The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-26 00:00:00

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, MARC" 12, MORNING.
(Per Arabia, via Queenstown.)
The news of the naval engagement at Fort
Monroe, full details of which will be found below,
New York on the
neaiguhsetdofinstuennsdeayezlacsitt.ement in
The opportune arrival at
Fort Monroe of the Federal steamer Monitor not
being known when the news of the damage done
by the Merrimac was first received, several influen-
tial citizens waited upon the Mayor of New York
to take into consideration the propriety of sinking
ballast-laden ships in the channel inside of Sandy
Hook, to prevent the passage of the Merrimac,
the
of the arrival of
efears entertained.
the
o uMonitora tappeared
it.
to Laterquiet n
Nearly all accounts agree that the Merrimac, when
she retreated to Norfolk, Was disabled. Some
statements, however, different from this, have been
published.
The Now York World gives an account of the
pilot on board the Cumberland, and says :
To epitomise the statement of Captain Smith, it
seems

1. That there is no certainty of any serious da-
mage having been done the Merrimac. Lieut. Wor-
den is of opinion that three of his shot took serious
effect upon her, but he, of course, is unaware of the
precise amount of damage she sustained.- Her being
taken off by the Jamestown and Yorktown is no
proof that she was injured, as it may have been
done to save coal or to trap the Monitor into Nor-
folk harbour, where she might perhaps be grappled
and captured.
2. If uninjured, there is really nothing to pre-
vent the Merrimac getting to sea, as she is a swifter
vessel by three miles per hour than the Monitor.
The guns of Fortress Monroe would fall short, and
there is not one chance in fifty that the big Union
gun at the Rip Raps would hit her ; if it did, of
course, the 4501 b. ball it carries might stave her
sides in ; but it is not safe to calculate upon any
such fortunate accident.

3. It is demonstrated by the result of Sunday's
fight, that it is of little use to fire balls of less
weight than 2001bs. at this naval monster. The
Monitor's 1801 b. balls were of but little more effect
than the 1001 b. shot of the Cumberland. Neither
the Monitor nor the Merrimac can be boarded.
Hence the difficulty of providing against the attack,
or of attempting to capture these vessels.
The Tribune says that Lieut. Worden, of the
Monitor, was certain he put three shots into the
Merrimac ; and the general opinion at Fort Monroe
was that she was disabled, but Mr. Fox, Assistant-
Secretary of the Federal navy, was of a contrary
opinion. _ _

The following is the general account of the en-
gagement :
FORTRESS MONROE, MARCH 9.
(Via Baltimore, March 10.)

The long-expected steamer Merrimac has at last
made her appearance, and yesterday afternoon,
assisted by two gunboats, made an attack upon
Newport News and the naval vessels stationed at
that place.
The sides, bows, and stem of the Merrimac were
covered with sloping iron plates, extending about
two f9et below the water line, and meeting above
them like tho roof of a house. At her bows, on the
water line, are two sharp iron points, resembling
ploughs, about 6 or 7 feet apart. Her number of
guns is stated at 12, but she might not have had so
many. At her bows were seen two guns, projecting
from long elliptical portholes. The design of the
enemy did not become apparent until between 1 and
2 o'clock, when the Minnesota had got under way
for the scene of action. The alarm gun of Fortress
Monroe being fired, the whole garrison promptly
turned out under arms. Col. Bendix briefly ad-
dressed the 10th regiment of New York, and all tes-
tified the greatest delight at the prospect of action.
After being under orders for some time, the garrison
I was dismissed until they should be wanted. The
rebel boats steadily pursued their way to Newport
News. The first shot was fired by the frigate Cum-
berland, at a little past 2 o'clock. The Sewall's
Point Battery then opened on the Minnesota, which
was passing, and the Sawyer gun from the Rip
Raps replied with a few shots at Sewall's Point, Al
thick smoke was soon seen to rise above Newport
News Point, indicating that the battery there, as
well as the Cumberland and Congress, were en-
gaged. The details of the action could not be seen
from the fort, but a telegram was received announc-
ing that the Cumberland and Merrimac were in
close quarters. As the latter approached the Cum-
pay any attention to the Con-
guns at the Cumberland the
sharp bows, making
gberrelsasn. dAsfhteer
fidirdinngottwo
line seven feet in
jaggedextent.
Merrimac
Th struck
ohleeinc u
rdiately commenced
mhhebererraiwta int thdhe
water
armt
ee
to sink, when the Merrimac backed a short dis-
tance, ran into her a second time, making another
terrible hole in her, which caused the water to run
into her at a furious rate. The Cumberland con-
tinued firing until the water began to enter her
portholes, when she careened over slowly, and
finally sank at about three O'clock,
The Newport News battery and the guns of the
Cumberland fired continually at the Merrimac, but
without apparent effect.

