The New York herald., 1862-04-10

Oar Fortress Monroe Correspondenee.
FoxmEs Aossos. April Z. 1892.
ne Egpsced ksrrsmac-Rebel ErcxrsioNss AND Yankss
SAelIs-O~ Array Bcsiesn9 YorAaoWs-An Arti Rsxy
Standardization Of Rebel Batsries, dc.
The long expected second visit of the Msrrimac has not
Jet occurred. She was positively expected yesterday,
the day being as genial June weather. butt aas the
naughty rebel craft did not appear Her rival the saucy
little Monitor rides anchor in the Roads seems
restve again meet tho rebel craft In another contest
for maritime supremacy. The one hundred and one
statements made by fugitive oontrabands who have
Gently come fssa Norfolk, upon which the military
authorities here place such implicit confidence were not
in my estimation. worthy Of the least credsace. The
rebels have an excellent system In force by which they
keep secret all their military and naval movementsnot
by muzzing the press but by not granting safeguards
and giving the freedom Of the lines
who declare themselves To this or that party.
Yesterday morning Sunday rebel craft, loaded
with excursionists down from Norfolk 10 Sewalls
Point. They landed at the latter place, and
from helcs dispersed themselves in groups along the
beach reaching from Sewalfs 10 WiOughby's Point, q
dista Of two three miles. As tho beach between
these points directly faces Fortress Monroe and the Rip
haps, the exoursionsts doubt thought they would
have fns view OF tho movements OF the Yankees
From here the groups OF rebel rsi0Dists dis
tncLy seen ana hero and there am Dg themwere
tho gay uniforms rebel OH The no various
points the beach visited by the pleasure seekers
Towards the close Of the afternoon the Union battery
Fort Wool Grip Raps) under the command OF Lieutenant
Colonel Halliday, opened fire the rebels, firing tho
Sawyer shell among them with perfect oosencss not
very tasteful to those at whom they thrown. The
rebels thereupon scampered away, and In short time
these pleasure seekers returned to Norfolk, wiser, il
not better mon. The practice Of our gunners
ccent. although ths distance the shells thrown is
over three miles, saw distinctly, with my Dyes,
several shells strike old barn making the spnters
fly in every direction and with report loud field
piece
The news from army Yorktown states that
the troops under General W. r. Smith and General
Couch, had spirited artillery skirmish with the rebels
at Lees Mile this morning. No attempt made to
dsodge the enemy for the purpose of ascertain
ing the strength OF the enemy and the cabre OF their
guns. TN tho centre Of line steps have been taken
70 lay siege to Yorktown and advance the enemy by
prog essive steps BY this measure it s thought tho
capture OF the place may be accomplished with smaller
loss Of lifo side than by direct assault. The
auxiliary batteries at Ship Point, Gorso creek and
Buck creek have been abandoned by tie enemy, and
these places are now occupied by our troops. From
Toos Point at the mouth Of York river at its junction
with the Chesapeake Bay. TO Wormsley's creek, DIS
tance Of about FIVE miles tho rebels had tho margin of
tho river literally studded with batteries, all OF which
have been apparently abandoned. portion OF General
Summers corps dGrmee now occupy the points above
named Several rebel soldiers have been captured and
are now here under guard. They represent that the
rebels short Of forage. and their cavalry t only
anatomical specimens hardly able 10 hold themselves
up not 10 speak Of carrynga rider The rebel force
the peninsula Is estimated at from 20 600 80 900
under tho command OF Generals Johnston and Magruder