The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-17
IMPORTANT FROM FORTRESS MoSRoF.

Arrival Of the steam A. II. Bowman st
This Port-Colonsl Dimiclx's Intrepid
Conduct and Gallant Preparation for
Action-The Secessi0nists Demand Pos
session or q Bridge Within the Range
OF the Fortress, but Have to Leave tt
The Secessionists Assemble In Consider
able Force, when Colonel Dimick
Gives Orders for Immediate Action-rhe
Strength OF the Fortress and It's Inn
preEnability-An Immediate Attack
Expected, Sc, Sc.
It 10 not at all improbable that by the time the HERALD
Of this morning is issued Fort Monroe will be the scene
or daring action, intrepid valor and enthusiastic
bravery so far as the dauntless courage heroic
ardor OF those within its glorious walls are concerned
The time for warlike operations, It appears, has
arrived, which s gathered from the news brought by
the steamer A. H. Bowman, which left the fortress on
Tuesday afternoon and arrived At this early
day morning, under the command of Captain Clark.
II cause of much qualification to know that when the
steamer left the fortress everything in the
order to repel any attack that might be by the
rebels, and Colonel Dimck the brave commander, and
his gallant army in the best OF health and In the
finest condition, well prepared and ready TO meet their
assailants. Although land attack expected yet
these heroic felt In wise daunted az they had
plenty OF provisions and the fort had recently been rein
forced The Vermont volunteers landed there Monday
last, amounting to eight hundred and forty strong and
the number Of calculated TO be inside the walls
averaged two thousand five hundred strong
From the information given TO reporter appears.
that Monday last the rebel forces assembled IN great
numbers at Hampton bridge, lying in the rear Of the
fortress They considered themselves masters Of the
place. and sen, an impudent and imperative message TO
Colonel Dmick, demanding full and entire possession
OF the bridge This the Colonel unequivocaly refused
and the result was that two companies Of the Mas
sachueetts volunteers Bent with q field piece TO
guard and protect the bridge There brave fe0 had
received their orders than they hastened to
that locality and planted their gun in such command
ing position that could Of an attack or the re-
bels refusing to leave sweep the bridge.
Colonel Dimck observing the mutudes Of seces
should be allowed ten minutes retire. and they did
not strictly obey the Injunction that vigorous action
should be brought TO bear upon them The time having
all but expired and the rebels declining 70 comply With
the mandate Of the gallant commander Of the fortress,
the order to prepare for action" along the lines Of
his brave fellows Ike electricity and they ALL TO
man, at their posts.
This however, not found necessary, the
sonsts deeming sdiscreton the part Of valos
quickly withdrew The Colonel then, make security
doub secure, ordered two hundred men from the fort
to take possession Of well beyond the bridge, and
which the rebels had abandoned in retreatng
Nearly all the women and children who in the
was deemed prudent as was expected that an assault
Of the utmost magnitude would take place. Oonse-
quent Colonel Dmick took these laudabIo and coneide
rate steps There were about twelve wo-
and children left but arrangements had been mado
for these to be sent forthwith to Washington.
The passengers brought by the from the for
tress comprised thirty nine women sixty children,
with one man. The man is baud master, and obtained
seven days leave OF absence TO take his family in charge
and make arrangements for their future residence They
numbered in all 10l individuals The Governors Island
men, under the command or Lieut. Mclaughlin,
also board and formed part Of the from
New York some time ago with lumber and other war
articles.
After the arrival of vessel this port the soldiers
were despatched 20 Governors Island, and the
and children sent TO Fort Hamilton the tug which
had been specially chartered for the Of conveying
| them there.
The women, although separated from their husbands,
/ Ia fph nd read b0 dta
in defence Of their country cheerful conseuted
happy looking and the children appeared robust and
healthy many OF them being infants
During the short passage Captain Clark had them
fully attended 20. and every accommodation which his
vessel could bestow was conferred upon them until they
left the steamer
The Bowman lay in the river of the Battery up to We
O'Clock yesterday afternoon but after dschargng her
valuable OF human beings proceeded TO her proper
station A. her docs.