The Minnesota unfortunately got aground on the
way up, and could afford but little assistance.
Shortly before three o'clock the Yorktown and
Jamestown arrived from up James River. The
former was disabled early in the afternoon, and put
ashore for repairs. After sinking the Cumberland,
the Merrimac turned to the Congress,
than an hour afterwards a white flag was hoisted
gv;;
on board the Congress. A rebel was
in less
boat immedi-
ately went alongside, and the offd
eers and marines
being taken prisoners, the
F.:coinen were allowed to
escape to the shore.

at Fortre
,04' —6l frigate St. Lawrence arrived
The United 544
Mourn during tho afternoon, and with-

After four o'clock the Merrimac continued to
throw shells into the camp at Newport News, while
the Jamestown and other rebel gunboats commenced
firing upon the Minnesota, The latter replied as
vigorously as possible, and the conflict was con-
tinued without any apparent effect until dark.
During the evening the Congress was set on fire,
and at midnight she was blown up.
The Monitor arrived very opportunely during the
evening. She proceeded up the river, although not
prepared to take her part in the action. During the
night only an occasional gun was fired. Reinforce-
ments of men and ammunition were sent to New-
port News early in the afternoon, but little serious
damage was done there, and no one was killed.
This morning the conflict was renewed. Until
the presence of the Monitor was known to the Mer-
rimac the latter was engaged with the Minnesota,
and but for the fortunate arrival of the Monitor the
Minnesota might have been lost.
The iron-clad vessels, the Merrimac and the
Monitor, engaged each for two or three hours at
long and short range. No perceptible effect was
produced upon either. They went alongside each
other once or twice, and seemed almost to run each
other down ; but they soon re-appeared, to renew
the action. The Ericsson battery finally succeeded
in forcing a long hole in the port side of the Merri-
mac, and she retired with the whole rebel fleet to
Norfolk about one o'clock.

The United States gunboat Oregon was struck by
the Merrimac in her boiler, and was blown up this
morning. The United States gunboat Zouave was
also seriously damaged, and was obliged to return.
The principal loss of life was on board the Cum-
berland, where, it is thought, as many as 150 men
must have been killed or drowned. But six lives
were lost on board the Minnesota, according to the
report of one of her officers. A rebel gunboat was
cut in two yesterday afternoon by the Cumberland.
The crew of the Minnesota were brought on here
this afternoon. With the assistance of the steamer
S. B. Spalding, the Minnesota has been got off, and
she is now on her way here. She has received
numerous shots, but no serious damage. The escaped
crews of the Cumberland and Congress have arrived
at the Fortress Monroe.

The Monitor has come up to the expectations
that were formed of her, and has proved being im-
pregnable to the heaviest shot at close quarters.
She behaved remarkably well on her passage from
New York, and although the sea covered her decks
completely at times, her speed did not seem to be at
all diminished. To her presence here may be attri-
buted the safety of the Minnesota and other vessels
in port, and the final disabling of the Merrimac,
which had previously been proof against everything.
Captain Worden, of the Monitor, was wounded in
the head while looking out of.the wheel-house. No
other accident of any kind occurred to the battery
or crew.

