The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-12
Norfolk and Portsmouth Ours-The Mon
ster Merrimac Destroyed President
Lincoln as Commanders fn-Ciais
raj Mcclellan Onward-Another Naval
Victory in the West.


The quiet of New York Sabbath was agree
ably interrupted yesterday by the stirring and
glorious intelligence from Fortress Monroe that
"Norfolk is ours, and also Portsmouth and the
Navy Yard" that ''the city and the Navy Yard
We're not burned !" that the rebel General
Huger. while declining to play the incendisry,
withdrew his forces without battle;" that
''the landing of our troops was effected at Will
loughbys Point, at spot selected the previous
day by President Lincoln himself, who was
among the first who stepped ashore" and, to
crown all, that the rebel monster, the Merri-
mac, on Sunday morning. "at two minutes be-
fore five O'clock" was blown up and went
down, having, as last resort, been fred by
the rebels themselves
simultaneously with these good tidings from
the department Of General Wool came the
news that the advanced detachments Of General
McClellan's army are within twenty-five miles
of Richmond, and "crowding" the rear guard of
the retreating enemy; and that the rebel
General 10. Johnston is expected to make
final stand for the Confederate capital" at the
Bottom Bridge crossing of the Chickahominy,
within seventeen miles of the city; and we
think that his orderly and systematic retreat
indicates desperate and bloody struggle close
at hand.
Entirely satisfied with the budget of the day,
our fellow citizens had addressed themselves to
their usual Sabbath evening devotions and re-
creations when they wore again electrified by
an extra HERALD" announcing another deci-
sive naval victory over the rebel iron-clad rams
and gunboats Of the Mississippi. And thus
passed, in this rejoicing metropolis, our most
remarkable Sunday in the history of this vic
torious war for the Union.
Hardly second in importance to the recovery
Of New Orleans by our invincible naval forces
is this restoration of Norfolk and its Navy
Yard to the "old flag" without the loss
Of q single man, and the destruction Of the
Merrimac. And how have these great results
been achieved: First, by the army of General
Mcclellan and its march towards Rich
mond. To strengthen their defensive army in
that quarter the rebel leaders were compelled
to draw very largely upon General Huger, and
thus to leave Norfolk mainly dependent upon
the Merrimac for its protection. Secondly, it
appears from Commodore Goldsborough's apo
logetic report to President Lincoln that said
Commodore had been instructed by the Presi-
dent to remove that nuisance, the Merrimac:
and that, although the naval demonstration the
other day in Hampton Roads, in pursuance Of
said instructions, failed directly to accomplish
the object in view, it did suffice to convince the
commander Of the Merrimac that the odds were
too heavily against him to risk battle with
our feet, and that he had no other resource
than to make bonfire Of his ship. Next, as
President Lincoln himself selected the point of
landing Of the troops Of General Wool, it is
clear that all these great results In and about
Norfolk are Immediately due to the presence
and sagacity Of the President Is cur active
Commander-in-C Chief in all these successful
movements. He was, doubtless, convinced in
hin own mind that what was done by our naval
heroes Of the Mississippi could be done by our
noble sailors Of Hampton Roads; and the re-
suits have fully confirmed the soundness Of this
conclusion.
Thus, upon General Mcclellan falls the i'm
portant task OF the final blow to the rebellion
in Virginia We await the issue with absolute
confidence. He may suddenly find himself in
fierce collision with a superior force in point
of numbers; but all the other essentials TO sue
cess are so immensely in his favor that our
only doubt Of the result is whether the enemy
will be dispersed or captured. Meantime, the
destruction Of the Merrimac gives us not only
the undisputed control Of James river, but
gives to our venerable Secretary Of tho Navy
the vessels and the means required for 1nal
settlement with Fort Sumter and that original
nest and hotbed Of this rebellion, the unpun-
ishsd city Of Charleston. Let that heavy out
standing account be settled, and the people Of
Virginia and the other border slave States and
Of the whole south--deceived, betrayed and
ruined by the mad ambition and selfish cruelty
of South Carolna--will rejoice at the righteous
retribution Of her humiliation.
Our triumphs on the land and water follow
each other so rapidly, and with such accumulat-
ing force, that we may predict month, or even
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