The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-04-03
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. APRIL 3.
TEae News.

in the Virginia waters. THIS is the same ye-sel
that visited Honolulu some four years since. and
was one Of the largest and finest warships of her
class ever built. Aside from this engagement,
the news Is all very favorable. and the federal
government is evidently prepared to advance on
every side. There can be no great delays. unless
caused by defeats. to which Of course the Union
armies are liable, though the chances are greatly
on their side. The extent Of destruction and
devastation that may follow the advance of the
Union army through the rebelliOus territory,
will depend entirely on the rebels themselves. If
the Union sentiment il sufficiently sGrong in Nor
fix and Richmond to assist and Cooperate with
the advancing army. reOrganize and maintain
loyal state governments, there will be no need Of
resort to those arbitrary measures which every
government has the right and Is bound to exercise
for its self pIotectiun against treason and traitors.
From Tennessee We do not find much that in
dicates the state Of public sentiment. Senator
Andrew johnson is vested with the military
gOyernOrship Cf the state, but what success
he will meet in recognizing it remains yet to be
seen.
From Europe, the new is most decidedly in
favor of peace, and the probability of war de-
EISd-ihS. iulccus II W. " ~ DclIeNc SDHc VI
the English papers, the recent furry was merely
4 panic got up by the Ministers and their organs
for specializing purposes. We find the follow
ing items among the latest telesraphie in:clli-
genee:
Nav York. March 1L-London letters OF March
LIST TO commercial houses say, on the whole, there il
observed quite an impression in England that the
struggle will be terminated this spring. American
securities are consequently b~uoyant.
Relations between the United States and f reign
powers are now said To be entirely free from appre-
hen-ion Of any disturbance whatever. The tone of
all correspondence is considered conciliatury. The
British ~ we'll a the French Ministry are evidently
gaining Strength with their people by circumference
ing sympathy with SecessiOnists.
The interest attaching to the naval engage
ment, leads us TO insert the following article
from the Bulletin. which at this moment, will
prove more interesting than anything we can
print. Regarding the engagement at Hamp-
ton Roads. the san Francisco HerdLd says, it was
a failure ON the Union side, owing to the employ
ment by the rebels of an iron-pIated ram (the
Merrimae) and the neglect to bring the Ericsson
battery Monitor on the field at the commence
ment Of the engagement.
From the San Francisco Bulletin, March III
The Naval En;nEemcnr i'm Hampton Rond-.
On the 10th Of April last the Gnsport Navy Yard
vas under the command of Commodore McCauley.
AT that time, ~ now, Norfolk and Port-mourh-close
by which latter port is the Navy lard-weTe in rebel
hands Cav. Lercher of Virginia had already tele-
grnphed To Richmond tina; the entrance TO the harbor
Was 80 Thoroughly sealed lay sunkeL ships that the
vessels at the Navy Yard could not escape, and that
the three best ships of the U. 5 Navy. tins. .N~errimac,
Cumberland and Pennsylvania were secured to the
COnieierates. GuspOrt was our fIvorife depot for
arms and ammunition, and was full of them; but
sailors to man the eleven vessels there We're scarce,
and uur Government knew not whom of the officers
on board they could trust. Commodore McC tul-y,
commander Of me yard, had already been instructed
TO pur such valuIbes as lie could Oh ship board and
lose no time in making the e ort to escape On the
10Th the engineer in chief reported the .HeTrimac
really or steam. but NcCauley confling in the iuiy-
ment Of his junior officers. who said, with her engine
out Of repair and Meeting four weeks work on il. she
Was not at to make steam, refused To have her fired
up. Ii was u fatal error. Meanwhile the rebels were
busy. On the l9ih they rih-d the powder magazine
just below Norfolk. aud batteries were fast being
along the Eliz beth river shores and com
nIandiug the Navy Yard. On the 9th McCnuley
seeing his error too late ordered the ships scuttled.
They were slowly sinking when there was n notable
arrival from Fortress Monroe.
Commodore Pudding, in the Pdicnes, with 600
trusiy soldiers and marines, under orders from the
Department. had left Fortress Monroe at Z o'clock
that Saturday evening. steamed his way through
Letcher's boasied " distractions and entered the
harbor, commissioned to save what he could and ut
terly destroy all else of the immediate agencies of
war; At any rate. 10 prevent such property from pass
into the hands oil the insurgents. lie landed n
regiment NJ the wharf at = NJ, and sent them to
guard the Navy Yard gates. By moonlight his work
went on hriskly till midnight. when the barracks
were fired to see to work by. They dumped shot and
she'll by the wagon load into the river. They spiked
guns, smashed carhiues and receivers, removed most
OF the lighter valuabIes TO the PdtCaee, set fire TO the
already scuttled ships. and NJ 1 o'cluck steamed out
OF the haTbOr, having the Cumberirnf, of - guns.
the most coveted OF all by the rebels, in tow. Pauld-
ins's mission was accomplished. He had saved much;
but the destruction wrongh, by McCauley aud him
in that work. was estimated at $50. 900, 900. which.
il it had not been destroyed, would have all gone into
rebel hands.
But among the scutrIe1 and burning ships that
were left a wreck was the -HeTTimgc L ). steamer Of
the first class, Of 8 ZOO tons. carrying 40 guns. She
built at Charlestcwn vi. Mass, in 1865. aud two
years ago was on the Pacific station. After the Pau
nee had returned 10 Fortress Monroe the rebels lost
no time TO save her The scuiIlIn- b. McCauley had
so far preceded the firing by Paul1ing that she Was
easily sunk, and 50 saved. With infinite toll she sas
raised, and clad in iron. The rebel papers
have aTtIu!ly and repeatedly announced that = the
was II failure" and so we had come to
for mischief as novel and monslrous in her new arm
sment
But il seems to the Merrimac the rebels are Mt las;
Indebted for a new seusIiiou-ii not for n victory,
still for n god fight and n gallant SemeanOr in the
most considerable naval engagement Of the present
war
On Saturday, n week ago to-day, she was towed
but from Norfolk by two gun-bOars, and up Hampton
Raids until opposite Newport News. From fortress
she was seen 10y 10 \. A-a black giant,
covered with nail of iron scales, and from her bows
iEO sharp irOn rams prO,rudel. By ! O'Clock it was
apparent which way she would 90, aud two of our
vessels started after her.
The scene Of the engagement that ensuel was
HImp,On Roads, through winch the waters o; James
z iver empty into the Chesapeake. On the north
side. forming the easternmOst cape Is Old Point Com
with Fortress Monroe upon IL. Alsp TO the
north, bat forming the western cape Of the RuadS, Is
News Point. where a feS Of our vessels are
Stationed. Midway between these two points. on the
s1uth side OF the Roads. the land opens for Elk lbeth
River 10 empty its waters-aud a few miles up the
river are Norfolk ami Portsmouth. The rebel bat
tSres AT SegIll's Point Command the entrance to the
river, aud are the prime defense Of Norfolk from q
u ion ASSAULT by ships from the north.