We have not yet any list of the killed and
wounded. Naval men here are generally of opinion
that, considering everything, the rebels had the
worst time of it. Without the Monitor the damage
might have been much more serious.
FORTRESS MONROE, MARCH 10.

The :Minnesota was Ifinally got off during the
night, and returned to her usual station at the en-
trance to the roads. She is again ready for action.
The Monitor came down this morning, and was
greeted with enthusiastic cheers by the various ves-
sels of the harbour. General Wool and staff and
Assistant-Secretary Fox went on board this after-
noon. She was found not to be damaged in the
slightest degree, and is as well prepared as ever for
another conflict. Her performance was perfectly
satisfactory to her officers and men, and they all
speak of her in the highest terms.
The gunboat Whitehall took fire at 2 o'clock this
morning, and was totally destroyed. Three of her
guns, which were shotted, went off at intervals, and
a shell burst in the air, scattering its fragments
aboat the fort, without, however, doing any da-
mage. Another gun was saved by the harbour
crew.

The British sloop of war Rinaldo arrived here
his forenoon from off Charleston. She bring no news,

The latest estimates of the number killed on the
Congress is 50, including three officers, Lieut. Jo. B.
Smith, commanding ; acting master Thomas Moore,
and coast pilot William Rhodes. 27 are reported
wounded, and 40 more were taken prisoners, none
of them officers.

On board the Cumberland, the Rev. Mr. Lam-
bart, the chaplain, was drowned, and master's mate,
Sohn M. Harrington, was killed. But few of the
wounded escaped to the shore. The number of
killed and wounded is stated at about 150.
On the Whitehall three were killed, and two or
three were wounded. _ _

On the Oregon, which received a shot in her
boiler, three men were wo..asa, not officers.
Tho Wm. Wheldon received a shot in her boiler,
and the Rescue was damaged in her machinery.
The former was towed to Baltimore,
The Minnesota lost six men killed and 17
wounded, not including any officers,as far as known.
She is said to have received quite a number of
shots, The Roanoke received but two shots, and
little damage was occasioned by them.
It is generally believed now that the Merrimac
must have received serious damage. It is the testi-
mony of some that she was considerably listed on
one side as she went behind Sewall's Point, probably
to repair some leak above the water-line.
On the 10th, on the line of the Potomac, the Fe-
deral gun-boats captured the battery Cockpit Point.
Tho Confederates burnt their tents, the steamer
Page, and all the other craft in the creek.
Gen. Hooker reports from Budd's Ferry that all
the enemy's batteries in front of his line aro aban-
doned and their guns spiked. This raises the block-
ade of the Potomac.

The army of the Potomac, by order of the Presi-
dent, has been divided into five army corps, the first
commanded by Major-General M‘Dowell, and the
others by Brigadiers-General Sumner, Heintzelman,
Keyes, and Major-General Banks.
Col. Geary left Lovettesville on Friday night, 7th
inst., and, marching through Wheatland and Water-
ford, put the rebel forces to flight. Early the next
morning he took unresisted possession of Leesburg,
which they considered one of their greatest strong-
' holds, and the stars and stripes now wave over the
town and the surrounding forts. The Confederate
army, under Gen. Hill, fell back towards Middle-
burg.
The New York, _Herald publishes the following
details of the evacuation of Manassas—
WASHINGTON; MARCH. 11.

The advance of a portion of the grand army of the
Potomac on Iklouday produced in the city and
throughout the camps a scene of indescribable ex-
citement.
The reveille was sounded at 2 a.m., and the pre-
parations for the march began. Few, even among
the officers, knew whither they were going. There
was no shrinking, no hesitation, no skulking. Many
who were on the cick list sprang from their beds
and took their places in the ranks, although some,
unable to sustain the fatigue of the march, were
subsequently placed upon the baggage waggons.
The movement was not attended with the noksy de-
monstration which charactered the advance to Cen-
treville last summer, but was marked with an ex-
pression of cool determination and confidence,
manifested in the step and bearing, and perfect dis-
cipline of the men.
The advance was really begun several days ago.
Since Friday last regular approaches have been
made daily towards Centreville by portions of G."'

