, 1862-04-18
FROM FORTRESS MONROE;
WHAT THE REBELS SAT- ABOUT
PiTTSBuRG.
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN,



Calm weather prevails here It has been
most propitious for the re-appearance Of the
Mtrriluae, but as she does not come it Is con
cluded she was most likely injured BY getting
aground when last out.
A flag Of truce was sent this morning to de-.
liver letters and dispatches, but no news trans-
pfred. It was impossible to obtain even
glimpse oftbe papers received at headquarters
Copies Of the Richmond Dispatch and Nor
folk Day Book we're received here last evening"
regard, dated Corinth, 9th inst, stating tl1at
he was strongly entTcnched and prepared to
defy the Federals in whatever numbers they
might attack him. He claims the battle Of
Pittsburg Landing as most important rebel
eral prisoners and S6 canzon.''
The Dispateh, commenting On the above,
thinks that the total rout Of Generals Buell.
and Grant is certain. No mention is made Of
Beaurcgard being wounded.
The Dispatch says, in reference to affairs on
the Peninsula, that no anxiety need be felt IS
to the result Of the forthcoming battle The
Yankees nre to be driven back to the Fortress,
and thoroughly vanquished by the forces un-
der Generals Lee, Johnston and Magruder.
The Richmond Dispatch has some comments
on the Merrimae, which it says spent two
,days in Hampton Roads, bantering the Moni-
tor and Yankee feet to come up from the shell
ter Of the batteries. The rebels claim that the
MeTrlmac Is the master Of Hampton Roads.
Of the Federal vessels, is regarded as showing
the terror with which the Yankees view the
Merrimac.
The Dispatch says: "Considering it is not
worth while to waste any more coal to entiec
the Monitor into conflict, the 31errimac has
returned to her anchorage
The belief Is very general here that the Mer-
rimac received some injury during her recent
raid, which compelled her to go back to Nor
folk She was undoubtedly aground all the
1ttl Iny 4k,-~t.
| OF her armament, have sprung leak. She is,
however, back at the Norfolk Navy Yard, and
! was, there is little doubt, taken back for re.
pairs Of some kind. When moving about the
upper Roads on Friday last, and exchanging
| SLOTS with the Naugatuck, she was very close
| WAS close along side. In conversation with one
| Of the English sailors yesterday, an expert
| enced gunner, he assured mo that the last gun
the Merrimac fired the shell exploded before it
left the muzzle. He WIS close enough to see
8 great conlmotion on board, and the csc ,pe
Of smoke out of her port holes.
| Tie rebels have for several days been build
| ing large Notifications on the Gloucester side
| side of the York river, about two miles from
Yorktown, and within sight Of our gun
q range to allow Of tue approach Of the
| gunboats to shell the works. About one
thousand men we're at work on the fortifcl-
tions, and the moftars are not Of sufficient
range to check the Notifications. Yesterday
morning, however, the gunboat sebago ar
| rived, having 100pounder rihed Parrot gun,
and at once opened upon them with sAell,
which we're SO well aimed that they could be
seen falling In their midst and exploding with
fatal effect. The rebels could be distinctly
in the course Of two hours the work was en-
tirely suspended, the men retiring out OF
/ range. At every attempt to renew the work,
they were driven back up to night.
The guns mounted By the enemy on the
yorktown side Of the river, number not less
than ffty-one hundred d-pounders, some oi
them ritlea, bearing directly on the bar. Oas
gunboats are at present about two miles be
low the town.
There is said to be skirmIshing along the
sharpshooters are spreading terror among the
gunners Of the enemy by their unerrfng aims
The enemy have made several eprties with
infantry to disloge or capture our riaemcn,
but have been driven back with heavy loss.
As to the arrangements for the final siege
FORTRESS MONROE, April 17.-There va:
some firing this morning By the rebel bat
teries to the left Of Yorktown. No dauag'
done.
An extensive smoke has been rising all da,
from Newport News, leading to the belle
It has now ceased to be position Of much i'm
portance.
The following Is taken from the Norfol
kIcnMoSp, April 15.-Both Houses Of Con
gress adopted resolutions to adjourn on Mon
day next, and to meet again On the third Mon
| day in August
Reports have been received here Of the laud
ing Of Yankee troops at Tappahannock, Esse:
! county, Va, On the eRappahannock river Fou
! federal gunboats went to Urba2a, on the RaE
. pahannock river, on Sunday, and next da
| proceeded to Tappahannock. No troops land
,, ed This is supposed to be reconnoissan c
or feint.
/ Official information from New Ozlean
. states that an attack on Forts Jackson an
. Phillips commenced yesterday (l4th.)
The consc1iption bill passed Congress 0
the 9Th
= SAVANNAH, Ga, April 1.-THE Norning Nsa
learns that Jacksonville, Florida, was eva,
uated By the Fedezals last Tuesday. The
said they were going to Tybee. The town
: now in possession Of the Confederates.
. NORFOLK, April 15.-The Ddy Book annou1
= with NJ MeTcier. French Minister at " WashinE
: ton, aboard. There Is great curiosity au
y many surmfse8 as to the object OF the yls
+ The editor of the boy Book says n. Merci
\ has dispatches for the French Consul at Rlcl
7 moud, which is the cause Of the visit.
= The course recently adopted by the ausho
8 tiles here, in reference to Southern newsp
9 | pers frequently received By flags of oftruce, d
= priyeB the public OF news, which is ofien
. importance, and always Of the greatest Int
e been no obstacle in the way Of obtaining sui
!, papers for the Use Of the Nortt4 n press, b.
- at present none are allowed to be receive
y and those which find their way to headqus
ters are not allowed to be seen By corr
= pondente.
r Steamer Detained. :
sh N-Vopr Apr;117-Th he hrir nrfm mmns