New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-10


boats Merrimac, Yorktown, and Jamestown,
which were directing their joint hre agslu''
the grounded Union frigate Minnesota. Inc
Monitor and her brave commander, on LILO
commencement of the fight on Sunday, SHORTY
compeled the two smaller Rebel boats TO WIN
draw. and then engaged tho iron-cad Merri'
mac, sDgle-handed. The two plated vessels
literally closed, part of the time actually touch
ing each other, in which desperate position
they fought from o'clock in the morning
till noon. At that hour the Merrimac was
forced to retire, and-as later dispatch in
forms us-in disabled condition, under the
tOwage of the jamestown ind Yorktown.
With this comes the pleasant additional tidings
that the Monitor, after her desperate encoun-
ter, remains unnjured, and ready to renew
the work as soon as the exigency arises, or
the order is given. The safety Of the Minnesota
ia also reported, although she has been partially
injured.
The left wing of Gen. Bankss Division Is
giving good account of itself. The advances
reported to-day, include the occupation of Lees
burg, Col. Geary having left Lovetsville on Fri
day evening. marched through Wheatland and
Waterford, and being master of the FORTS
surrounding the town before sunrise on
Saturday. Leesburg would appear to
have been defended by large Rebel
force-whatever may have been the policy OF
ret ring without fight. The pOsiion gained
by Cot. Geary is one Of great Importance; and
we may now look fairly for sweeping adj
vance by General Bankss right, in con-
junction with tho forces under General
Shields. 1t deserves to be specially recorded
that the securing of the region leading
to Leesburg is due in very great part to the
Ist Michigan Cavalry, under Col. Broadhead.
As TO the rumors Of heavy firing in the direc-
ton of Winchester we attach no value to them.
/ BY good road, such as the main body Of the
division would move over from Chsrle.town,
/ Winchester must be distant from the Ferry at
least 40 miles
From the provoking Rebel position at Cock
pit Point on the Potomac, comes the agreea-
BILE news that the Union gunboats opened fro
on the latter at 3 o'clock on yesterday after
noop that the Rebels having set fire to the
greater portion of their movable effects, and
burned the pratical boat Page, retired to some
Of their other haunts in the interior, and the
National flag is restored to the ground so long
held to the annoyance aud discontinue Of the
Union traders in tho river. A reference to the
map will show that Cockpit Point is situated
about seven miles below the junction Of the
Occoquan Creek with the Potomac.
BY way of Chicago we have news from
Cairo of the 9Th inst, which represents that
in their hasty exodus the Rebels at Columbus
were compelled to leave no less than 30 cannon
behind them, which will doubtless DO turned to
account in the National service.
New-Madrid, Missouri, where the Rebels
have made stand with between 5000 and
10000 men, supported by four gunboats, has
been completely invested BY our troops, under
Gen. Pope. Some diminishing bad taken
place, during which several of our men had
been killed by shells from the Rebel gunboats.
Our officers were confident of their ability to
achieve an easy victory, provided tho gun
, boats were driven of. New-Madrid 10 a little
town Of two thousand inhabitants on the Mis-
sissippi River, just below Island No. 10, $50
miles southeast of Jefferson City.
The Rebels are said to be certifying Savnn-
nah. on the Tennessee River, to resist the nd-
vance of our gunboats. Savannah il situated
on the east side of the Tennessee, about Is
miles south of Nashville, and before the rebel.
lr Of ,y;th
ishng trade in cotton and negroes.
A dispatch from Denver City states that a
desperate battle had been fought on the 2lst
of February, at yaverde, NewMesico on the
left bank Of the Rio Grande, ten miles south
Of Fort Craig, lasting two days, with great
loss on both sides. The title to the victory
was disputed. A regiment Of New MeIicaDs
under Col. Pauton are said to have ran away.
Capt. McRse, who had charge of our artillery,
and every one of his command, are said to
by the Rebels. Kit CarsOn was within -
miles of Fort Craig, and was supposed 10 have
arrived ut the scene OF action soon after the
messenger LETT, as by the latest reports firing
was heard in that direction. The Union forces
were under Col. Candy, and the Rebels under
Gen. Sibley. Judge Watts, the Delegate from
New. Mexico thinks, from his latest adyices,
that no action had taken place, or at all
events, that the reports are greatly exaggerated.
| From Rebel sources we learn that Gen Burn
side mad occupied Winton. in force, and was NOV
ing on Suffolk. Winton 10 q village in Forsyth