Franklin's and Gen. M'Dowell's divisions. On
Sunday, the 2d and 3d New Jersey Regiments and
a squadron of Lincoln cavalry occupied Sangster's
station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
On arriving at this point a detachment of rebel
cavalry was surprised. In the skirmish Lieut. Hid-
were killed, and a
killed, and a ser-
dgeenan,
tof wthoue
lieutenant and 11 men captured. On Monday a
nLdiendc o; nthcraevea lrr ye
b,
elvsa s
detachment of the Ist New Jersey Regiment and a
company of Lincoln cavalry entered Centreville. It
was ascertained that the rebels had evacuated the
place late on Sunday night. Extensive earthworks
were found here, but all the guns had been removed,
A large quantity of beef and flour had been left be-
hind by the retreating rebels.
Gen. M'Clellan has taken up his quarters at Fair-
fax Court-house.
Before dark last night Col. Averill, with a large
body of cavalry, entered the rebel works at Manas-
sas Junction. In their march from Centreville no
signs of the rebels were discovered. The fields were
silent and deserted, the fortifications bare and black-
ened, The rebels had slit their tents with their
swords, and set fire to everything inflammable. 'No-
thing was left except bare and blackened walls, and
the smouldering ashes of their tents, baggage, equip-
ments, and stores, for which they could find no
transport.
Intelligence gathered at Manassas tends to show
that the rebel army has retired to Gordonsville. It
is not thought they will attempt to make a stand
at that point, as the country is open and level, and
unsuited for defensive war rare. Gordonsville is
probably simply the rendezvous, as it is the junc-
tion of the Orange and Alexandria with the Vir-
ginia Central Railroad. The only point at which
they can with any confidence attempt to make a
stand is near the junction of the Frederick and
Potomac with the Central Virginia Railroad, in which
neighbourhood the North Anna and South Anna
rivers unite and form the Pamankey river, about 20
miles north of Richmond. At this point the country,
is much broken, and admirably fitted for defence.
It is reported that in their retreat the rebels de-
stroyed the railroad bridge across the north fork
of the Rappahannock.
The following despatch has just been received
from Fairfax Court-house :—" Several officers, who
went several miles beyond Manassas to-day, re-
turned here this evening. At Centreville, which
they took on their route, they found the forts
abandoned, but hundreds of log huts, ample to
accommodate fully 30,000 men, were standing. The
railroad track was undisturbed, except the bridges
which had been blown up,"
Everything at Manassas indicates precipitate
flight on the part of the rebels. All the log huts
are standing, and an immense number of canvas
tents. Some caissons were found, but no guns.
Piles of bullets and cartridges were left in the tents,
and an immense quantity of quartermaster stores.
In one place were discovered about 30,000 bushels
of corn, which had been set fire to, and were still
smouldering.
People in the vicinity state that prior to the
evacuation there were 100,000 rebel troops at
Manassas and Centreville. Covering the breast-
works were what appeared to be cannon, but on ex-
amination they proved to be wooden affairs, got
up for effect.
The New York Times of March 12 publishes the
following general news :
Official information of the falling back of the
rebels recently encamped near Occoquan Creek
reached Washington yesterday. They destroyed
everything they could not carry on their backs,
and left on Saturday. When leaving, they in-
formed the people of Occoquan that they were to
fall back to the Rappahannock.
We have now the official report from General
Curtis of the great battle in Arkansas :
" Headquarters Army of the South-west,
Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 9.
"General,—Ox Thursday, the 6th inst., the
enemy commenced an attack on my right wing,
assailing and following the rear-guard of a detach-
ment under General Sigel to main lines on Sugar
Creek Hollow, but ceased firing when he met my
reinforcements, about 4 p.m.

