are capable of being easily fortified. At City Point there are fifty feet of water in the channel, and at Jordan’s Point, a short distance farther down the river, there are forty fect. On this point, previous to the rebellion, there was ereeted a lighthouse, as the land juts out rather dangerously to those unacquainted with the chan- nel. For the next twenty miles the depth of the channel varies greatly, as follows, the first soundings opposite Harrison’s Point being eighteen feet, tho next twenty feet, next forty feet, and opposite Charles City Court House forty-two feet. Here tho river bends abruptly, and a few miles fur- ther on the channel has but thirty feet of water- After passing the next bend, which is very sharp, the channel deopens to thirty-five feet, which is the case opposite Fort Powhatan. In less than five miles the soundings are recorded as follows:—35, 30, 40, 109, &c. A few miles further on the depth is but twenty feet. Here the river widens considerably, forming almost a Jake for over ten miles, with an average depth of about eighteen feet, ending in the island noticed in the despatch above mentioned. Jamestown Island is a small Piece of land ofabout three miles in length, and abou, one and a half miles at the widest part, narrowing off at each end. At the upper end of the island there are forty feet of water in the principal of the two channels, and a the south of the island is Cobham Bay, withan average depth of about eighteen feet. The river still continues on at various depths, interspersed with sand banks and islands, unti} it reaches the sea by way of Newport’s Nows, &. IMPORTANT FROM THE PENINSULA. Gen. McClellan Within Fifteen Miles of Richmond. Successful Military and Naval Expedi- tion Up the Pamunkey River. The Rebels Compelled to Destroy Two Steamers and Twenty Other Vessels. THE ADVANCE OF THE UNION FORCES, &e., &e., &e, Warre Hovsr, Va., May 18, 1862. ‘The advance guard of our forces on the main road to Richmond, by way of Bottom’s Bridge, drovejthe enemy across the Chickahominy river at that point yesterday morning, When our troops arrived within half a mile of the bridge, which is burned, they were opened upon by @ brisk fire of artillery from the opposite side of the river. No one was injured. This bridge is fitteen miles from At this point our troops will experience considerable difficulty in crossing, as the country is Richmond. low and swampy. A reconnoissance was made yesterday by one of the gunboats with two companies of infantry under Major Willard, and one section of Ayres’ battery up the Pam- unkey fiver, distanee of twenty-five miles from here At a point known as Russell’ Landing they found the steamer Logan, one propeller and fifteen schooners in flames. They were laden mostly with corn, which was being unloaded. Some contrabands on shore stated tha’ when the rebels heard our gunboats coming they com menced putting the corn on board again, so as to ensure A few shells soon dispersed the remain- ing rebels in that locality, when the gunboats returned its destruction. to the White House. ‘The roads for the past three days haye peon next to im, passable, owing to the recent rains. A division,train was thirty-six hours making its way five miles with teams doubled, together with the assistance furnished by a large number of troops. The advance of the army from this point must necessarily be slow. From here it loses the bonefit of river transportation, requiring all the supply trains at the disposal of the Quartermaster’s Department to furnish so vast a body of men with subsistence. The bridge between here and the enemy has been destroyed, and every imaginable obstruction placed in the way of our advance. The Richmond Dispatch, of the 12th, has a lengthy ar ticle on the evacuation of Norfolk and Yorktown, and the conduct of the war generally. It says by abandoning } detached posts which are within reach of the enemy’s fleet, and which it is therefore impossible to defend, we are enabled to concentrate powerful forces upon essen- tial points, and to baflle the enemy in every attack of vi- tal importance. ‘The same paper makes mention of a terrible panic in Richmond on Friday on the approach of our gunboats. ‘This being Sunday the Army of the Potomac has ceased its labors, the troops remaining in camp, enjoying a day of rest. O@icial Despatch from General McClellan, Hrapquarters Army Potomac, ‘Wms House, May 17—10:30 P. M. } Hon. E. M. Stanrow, Seeretary of War:— A combined naval and army expedition under Captain Murray, United States Navy, with troops and artillery | under Major Williard and Captain Ayres, of the army, i ‘went some twenty-five miles up the Pamunkey river to- day, and forced the rebels to destroy two steamers and , @ometwenty schooners. The expedition was admirably managed, and all concerned deserve great credit. | We have advanced considerably to-day. The roads are now improving. GEO. B. MoCLELLAN, Major General, Our Naval Corresponde je ‘Unirep States Steamer Sterrinc Stones, Cummenianp, Pamunery River, Va., May 14, 1862. The Stepping Stones Fully Employed—The Pamunkey River—The Enterprise of Adams’ Expres, dc. We havo just arrived here, after uearly a week's so- journ in the neighborhood of West Point. On parting from us, Commodore Wyman’s last injunction to Captain French was, when he (Captain French) could fina no- thing to do in the vicinity of York river, to return to the Potomac flotilla. But the Stepping Stones has been kept not only with