The national Republican., 1861-05-21
LATEST FROM FORT MONROE AND
THE BLOCKADE!
MANY PRIZES TAKEN!
First Assault ON Virginia!
A BATTERY DESTROYED!

intelligence from the fort and Aom the block.
aiding squadron.
Hampton Roads and their neighborhood are
lively with business. Saturday witnessed the
actual opening of the war on the part Of the
United States-the assault upon the battery at
Sewall's Point, the exterior of the line Of bat.
teries which guard the Elizabeth river, the ap-
proach TO Norfolk. There are seven batteries
now in position, all protected by scientifically.
constructed works. The heaviest is that at
Crsney Island, mounting thirty guns. Two
batteries farther inland, mount twelve and if.
teen guns, respectively. The remaining bat
teries are provided with from seven to ten guns
each. These guns are u part Of the spoils
Of the navy yard at Norfolk, which was de.
stroyed but in small part. They are said to
be ordnance Of excellent description. The
erection of these batteries has hitherto gone on
undisturbed by the fleet, till Friday and Satur.
day the attempt was persisted in Of throwing up
battery on sewsll's Point. This position
commands the vessels blocksding James river,
and, if mounted with heavy and effective guns,
would render that portion Of the roadstead un.
tensble.
About noon, therefore, a strong party being
observed perfecting the earth works, facing
&c, the Star (ate Monticelo) opened upon the
works with two ten.inch guns and she'll She
had fred-a number of times, when the Roads
greeted q new arrival, in the shape Of the first
detachment of Captain Wards steam hotilla,
four vessels, thirty.six hours from New York.
Captain Wards own vessel, the Freeborn, is
armed with ten.inch guns forward and aft, and
twelve.pounder boat howitzers on the upper
deck. Being sent to the scene Of the firing,
Captain Ward was hailed from the Star, and
requested to lay his vessel close in ashore, and
open upon the unfinished battery He " sailed
in" accordingly, and, taking position within
i've hundred yards Of the shore, opened with
thirtytwo pound round shot. He soon drove
the party Out the work. and was not long in
hammering two or three of the embrasures into
one. The defenders, with a mounted officer at
their head, took refuge in clump of trees near
by, into which Captain Ward presently threw
q shot, which had the effect Of routing the party.
They made admirable speed rs they went, the
mounted officer flying through the trees like
an Alabama fast horse at an Alabama quarter
race.
The battery having been pretty effectually
pounded, the Frceborn drew of, and reported
to Commodore Stringhnm, on the flag ship
Minnesota.
The cannonade which was lively one, wa'
witnessed and heard by people gathered on the
surrounding shores. Among those on the
wharf at Fortress Monroe were Senators Wade
Chandler, and Morrill, of Maine, who were seer
listening attentively to the guns, six miles dis
tant, and specializing on their probable effect
The Senatorial party afterwards visited Commo
dore Stringham on the Minnesota, where they
were received with oil the honors.
Fortress Monroe is garrisoned by three thou
sand troops, which is even beyond the full com
plement required for garrison duty. These arr
composed Of about three hundred regular troops
second and third artillery, two regiments o
Massachusetts volunteers, and one Vernon
regiment The troops are in splendid order
and in capital spirits. Colonel Dimmick, Of th'
second artillery, clever gentleman and an &C
complished officer is in command.
The fleet off Old Point consists of the Min
nesota, (aag.ship,) auxiliary steam, 40 guns
Captain Van Brunt the razee Cumberland, 81
guns, Captain Marston, alag ship Of Commo
dore Prendergast, superseded at this port b,
Commodore Stringham y brig Perry guns
the steamer Star, and quite q fleet Of arme
steam tugs.
More or less prizes are brought in every da,
Of vessels attempting to run the blockade, prir
cipally tobacco. laden ships from James rive
One vessel laden with shp.timber cut in Vii
ginia, and bound to St. George, in Maine, ha
been seized, and the timber converted to Go'
ernment uses nt Fortress Monroe. For thi
the Government propose to pay its valu
Among the prizes, was one British barqu
whose cargo is valued at 100000,
The bombardment of the battery at Sewall
Point by the steamer Freeborn appears to
the opening OF offensive operations on the pa
Of our forces in this war. The pitching of ,
pound shot and shell into "my honored State
would seem to call for an especial respon
from Senator Mason. We wait to hear h
reply.
The Freeborn, after engaging the batter
was ordered to Washington, On her way
she made prizes of several vesses who we
violating the blockade. One Of them, II smf
craft of forty tons had slowed away in h
hold some fifty suspiciouslooking character
who explained that they were fishing part
which bad been out since March, and We
now returning home. They had on board
the fruits of their labor' only two barrels of s.
shad as provisions. Their craft is now 4
chored at the navy yard at Washington, whe