" During the night I became convinced that he
had moved on so as to attack my right or rear.
Therefore, early on the 7th I ordered a change of
front to the right—my right, which then became
my left, still resting on Sugar Creek Hollow.
"This brought my line across Pea Ridge, with
my new right resting on Head Cross Timber Hollow,
which is the head of Big Sugar Creek. I also
ordered an immediate advance of the cavalry and ,
light-eartillery under Colonel Osterhaus, with orders
to attack and break what I supposed would be the
reinforced line of the enemy. This movement was
in progress when the enemy, at 11 a.m., commenced
an attack on my right. The fight continued mainly
at these points during the day, the enemy having
gained the point held by the command of Colonel
Carr at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely
repulsed with the fall of the commander, M'Culloch,
in the centre, by the forces under Colonel Davis.
The plain of attack on the centre was gallantly
carried by Colonel Osterhaus, who was immediately
sustained and supported by Colonel Davis's entire
division, supported also by General Sigel's com-
mand, which had remained till near the close of the
day on the left. Colonel Carr's division held the
right, under a galling, continuous fire, all day. In
the evening, firing having entirely ceased in the
centre, and the right being now on the left, I rein-
forced the right by a portion of the Second Divi-
' sion, under General Asboth. Before the day closed
I was convinced that the enemy had concentrated
his main force on the right. I commenced another
change of front forward, so as to face the enemy
where he had deployed on my right flank in a
strong position. The change had only been partially
effected, but was in full progress, when, at sunrise
on the Bth, my right and centre renewed the firing,
which was immediately answered by the enemy with
renewed energy along the whole extent of his line.
My left, under Gen. Sigel, moved close to the hills
occupied by the enemy, driving b im from the heights,
and advancing steadily towards the head of the Hol-
lows. I immediately ordered the centre and right
wing forward, the right turning the left of the enemy,
and cross-firing. on his centre. This final position
of the enemy was in the arc of a circle. A charge
of infantry, extending throughout the whole line,
completely routed the whole rebel force, which re-
tired in great confusion, but rather safely, through
the deep impassable defiles of cross timber. Our loss
is heavy. The enemy's can never be ascertained,
for their dead are scattered over a large field. Their
wounded, too, may many of them be lost and perish.
The force is scattered in all directions, but I think
his main force has returned to Boston Mountai.n.s.;,
"General Sigel follows him towards
the
while my cavalry is pursuing him towards
mountains, scouring the country, brinFolr..o_ in
General
pri-
soners, and trying to find the rebel :A
the entire
Van Dorn, who had the command of ei ttisqv
force at this, the Battle of Pea
lt.ll,l;,;the dead and
" I have nut as yet statemeout
you to a despatch which I i
but I will refer
so as to justisfy
:elfr 't'ory;ard very boon.
" Officers and soldiers
have display such unusual
gallantry that I hardly
dare to make distinctions.
I must, however, name the commanders of divisions.
General Sigel gallantly romny.nded the right, and
is wounded in the arm in his gallant
drove back the left wing of the enemy; General
Asboth, 'wh°
effort to reinforce the right ; Colonel and Acting
n centre,
Brigadier-General Davis, Is) 'who commanded the
where M'Culloch fell on the Pith, and pressed
eeforward the centre on the Bth ; Colonel and Acting
Vrigadier General Carr is also wounded in the arm,
and was under the continuous fire. of the enemy
during the two hardest days of the struggle.
"Illinois, Indiana,
may proudly lowa, Ohio, and Missouri,
share 04 honour of victory, whicb