something, but with everything to do, with a vongeance, Ni and day she has been em- ployed removing from place to place, and landing batto. ries, horses, hay, ammurmtion, men, forage, commissary stores, horses, quartermaster’s stores, and the devil knows all what. Judge then what chaneo we have to re- turn to the Potomac and identify ourselves with our own distinguishing pennant, which is still flying. Yesterday morning wo left the anchorage off Brick House Point, opposite West Point, and ran four or five miles up the Pamunkey to another landing, where the great body of the troops are encamped. We were immediately sent down to Yorktown, whence we started with a bay schooner in tow and a number of barrels of beef on our deck, for the subsistence of troops at this place. Returning up the river, we cast anchor afew miles below West Point for the night, and remained there for the morning, as it would have been imprudent to continue further up, in consequenee of the shoal water, in the absence of @ pilot who understood the soundings of the river. Early thie morning we weighed and stood upwards, soon entering the Pamunkey. This river, until a little distance below where we lay, is not so narrow as is generally represented. Steamboats of the greatest Jength can and do turn with the utmost ease. The stream is very serpentine in its course, and passes prem alternate low and undulating land. Nearly the whole way,to Cumberland you have a low lying piece of land, which may be designated an extensive savannah or a miniature prairie—now on this side, now on that, and ‘anon on both—-the irregularity arising from. the fact shat the savannah or prairie does not exactly follow the wind- ing course of the river. Our course upwards was slow.from the fact that on one side we towed a bargo containing no end of good things belonging to certain sutiers, while at one end of the same vesee) Adame’ Exorets Company bad a tent erected, underneath which was a complete office. con- taining all the appliances for the tranmission of anything, from # herd of elephants to a musical snutf box; and some people on board the Stepping Stones actually availed themselves of the opportunity of sending money t their families by the express whileon the water. Ifany one had told the old gentleman who gave his name to the firm, and life to us all, that one, or any number of his descenclants and name would ever have been able to per- form such a feat, how he would have stared. About seven or eight miles below Cumberland, on the right bank of the Pamunkey, we saw on a gentle accli- vity the frame of a rebel gunboat that had been so far burned on the stocks as to be beyond all remedy. There are no workshops nor the remains of any near by, and it must have been, under any circumstances, an expensive and difficult matter to so far finish any vessel at that spot as to warrant its launching. The sole advantage seemed to be a good supply of timber, with this draw- back, however, that it is very green, as indeed must have been the peoplo who could have supposed that a boat built there, under such circumstances, could have = inany way instrumental to the success of the rebels. We havo long since left our encampments, and even our pickets are few and far between, At a turning of the river a gunboat is seen, and occasionally we fall in with @ comfortable looking farmhouse, with apple, peach, and cherry trees in full bloom. At one point a deop cutting near the bank of the river reveais the railroad between Rich- mond and West Point, and a glimpse is caught of the telegraph wires, Tho gunboat passed. After a few turn- ings and windings the savannah disappears, the river contracts, foliage of deciduous trees become more fre- quent than the sombre green of pines; a sharp turning at right angles,and here we are, brought up amongst a crowd of steamers, schooners and other vessels, at a spot where the rebels could comfortably cut all our throats but for the admirable strategy of General Mc- Cleilan, but where, as matters stand, they seem to be encircled with a wall of fire, with only the resource of the “last ditch” at Bottom's Bridge to die in. Our Army Correspondence. Wesr Port, York River, May 12, 1862, On the Road to Cumberland—More Deserters—The Rebels? Only Hope—Supplies—Camp Rumors, dc. At length the order to strike tents has been given, We leave here at fiveo’clock inthe morning. Our des” tination is said to be Cumberland, The object of our advance is understood as intended to give our division its position again on the right. in the belief that such is the case, the regiments are joyous enough. As the order was promulgated cheers went up from every Tegiment, showing an eagerness to meet the foe that @ugurs splendid action in the field. kvery camp to- night presents a busy spectacle preparing rations and getting everything in readiness for the morrow’s work. The bands are playing enlivening airs ; the moon looks down from the serenest of skies, shedding a flood of Silvery light upon the animated scene, It is such nights: such music, such orders for advance, that give camp life a poetry and electric activity and enthusiasm whose imag netic effect stirs and thrills every one. More deserters have come in to-day, and despite the mendacious statements of the rebel leaders about our cutting up, throwing in boiling water, hanging, quarter_ ing, and doing every other sort of imaginable violencg to rebels captured or coming within our lines, they wil, continue to come in as long