New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-23
REBEL OPERATIONS AT NORFOLK.

FORTRESS MoSR0Y, Saturday Dec. y, l8bl
From most Trustworthy source | have been
enabled to obtain very important information OF tie
operations of the rebels at Norfolk, and an expose Of
some of their intended movements.
An expedition on 4 large scale is being fitted ont
70 proceed against Hateras Inlet, and reiaAe what
vas captured from them by Commodore Stringham.
The feet will c0nsist Of eleven large side-wheel
steamboats, and propeers, and a number Of SHIPS
launches taken from the Norfolk Navy-YaTd. 1t is
expected to rendezvous at Roanoke Island and when
Joined by the eunboats now fitting out at the Navy
Yard and iron works at Norfolk viii at proceed
to the coast Of North Carolina.
Com. Lynch, of Dead Sea exploration notoiiety,
now commands the rebel naval force iniosting the
waters Of Virginia and Nor;h Carolina. The eXpe-
dillon against iIattcrls Inlet is to be in command Of
Arthur Sinclair late of tie United States Navy, and
a resident Of Norfolk. Capt. Patrick MeCarrick,
late captain of the passenger boats Coffee and
Northampton, Of the Bay line, between Baltimore
and Norfolk is 10 be attacked to the fleet as sailing
maser
Iapr. MoCarrick is native Of ireland, and was
master Of tie Coffee, or Wirslow, at the time she
was run ashore while endeavoring toassisthe French
corvette PROXY which was lost Cd the North Caro-
lima coast in November. In that exploit, MeCartick
set fire to the Wnsow aud came near losing his life.
All the sick badly shoi and clothed soldiers have
been removed from Roanoke Island to Norfolk, lc;,y-
ing but a small force at the former place.
Fully eleven hundred men are now employed at
the Norfolk Navy-Yani, a large portion Of them
being engaged in raing old and new guns. A NUM-
Der of the old guns, which had been removed to
Hardys farm, back of 81. Helena, drectly opposite
the Nayy-Yard, are being unmaskod and returned to
tie ward, riied and distributed. Tie mechanical
direction of the yard is under the supervision
of Williom p. Williamson, native Of Norfolh,
and for many years an engineer in the United States
Navy
He has been many years AZ sea- but owing to Lis
babitual laziness, he has never done much ser'ce
while at sea- Tie practical working man Of this de-
partment is an Englishman named Carr, and he Las
now recent importation of large number Of his
own countrymen with him, who are engaged in
making projectiles and riied guns after recent En-
glish patterns
When the yard wac left by our forces an immense
quantity of timber stored in the shed, not one
fourth Of which has been removed from the wet or
mud docks.
The wages of the men employed in the yard are,
on an average, about 81 so per day, which i' paid
only enthusiastically and then in sEinplas;ers AS
fast as the money s paid to the hands rush = made
to get rid of it. This is owing to apprehension Of
an attack by forces and in such case these men
dread to have any of the Southern currency found on
their persona This state of affairs is partly what
causes so much suffering among the laborng classes,
the period between pay days being 50 long,
Nv informant assures me solemnly that the ms iOr-
ity of the people beg and pray for speedy advance
of the Union troops, and as soon as the Stars and
Stripes are unfurlea on the points opposite Fortress
Monroe, we will receive such assistance as would
drivr, the enemy before us like sheep.
The United States steam TRANSPORT Ericsson arrived
Ia st evening, from Port Royal. She brings no later
,aews than that by the Atlantic, except that ror.
ton of the stone feet had arrived at Charleston ana
was being sunk outside, to more eeetuaiiy ooS'reet
the channel