This court-martial was resumed on Monday in
Dublin, and the court was, if possible, even more
crowded than on preceding days.
Colonel Brownrigg, before proceeding to reply on
the part of the prosecution, read a statement in re-
ference to a matter which, he said, was a breach of
privilege. He alluded to a letter, the publivation
of Which was refused in the Irish Times, in .con-
sequence of misstatements in it, but which was
et
alils.heTdhienletthteer
was signed " Roger_
g 31aila:
J
Palmer, Captain Mayo Rifles." It contained many
subsequently
published
inaccuracies ; but he (Colonel Brownrigg) did not
consider it necessary' to occupy the time of the
Court, or his own, by contradicting them in detail.
The only point in the letter he felt himself called
upon to allude to was, that it would lead to the
inference that he, as prosecutor, would have so far
forgotten his duty as to have permitted Major ;ones
to have called him to account for words spoken by
him, without h • airing adopted the obvious course,
consequent on such a proceeding. The only reason
why he alluded to the matter was, that if he left the
statement uncontradicted he might be presumed to
have admitted them.
He did not admit them. He
begged to assure the court that had he received from
Major Jones any message or demand for explana-
tion such as might be inferred from the letter, he
would have brought the matter under the notice of
the court, to deal with him and his friend as they
might think proper.
The President said the court never believed for a
moment that the prosecutor had deviated from his
duties, or had received any message of the kind.
Had there been an interference such as he alluded
to brought under .he nome of fae court, they would
have taken up the subjett very strongly. They were
not aware that :inch a demand had been made.
Colonel Browrigg then read his reply. It al-
luded first to the advantage on the trial possessed:
by Captain Robertson, who was advised by prac-
tised lawyers, while the prosecution was conducted
by a plain soldier. With reference to the two first
charges, the guilt or innocence of the prisoner
turned upon two matters ; first, whether Captain
Robertson had submitted to the insult which he
had received from his commanding officer; and
secondly, did he, or did he not, take lawful steps to
vindicate his character ? He (Colonel Brownrigg)
submitted that the evidence on both points was
conclusive against the prisoner. It was attempted
to be shown there was a want of energy on the part
of Captain Henry; but how could he show much
energy in a cause the principal actor in which had
proved himself so callous ? A task as difficult as
could be imagined was thrown on that gentlemaik—
disgusted and disheartened, as he must have been,
on hearing the proposal from the prisoner,.that the
price of his commission should be lodged before he
would meet Colonel Dickson, and anxious, on the
other hand, to maintain untarnished the reputation
of his old corps. He maintained that there was
nothing in the evidence of Captain Henry that
warranted the strictures of the prisoner. In regard
to the third charge, the intimidation to which the
prisoner alluded in his letter of the 4th of October
was plainly what occurred in the Adjutant-Gene-
rare office. He had now, however, attempted to
make a case against Col. Bentinck, and to show that
acts of persecution had commenced against him so
far back as the previous May. He (Col. Brownrigg)
asserted that his demeanour to the prisoner on the
occasion in question was kind and courteous, and
that he conveyed his orders without harshness of
any sort: In order to assure himself that the pri-
soner had acted without any pressure, he asked
him, when his resignation was handed in, was he
to understand it as his unbiassed decision. An alle-
gation had been made by the prisoner that it was
with indecent haste he was called upon to make up
his mind. Why complain of indecent haste ? If a.
man felt strongly that he was in the right, 24 se-
conds ought to have been sufficient for him to make
up his mind. Instead of their being haste, he was
particnlarly struck with the extraordinary calm-
ness with which the prisoner asked Col. Bentinck
to recommend him to the adjutancy of a militia
regiment. The only intimidation which be saw
was practised was t;:,,at of Major Jones, who told
the prisoner that he woniZl be almost certain to be
tried by court-martial for not sending his letters
through the proper channel. Ile the prosecutor)
fearlessly asserted that the charge of intimidation
having been used in the Adjutant-Generars office,
or :previously by Col. Bentinck, was an after
thought. Col. Brownrigg then proceeded to com-
ment upon the affair of the backstiek, and con-
tended that, though there was a conflict of evidence
as to the date, it was clearly proved to have taken
place before the 10th of April. He next adverted to
the contradictory evidence with regard to the date
of the archery meeting and to the other matters
which had been the subject of investigation, and
concluded by stating that he had not failed to sub-
stantiate every particle of what he at first proposed
to prove.

The President ordered the room to be cleared, and
stated to the prisoner and the prosecutor that, if it
be resumed, they would get notice of it.
The proceedings will have to be submitted to his
Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief before
the sentence is promulgated. It is expected that
the result will not be known for several weeks.