Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-22
Our Fortress Monroe corrsspOnd-
enee.
FoErREss NOxsoz, April Is, 1862.


authorized army correspondent" win not
permit me 70 afford you much information
except IN accounts Of the various engage
menis As they may take place, and even in
those we are, in q degree, limited; so that
hereafter, IL there should seem to be laek
Of tullness or any ambiguity or want OF de-
tail, you viii bear in mind these instruc-
tons: The restrictions in battles or en-
gsgemenIs will be upon such Information
as will indicate the strength of troops held
in reserve, or the future movements OF oar
armies.
The great object Of attraction and OF ca
ger inquiry here, is the now celebrated
Monitor which, as was remarked By Al
officer, effected an entire change 10 naval
warfare in fifteen minutes. We passed The
Minnesota, with her froUniug batteries,
steam up, tie Vanderbilt, the French frig-
Ates, and finally deserted. in the distance,
the Yankee cheese-boI on q raft" No
better description of her Appearance could
be given, and if she had not demonstrated
her great power of resistance aud attack,
should not have had the least confidence
in the puuy looking little vessel Il Is the
general Impression here that the Me-rinAe
has a wholesome fear Of her ability 10 fight.
and il disposed to keep at a safe distance.
The following extract from tue Richmond
Wing would seem to indicate sueh TO be the
fact
"BUt common sense is rather scarce az
ticle in Government which never follows
up a victory on land or sea; which threw
away Washington and Maryland, and now.
for fear one Monitor should whip the Vir-
GINA (SIerrimac) waits patiently until she
will have to fight dozen. Congress. we
are sorry TO say, appears 70 have no hetter
a nd mn he
Like master like man.. ,"
The Saugatauk-Steveusi Battery made
some splendid firing when the Nerrimac
last appeared, one OF her shots going about
four miles very accurately. Naval men
here express great confidence in her. A
description of her armament, kc. received
from gentleman well acquainted with her
construction would be very interesting,
but as have not noticed any IN print, l
presume It Is ''contriband' and will there
fore refrain.
The English frigate lies well up the har-
Dor above SewelPs point She aud the
French frigAtes moved up the day before
tue late appearance of the Nsrrimac, so
as to be able to witness the engagement
The two great Union guns are also OBJ
jects of considerable interest The rided
gun weighs So ,005 pounds, carries a ball
about 500 pounds weight The ball Is
conicsl and over mo fseL IN length The
[, other gun carries shell.
The interior of the Fortress Is beautiful
/ the vide she'll walks, with shade tries on
[ each side-the extensive parade groEnd-
/ the gaily dressed soldiers, and the inzpir-
I ing strains OF music from the various mill
| tary bands, renders an afternoon lounge
very agreeable. The weather is becoming
! very warm, making the shade of the trees
very grateful, while witnessing the parades
/ of some of the finest volunteer regiments in
the service. General Wool has always had
the reputation OF rigid diseipiiuarian, aud
! from the steady step, fine eTolutious and
perfect ease with which every movement Is
executed, is shown that the troops 10 his
command have received his personal alten-
ton.
Yesterday We went up to the "army be-
fore YOsktown"-R aud let me here remark
that the malignant endeayors of some to
injure General Mcclellan, have not sue
eeeded, in the slightest degree, in affecting
his popularity with the army under his
command. Officers and privates speak OF
him with enthusiasm, and l might truly
add, affection.
AT Shipping Point had been erected an
extensive barracks. They we're occupied
by the Fourteenth Louisiana, whose Colo
4
the works, he evidently Was a master IN his
profession. Everything in and around his
encamPment betokens the most perfect or
der and skill
About half mile from the mouth of
York River. and extending along it for
nearly mile are well constructed breast
works, about eight feet high, with wet
ditch. Further up are two casemated forts,
we'll constructed, and, as I AN informed by
officers, with all the latest improvements.
Oue is intended to command she river and
the other to sweep the road. No artillery
has ever been mounted in them. Near the
latter foFtihcations is village of log
houses, very comfortable aud we'll built.
Everything Was left sit stood Rhec they
retreated eXcepta few of the cabins which
/ we're burned by their yiudicIiVe occupants
Gen. Magruder ordered the females to re-
main at home, thereby shoWing his conf
dence in our army and giving the lie to
| Beauregard's famous "beauty and BOOTY
proclamation. Nearly all the females hate
renamed, many of them are dependant up
on our army for their raIions, their other
| supplies being cut of. When q woman is
left with her family and makes a request to
that effect, guard is stationed at her door
and no soldier permitted to enter.
Our soldiers are enjoying themselves on
York oysters which they catch in the most
primitive manner. They also catch a great
many fish and this can vary their dish.
Now in regard to the operations, have
not been down in front yet, bnt have Wit
messed some frequent and heavy cannoua-
ding. The sharpshooters of the rebels are
not far behind the celebrated Berdens.-
The latter have achieved very high repu-
tatiou. One of the rebels is very foe
marksmau and Is known all over onrcamp.
The caution is passed around, "look out
for that fellow as everything that comes
within the range Of his uuerriug rifle is
sure to drap.
Last night the firing was very rapid and
heavy, the result has not yet transpired.-
Occasionally there is little ''amateur'' ar
tillery practice betweed the Yorktown bat
teries and our gunboats below Gloucester,
distance of some three miles.
The mail closes in n few moments, so
more anon. Allow me to acknowledge the