Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-05-15


was set fire to about three o'clock. The cxplo-
sion took place at the time mentioned. 1t is
stated to have been grand sight by those who
saw It. The Monitor, Naugatuck and the gun
boais have gone up toward Norfolk.
rho Attack on sewails Point.
OFFICIAL FROM CON ooLDsBoRouGH.
U. S. FLAG SHIP MINNESOTA, Hampton
Roads, Va, May 9th.--To His Excelency, the
President of the United States--Sir Agree
abb to communication just received from the
Hon Edwin M. Stanton, have the honor to
report the instructions gave yesterday to the
officers commanding the several vessels detail
ed to open fire upon Sewall's Point LIST, The
object of the move was to ascertain the practi-
cability OF landing a body of troops Whereabouts
and to reduce the works, il it could be done.
I'd, That the wooden vessels should attack the
principal works together and that the Monitor
to be accompanied by the Stevens battery
should go up as far as the works. and there
operate in front on the Merrimac's appearance
outside of the works. The Monitor had orders
to fall back into the channel and only to en-
gage seriously in such position that this ship,
together with the merchant vessels intended
portunity presented itself. The other vessels
were not to hesitate to run her down and the
Baltimore, an unarmed vessel of light draft and
good speed, and with a curved bow, was kept
in the direction of the Monitor, expressly to
throw herself across the Merrimac, either for
ward or aft of her plated house but the Mer-
rmac did not engage the Monitor, nor did she
place herself where she could have been assail-
ed by our vessels, to any advantage, or where
there was any prospect whatever OF getting at
her. My instructions were necessarily close,
and in giving them, l supposed that was car
ryng out your wish in substance, if not to the
letter. The demonstration resulted in estab-
fishing the fact that the number of guns at the
principal work on Sewall's Point has been es-
sentially reduced, and is not greater now than
about seventeen, and that the number of men
now stationed there is, comparatively, quite
limited The quarters connected with this
work were set on fire by our shells, and no
doubt seriously injured. l am, very respect
fully, your obedient servant, L. NJ. GoLDsBoR-
OUCH, Commanding Naval Blockade.
TIE REBEL STEAMER YORKTOWN SUNK AND
THE JAMESTOWN CAPTURED.
The United States steam transport Jerse .
Blue arrived at New York Sunday morning.
from Fortress Monroe the evening of the 9th,
reports that the United States iron-clad gum
boat Galena had proceeded up James river, and
sunk the rebel steamer Yorktown, and captured
the jamestown also, that the Union troops
had occupied Sewalls Point.
OFFICIAL REPORT
The following has been received at the war
department =
FORTRESS MONROE, May 12th.-To Hon E.
NJ Stanton, Secretary of War: On the 9th of
May, Friday afternoon, organized a force to
march against Norfolk. On Saturday morning,
the 10Th of May, the troops were landed under
the direction of Col Crane at Ocean View, and
commenced the march towards Gems Mansfield
and Weber, who had proceeded on the direct
route by the way of Tanners Creek bridge, but
finding it on fire they returned to the cross
roads, where joined them and took the drec-
ton of the column. / arrived by the old road,
and entered the entertainments in front of the
city at twenty minutes before p. m. l i'm
mediately proceeded towards Norfolk, accom-
panied by the Hon Secretary Chase, and met a
select committee of the common council Of Nor
folk at the limits of the city, when they sur.
rendered the city agreeably to the terms sci
forth in the resolutions of the common council
presented by the mayor, w. W. Lamb, which
were accepted by me SO far as related to the
civil rights of the citizens. A copy of the reso
lutions have been already furnished you.
Immediately took possession of the city, ant
appointed Brig Gen Egbert L. Viele militar,
governor of Norfolk, with directions to see tina
the citizens were protected in all their civi
rights. Soon after l took possession of Cos
port and Portsmouth. The taking of Norfoll
caused the destruction of the iron clad steame
Merrimac, which was blown up by the rebel
about o'clock on the morning of the 1lth o
May, which was soon after communicated t
YOU and the president of the United States
On the llth visited the navy yard, and fount
all the workshops storehouses and other build
ings in ruins, having been set on fire by tn
rebels, who at the same time partially blew u
the dry deck. | also visited Craney Island
where found thirty. nine guns of large calibre
most of which were spiked. Also large mum
Der of shot and shell, with about five thousand
pounds of powder, all of which, with the build
ings, were in good order AS far as l hav
been able to ascertain, we have taken abou
two hundred cannon, including those at Sew
alls Point batteries, with large number O
shot and shells, as well as many other article
of value, stationed at the navy yard, Crane
Island, Sewal's Point and other places.
JOIN T. Wool,
Major General Commanding.