New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-24
CONDITION OF THE nERRIMAC.
Exports by Befagees-C Constructor Of Rebel
Gun-BOsts-The Engagement Of q por-
tion Of Gen. Burnside's Troops Defeat
Of the observation-disclosures Of York.

Of the observation-disclosures ef horh'
town.
FoRTnEss MoSRoE, Tuesday, April q, 1862.
A small-row boa, arrived here this morning from
Norfolk oOntsining three men, woman, and two
children.
The refugees report the Merrmac still at the Cos
port Navy-Yard. Workmen were engaged in plac
ing iron shields over her port ho'es. 1t was sup
posed that the improvements would be completed
and the Merrimac wonld be out again in two oI
three days. The Merrimac was aground the lati
day she came out, az was generally supposed here.
Nothing WAS said in Norfolk about the bursting OF
gun, and that suppositon WAS undoubtedly incorrect
Capt. Bocbanan is thought to be still alive, having
been wounded by rifle shot on the thigh. II was
only flesh wound.
The steamer Jamestown and steaui-tug Beaufort
went up the James River on Friday, and the York.
town on Sunday, to obtain coal at Richmond. They
took in tow number Of schoopers loaded with
iron to be rolled into plates a. the Tredegar Works,
in Richmond
Four new gunboats have been launched at the
NAVY Yard and -four are in the course Of con-
stluc,ion at Norfolk. part of these will be covered
with the ircn plates above mentioned.
The previouslyIepored engagement between the
troops of Gen. Burnside and Georgia regiment took
place on Saturday. The Union troops are said TO
have numbered 500. The Rebel troops consisted OF
the 81 Georgia Regiment, Col. Wright. The en-
gsgement took place not al Elizabeth City, bu! on
the canal above that place. The Rebel loss was IL
killed and 35 wounded. They were only partly
equipped, and many latked murkete and ammunition.
! Il, .l.d
The Union troops held their ground until they had
buried their dead and carried away their wounded,
when they retired. Eleven graves Of Union soldiers
were subsequently, counted on the battlefield
One Of the refugees visited Richmond lnst week.
lie stated that there very few troops either there
or at Norfolk, they having been cent TO Yorktown;
Is 900 troops said to have passed through Rich
mond on one day las. week, bound for Yorktown.
The whole party Of refugees came from Savannah.
One Of the men, who brings his wife AMI children,
belongs in Halifax. Another belongs in Kew-York,
and is carpenter by trade. The third is Of the
crew Of the Fingal, which ran the blockade some
time since st Savannah. The crew Of the Fingal
were ,ent here from Norfolk by fng Of truce some
weeks since, but were Immediately returned. The
,rest of tie crew were siIl in Norfolk ny TO last
Saturday they were supported by the british Consul,
but recent dispatch from Lord Lyons has thrown
them upon their own resources and j. ID suPpnred
they will he forced ~ enlist In tho Rebel navy.
One Of the men, who left Savannah on the lst OF
March, reports great CONSERVATION there.
The steamer Fingsl and other vesels in The har-
bor were ready 10 be sunk or burnt. TIE troops in
the vicinity of Savannah have been dying in large
numbers, ON account of the dirty condition in which
they keep themselves.
The city might have been easily taken by our
troops a, the time Of their rst landing al Po Royal.
An attack was then confidently expected, and the
whole city Was in slate Of intense excitement and
alarm.
The refugees arrived ut Old Point q, about half
past O'Clock this morning after passing very close
to the Rebel pickets aud batteries, and were hailed
for the fret time by tho steamer Baltimore lying 10
the Roaie.
The English steamer Rinaldo lefl ber anchorage in
the upper part Of the Roads this forenoon, and now
anchored below The MnnesJta.
The French steamer @ lssendi returned from Nor
folk with NJ. Mercier, the French Minister, this
afternoon. His dispatches proceed immediately to
New-York by sea, where d steamer is IN wsltng 10
cross the Atlantic.