The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-26
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.


uens and after undergoing repairs at Old Point she will
resume her position or the Capes.
The sloopofwa Savannah is at Newport News block
~Aug the James river.
The Pembroke has arrived from Boston, aud win at
once take part in the blockade.
The twenty three confederate prisoners will not DO
70 Norfolk before Tuesday.
OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.
FORTRESS MONROE, Va August 90, 1861
VHgM Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES from the Rebd Camp-Tsia,
the Unisn Gan-Erpedilion to the Upper Chesapeake
General Butier-Fdre,oell Orders TO the Troops dc
The flight Of contrabands from secessa continues with
no relaxation Not day passes that do hear Of
negroes coming to Ines sometimes by land and not
unfrequenty in and small fra boats James
river to Newport News or across Hampton Roads from
6ewais Point, Craney Island, and and then from
Norfolk They select the darkest and stormcst nights
FOR thor furtve attempts, and TO us wet and
exhausted Occasionally they discovered before they
have been long away, and Immediately pursued, when
exciting chases occur in which discovered our side
takes hand An instance of this kind occurred yester
day. Shortly after guard mounting in the morning, at
Newport News, small boat to put out on the
Nansemond ri, and strike boldly for camp, nearly
opposite. The distance is about five miles and the boat
seemed TO make slow Roadway against the strong tide and
and The boat seemed have passed nearly half mile
from the shore and struggling slowly on when sail
boat shot from the mouth of the river aud started in
pursuit of the small boat II quite evident that these
h the boat discovered the sail the crowd at
camp who had watched tho small boats movements
DID, and also apparent that the latter desired get
out ofthe Fortunately for the fugtives the wind
blowing down the river, and they We're shrewd enough
20 pull diagonay up, the soop was
Obliged 10 make frequent tacks, and the small
boat by this means held its own pretty well This ex
citing chase continued some time, when the Monticello
slip its anchor and steam the river TO
rescue the fgitres. she well over to the encmys
shore ard approached the but the two Whit
with three negroes who were in the soop, seemed de-
tcrmined for while not to give up the chase The gun
boat ran to and picked up the ngtres and then turned
about u give gun 10 the parsues They then took
che hint and stood rapidly for the shore and the Month
cello did not give them shot, it would have been
waste Of powder The negroes in the small boat consisted
or old man. his wife and children They reported
That very few soldiers left the other sde of
There had been great deal of sickness among the troops
but they quite well or ut least the few left
were IN al,hy condition The fugitves assigned as
reason for their flight that they were obliged to
work from daylight TO dirk, and sometimes all
night, on tho cnemys batteries and this they
did not fancy they migrated TO the land second only
what they hope find the way Of little work plenty
Of hog and homny the blessed land of Canaan Whether
their expectations will be realized they will soon know
negro in from Sewal's Point, day two since.
He reports that ten out of twelve shells fred by General
Butter in day exploded in or near the battery, and
preaching the battery. Several killed. These
shells were fired from the Sawyer gun.
At two O'Clock this afternoon the twelve inch Union gun
was tried under the supervision of Lieutenant Baylor OF
the ordnance department. and the firing witnessed by
General Wool and General Butler Captain Reynolds and
. number Of army and naval officers. As IT had never
been frei before the best results could not be
obtained, but enough was asccrtancd to satisfy
oil int the gun was not capable Of performing
what It's inventor expected Of it. With forty five
pounds Of powder the gun ut its greatest elevation,
twenty eight degrees threw a solid shot about four
and half vi NJ AN pe Hair
to-day. James Proectles were Used, but were hardly
such as are best suited for the gun However, further
experiments may be more successful. With n little
larger charge of powder shell weighing three hundred
and forty peinds, or solid shot weighing four hun
dred and twenty three pounds can b. easily thrown into
ahc enemy camp battery at sewas Point and if the
shell should explode in the right place Il would take but
two of them TO utterly destroy their battery. In
alittc while shall test the Unions range towards that
point.
As will be observed by the following special order,
signed by General Wool General Butler wiz assume
and OF the volunteers outside the walls Of the fortress
Thc command is understood to be Of temporary cha
facter. The order is as follows
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, &c,
FORTRESS Monroe, August 20, 1851. !
ORDER NO. o.
Major General i. j. Butler is her by placed In
uand Of the volunteer forces in this department excu
sive Of those at Fort Monroe His present command at
CAmp6 Batter and Hamilton will include the First Second
Seventh, Ninth and Twentieth regiments the battalion OF
Massachusetts Volunteers and the Union Coast Guard and
~ Major General WOOL.
G. c. CHURCHILL, Adutant General.
naval expedition, consisting Of the propellers Fanny
and Adriatc the former with one gun and thirty men,
under cueDants Regain and Patton Of the Union Coast
Guard the whole under command Of Lieutenant Pierce
Crosby of the Navy left for the upper Chesapeake last
night The object Of the expedition has not 'ranspred
The frgate Cumberland went 10 sea this morning, and
the Minnesota will leave Their destination is
not known. Tho Wabash has finished coang, and will
nail IN q few days. on the return OF the Minnesota.
General Wool visited the hospital yesterday afternoon
He greeted the patients most kindly and inquired into
their welfare. They much pleased with his visit
He promised TO visit them again. He inspected the off
Gers quarters in the fort and the camp of the
Tenth regiment. He gave few suggestions Of value,
not few warnings.
Just close have obtained General Buers farewell
order. append it,
The President Of the United States having assigned
Brevet Major General Wool, United States Army, to the
Command this department, Major General Butler begs
iu Anal order take leave of the troops lately under his
command He is happy TO acknowledge the aacrity and
cheerfulness of the officers and under difficulties
most fatgung and perpLxing because inactive and he
only regrets that he cannot award praise to all He bcgs