as our army is anywhere near them. Though seeing several 1 could elicit nothing additional tothe stories of prior deserters. They unite in according intense disgust to the rank and file of the enemy to the further prosecution of tho war, and assert it as their opinion that the game of the rebellion is about played ont. As far as they understand, the only hope of the enemy now is to induce our troops to pursue them into the miasmatic regions of the Southern States. ‘The difficulty of providing army stores and loss of our men through unhealthfulness of the climate they believe ‘will compel our return, after which they will make these States the battle field and gain time to fortify. Two individuals, one in soldier’s costume and the other got up with sufficient length of whiskers and elaboration of hat brim to be taken for a Tribune reporter, were found this afternoon hid in the woods near here. Both were armed, but they did not venture to use their ‘weapons against our bold soldier boys. They pretended that they were looking for our camp. With the corps of deserters who have come in since our arrival, they were ordered to Fortress Monroe. A central object of interest fora day or two past hag been a schooner in the streatn loaded witn sutler’s stores. It has beon a godsend to officers and nen; for everything conceivable of preservation in hermetically sealed caus and ditto bottles was on board, and, what is more, sold atexceedingly reasonable rates. Another redeemable feature is that no liquor was sold, except on presentation of a special order from the commander of division. A quod deal of the shipping have moved up today to Fitham, two miles above us, on the Pamunkey river. The army post office was removed there to-day, as also @ branch oifice of Adams & Co.'s Express Company. As I close my letter a rumor is circulating ip camp that a detachment of General Stoneman’s cavalry today advanced to Bottom’s Bridge, which is eleven miles from Richmond, and that they saw no trace of the enemy, except indications of a continuation of their precipitate stampede towards the seat of the con- federac If this be true the expected battle at Bot- tom’s Bridgo will of course fall throug! NEWS FROM GENERAL BANKS’ CORPS. The Skirmish with Rebels at Lynden, Va. Repertowx, Va., May 17, 1862 A detachment of seventeen men of Company 0, Twenty4 eighth Pennsylvania regiment, who reached Lynden, ,on the 15th, a short time in advance of reintorce* ments to that place, was attacked by a body of about four hundred and fifty cavalry, who dashed upon thom rom four directions. The men resisted them with sharp firing, under shelter of a depot, which bears severe marks of the contest. They were overpowered und los* ne kiliedand fourteen taken prisoners. Tho balanee of the company came up, charged the cavalry and com” pelled them to beat a hasty retreat, with some loss. Killed—Corporal Sneath. Captured—Corporal E. Baker; privates W. Glazier, J. Salkold,T. White, G. Bauersacks, J. W. Frink, W.Cave; G. Snyder, A. Miles, 8. Rinard, C. Maxwell ®f Company M, and three privates of the First Michigan esvairy coms panies H and I. NEWS FROM THE MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT. ral Cox’s Advance at Princeton At- tacked and Driven Out by the Rebeis Under Humphrey Marshall—The Town Recaptured by the Union Forces a the Rebels Defeated, dc. Hravquarrens Movx7ain Depanraesr, Franxuin, Va., via Baltimore, May 17, 1862. Despatches received this afternoon and evening, not official, but considered trustworthy at headquarters» announce that Princeton, the capital of Mercer county, Va., where General Cox’s advance was stationed, was at. tacked and captured yesterday bya rebel force under Humphrey Marshall. This morning the place was recap- tured and tho rebels defeated by General Cox. No par- ticulars received. Scouts report that the enemy in front of us has been reinforced. THE OCCUPATION OF PENSACOLA. Destruction of the Navy Yard and Reo {moval of all Movable Property. ( Brrore Conmntu, May 18, 1862. ‘The Mobile Advertiser and Register contains the follow- ing special despatbh:— hate Pensacota, May 10, 1862. At twelve o'clock last night the Pensacela Navy Yard and forts were set on fire and destroyed. When the ene- my discovered what was going on, Fort Pickens opened # furious bombardment and kept it up during the confla« gration, but without doing any damage to any one at! Pensacola. All the public property, except the House, incapable of being burned, was moved; but the movable Confederate gproperty has been saved. The railroad track leading out of the city towards Montgome- ry was torn up this morning. Federal vessels, with a flag of truce, came up to the ‘clty to-day, demanding the surrender. Mayor Bollbe re~ fused to with the demand, and said that all the military had left and he had no power to opposes ‘The federal officer replied that they would occapy the city to-morrow, but that the inhabitants need not be alarmed, No News from Fortress Monroe Baummone, May 18, 1962. ‘The Old Point boat has arrived. No nows. Death of Captain Wright. * PRLADELPHA, May 18, 1662. | Captain Wright, of Rush’s cavairy, son of B. Wright, died this morning at Germantown, ef fever. Fire in Leominster, Massachusetts. Boston, May 18, 1862, A fire at Leominster, on Saturday morning, destroy: the pianoforte manufactory of J. H. Lockey, the com! factory of Joselyn & Adams, the machine shop ‘Thurston & Richardson, and two other buildings, $90,000, Partiy insured,