The New York herald., 1862-03-11
L TRIPLE SHEET.
THE SITUATION.

81 l. ~ "a 1OEN.
Our record of the progress OF the to-day is
full of cheerfulness and hope. The rebels are fall
ing back from the lines of the Potomac in every
direction. They have evacuated Winchester on
the left wing of their lines. before the advancing
troops of Gen. Banks division. Centreve, in
the centre of their position, is also abandoned;
the whole line Of the Lower Potomac
with all its formidable batteries. is evacu
ated, and it is confidently reported and
gains full credence in Washington that the rebels
have withdrawn from their almost impregnable
position at Manassas. This movement was looked
upon in Washington yesterday as q virtual aban
donment of Virginia Certain it is that the retreat
rom all the points which the rebels have hitherto
occupied on the Potomac is a measure which will
prove of the utmost moment to the interests of the
country. Without being more explicit we may
state this with confidence
We publish to-day the full details of the great
naval conflict OF Newports News, from our own
correspondents and other sources, in which the
and driven back BY the Union iron.clad battery
Monitor. Our account will be found to embrace
ell the particulars of the battle, together with
sketches Of the services of the officers engaged,
Ind plans of the Merrimac and Monitor
The former we give in sections, showing
tsr internal construction. or our own splendid
fttle 6Oatuo hatt
view. which the rebels had ample opportunity to
study during the action. not wishing display her
interior just at present lest it may prove useful to
the enemy. From the valuable services rendered
by the Monitor the necessity Of fastening the CON-
pletion of the two other ironcIad gunboats or.
dered to be constructed for the government be.
dered to be built. including the Monitor
which was to be fitted up in New York
within a hundred days, another at Mystic,
within four months, which time is now about w.
and another at Philadelphia which ought to be
completed by June or July. 1t becomes of the
utmost Importance now to know when these boats
wiz NC itauJ iVA sciNtOcs lut IL Will DC
seen, ready up to time. and has already made
her mark. In addition TO these boats there are
two of the Stevens batteres-one the original
large one, and another smaller one-here, which
San be both completed in a few weeks time if the
government concludes to secure their services,
and we think it ought to do so without delay.
Our nawa from M;seo,r; Il ,lo~;o,.
despatch received by General Mcclellan last
night from General Halleck announcing the com.
plete route and defeat Of the combined rebel
armies of Generals Price, McCuloch, Van Dorm
and Nc Intosh, at Sugar creek. near Boston Noun.
tsns, in Arkansas, by the Union army under
General Curtis. The victory was brilliant one, and
disposes of the rebel forces in that quarter The
ight lasted three days. Our loss is said TO be thou
sand killed and wounded, and that of the rebels is
considerably more. large quantity of stores.
tags, guns and ammunition were captured by Gen.
Curtis. Our cavalry was in rapid pursuit of the
lying rebels. The energy of General Curtis is
worthy Of all praise.
We also learn that General Pope's forces have
invested New Madrid. Heavy firing was heard in
that direction on Sunday and the capture of the
place was hourly expected. Gunboats were going
down from st. Louis TO sustain General Pope. Tor.
pedoes, to the number OF four hundred, were found
in the river and the banks, prepared to blow nm
our gunboats. New Madrid, in all probability has
fallen by this time.
The naval expedition of Commodore Dupont
has accomplished a splendid feat on the Southern
coast by the capture of Brunswick, Ga, and Fer.
nandina, Fla, which gives the government com
mand Of The whole coast of Georgia, from South
Carolina to Florida On the approach of our feet
at Brunswick the rebels fed, abandoning their
works, which we're taken possession of by our
troops. The feet then proceeded twenty miles
further South, and entered Cumberland Sound. the
entrance to Fernandina, aud drove the rebels from
Fort Clinch, which was imme ediately occupied and
Che Union flag hoisted. The mission of the expe.
dtion was accomplished on the 4th Of March. The
troops Of General Wright took possession Of the
Fort md ths Town VI Fsrnandina, mos. Of the in.