The national Republican., 1862-04-18
Latest from Fortress 1onro
81 -- : sse. VI
The AkSrrina~c.

- N-- = lateh. AEfa,
Uhe II SxrinAc.
BALsinoak, Apsh II, (from Fortve Monroe,
April TO-, The calm weather prevailing iaihe
Roads has been most propiuous for th- arl,-ar.
ance Of the Nerrimac, but "A she does not come
out, Il 10 concluded that The was mos. likely
injured By getting aground when last down.
The Richmond Dispalch bss some comments
on the Merrimsc, which, II says, spent two days
In Hampton Roads, bantering The Monitor and
The Yankee feet 70 come up In range Of our
shore guns. They claim that she is master Of
Hampton Roads.
The exploit Of Tho jamestown, In seizing
three vessels, d regarded a. showing the terror
with which the Yankees view the Merrimac.
Considering Il not worth while 70 waste any
more coal In fruitless effort 70 entce The Aoni.
tor 70 conflict, The Merrimac returned 70 her
anchorage '"H L'.a.. 1a
The bslisf |. very general here that the Ner.
rimso received some injury during her recent
folk She was undoubtedly sgroupd all the
second day, and from The heavy weight Of her
armament she may have sprung . leak. She
IL, however, back at the Norfolk navy yard,
and there 10 little doubt has been taken back
thero for repairs Of some kind.
When moving about the upper Roads on Fri.
day last, and exchanging shots with the Nauga.
tuck, shs was very close 10 The English steamer
Racer-at one time cloeo aiongside. 10 con-
vcrsatiou with one Of the English sailors yes
terdsy, an experienced gunner. he assured me
that The last gun the Merrimac hred--eiiher
the gun or the shell exploded before II LETT the
see great commotion on board, aud the escape
from the port holes. ..H. I,raas....n : .
Correspondence Of ths Associated Press p,
| southern NsNs Ils ms..The Attack ON the
Forts AZ the Mouth Of tine Mississippi :
FoRfREss MoNRoE, April 16.-Tbere 10 moth
Ing Of interest stirring 10 this ncighborhood to.
day. The Merrimac ls sill out Of sight.
The Norfolk papers Of today contain the
following: .....
RICHMOND, April l2.-Both Houses Of Con-
gren have adopted res ,lution 10 adjourn on
Monday next and 10 meet again on the Jrd
Monday In August. ...
Reports have been received here Of the land.
ing of Yankee troops st Tappssaonock, Essex
RICHMOND, April 15-Five gunboats went 10
Wilana on the Rsppabannock river on Sunday,
anl next day proceeded to Tappahannock. No
| troops were landed-and the movement 10 sup
posed TO be reconnaissance or feiOt
O1icial information from New Orleans states
that the attack on Forts Jackson and Philip
commenced yesterday, l4th Inst.
SAVANNAH, April 1.-THE Morning New,
learns that Jacksonville Fla, was evacuated
BY the Federals last Tuesday. They said they
were going to Tybee. The town is now Ii
possession Of the Confederates.
The conscription bill was passed by Congress.
on the 9th Inst
The Norfolk Day Book announces the arriva
there Of the French frigate Gassendi with tht
French Minister, and states that thei was gfes
curiosity and many surmises on the occAion
The editor says that N. Mercicr hos dispatched
from the French consul at Richmond, which Il
the cause Of the vieit.
PRACTICE WITH BIG GUNS.
The practice yesterday with the Union aui
Lincoln guns was very tne and attracted gen
eral attention. First ricochet shot was iiret
from the Lincoln gun, which skinned along
striking the water and bounding forward eev-
eral times, at each touch throwing up spray
Of water thirty feet In the air, and disappearini
IN the water 6nally about o mile from Sewslli
Point ~
The second shot was fred from the rifet
Union gun, IN elongated bolder Of iron weigh
Ing 6vs hundred and twenty pounds. The gut
was elevated st twenty nine degrees, and will
report that fairly made the earth trembie, th,
immense shot went whis;ling and shriekinJ
through the dir, and 10 about forty seconds Il
came down In the water close 10 70 the shor,
of Sewells Point, q distance Of fully five miles
This morning new rifsd gun, mounted on
tbe rampar's Of the fort, was tested by several
shots In the direction Of Sewell's Point. The
result was that one shell struck in the wood,
near The Point. and the Others fully commanded
the channel '. ~
There has been an extensive smoke arising
all day today from the camp al Newport News
leading to the belief that preparations are ma
king 10 cvacuate II. There is no doubt Of the
fact that the Aerrimac can come there and shell
the camp out whenever she Is inclined TO do 70
Whether II is better 10 eva0uat. II than leave
II 70 be destroyed and plundered by the enemy
isa question easily decided by the military
authorities. II has never csased 70 be u posi-
ton Of Importance to us, and Gen. Mansfield I
not the man to leave the enemy 10 do what b,
can do for them. The warm weather render
huts and barracks erected there OF but littll
Present Importance, as the men all now prcfei
the use Of their tents.