The New York herald., 1862-02-23
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
The Crew of the British Ship Fingal
Sent Back to NOrfOrk.
The City of Savannah Said to
BE Abandoned,
Fosrasss MosRor Feb. 2l, 1862.

| FORTRESS MosRoK. Feb. 21 1862
| The crew Of the British steamer Fngal, which
the blockade of Savannah mentioned in yesterdays de-
spatch returned to Craney Island last night. No
boat came out howeyer to receive them and they
brought back They were carried over again this morn
| ing and sent back to Norfolk.
Three flags of truce sent TO day.
It believed Norfolk that the city of Savannah has
been abandoned by its inhabitants occupied by
forces This Information thought TO be reliable al
| though particulars are ascertained
Notwithstanding the admission that tho Merrimac ia
failure the atest information received that two hun
| dred men are work her, and that considerable
quantities OF shot and shelf going board Of her.
The intention Of making attempt to the blockade
has given up and it thought THAI she might
her appearance here within week. Every prepa
ration has been made and standing orders have been
given for her reception.
Another French gunboat arrived here hast night There
are now four vessels of that nationality IN the Roads
The schooner Exertion, with ammunition, sailed for
| Hatteras yesterday.
Tho steamboat Metamora OF New York, arrived this
afternoon She is to 60 to Washington
The new gunboat Pinoa arrived and sailed yesterday.
The Fourth Wisconsin and Twenty first Indiana reg
mens which arrived here yesterday conveyed to
Newport News to-day. Their destination is unknown;
has superseded General Magruder and Of upon
| Norfolk. Both suppostons are probably incorrect.
More troops expected here shortly and large quant
ties of arms arriving
Our Baltimore Correspondence.
BALTIMORE, Feb. q, 1862.
Arrival at Baltimore of Too Hundred and Eighty Released
Union Prisoners from R,chmond-Aeeting Of the Rebel
Congess-Sartl,ng Rumors to the Vieps of Members
off 0f
turning to Their AHegance-Mesa0e of Jeff. Davis, fc
The for Fortress Monroe this morning brought
to this city $50 released Union prisoners They left Rich
mond Wednesday morning. and would have been here
yesterday but for the dense fog which prevailed on the
James river they approached Norfolk Most Of them
are members regiments which part the bat
| tie of Balls Bluff the 21st Of October The men,
bers of the Seventeenth Massachusetts,, and Of the
other Massachusetts regiments captured in the
action, who did not up to-day, exchanged, and
may be expected to arrive here in a day or two.
oonvsrsed with number Of the members Of Colonel
Bakers California brigade $50 called although the
PhiIadepha) and learned from them many
interesting incidents of the battle in which that gallant
officer slain. Their accounts, however. throw no
additional light upon that affair." do they differ, in
any essential particular from the accounts previously
published in the HERALD.
Dr. Higginbotham, of Rchmond-whose kind attention
our sick and wounded prisoners entities him the
eternal gratitude OF dozens of wives and mothers the
lives of whose husbands, brothers and have been
saved by his care-s much annoyed and chagrned the
made by of the released prisoners and
repeated of the Northern papers to the effect
he is heart Union The Doctor desires that
this statement be denied in the most emphatic
goes for the Southern confederacy soul
Sink or swim he is for separation from the North
What he did for prisoners account OF human
ty alone.
The Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary Of War OF the Con-
edcrate States has issued order for the release
parole take up against the Confederate states
Of all the prisoners Of tho South, amounting
to three thousand five hundred.
The Confederate Congress Richmond on the 18th
Vice President Stephens occupied the chair the
NJ T. Hunter elected President Of the Senate pro
tm. The following Senators abseut:The two from
Alabama; Mr. Burnett, from Kentucky; Mr. Sims, Of
louisiana, and Mr. Phelps, from Mississippi. All the
other Senators were present. There was vacancy
from Georgia. in consequence of the fact that Mr. Toombs
OF that State, had declined to Senator
In the House Of Representatives Mr. Bocock Of virgi
MIA, was elected Speaker. There full House.
The Norfolk Day Book states that the citizens
nah, Mobile, Charleston and New Orleans are all under
and we'll drilled and calls upon tho people of Nor
folk to fly to arms without exception excuses,
1
Gosport also, laid in ashes is asserted the other
hand seemingly good authority, that appretsnsions
whatever the safety Of Norfolk and of the Navy
Yard exist in the minds of General Huger and his o-
GERS who of course, best what the capabilities OF
| the city FOR defence are.
The most important item Of intelligence by this arrival
il that which relates to the entertained by the
members of the Confederate Congress in session.
the subject of the future conduct of the 1t
sh.tt a.
House OF Representatives, and Senator's who
are in favor Of putting stop to the war, and oil
taking such will result in the of the
States to their allegiance These views were
by them before the loss OF Fort Donelson, and that
will Of course strengthen their convictions and
NAV also bring other members over TO their wsy OF
thinking They have secured the operation Of one OF
the Richmond editors TO certain extent, and couple
articles will soon appear in one OF the Richmond papers
intended feel the public pulse in regard to these
ling views (as they will appear at the SOUTH. While
these facts exist, it is due to truth to say that large
majority Of both houses OF the rebel Congress still
cned carry the war, in the face their re.
and Of the still discoursgng fact that
.ney ga. mo- no sei ', & on a au out VIII nave
ngs Of the forthcoming message Of JEFF Davis to be
livered tomorrow have got out aneng the qaidnun,s
Of Richmond. II was understood that IL would
tempt nderrate the losses at Fort Henry and
Fort Donelson but would those facts arguments
prove the military Of the North and the deter
mnaon the Union government to reduce the South
subecton and would urge the Southern people TO re-.
newsd efforts 10 defeat the Union armies.
The Norfolk Day Boo of the 10th has editorial article
on the gloomy aspect Of affairs at the SOUTH in which it
saysThe fulness Of the dreful wrath of the North
directed against Have prepared to resist the tide
Of INVASION The campaign before will be witnessed
in trembling silence by the governing powers of the
world The North has stayed the Judgment OF England
and France by promises Of the restoration Of tho old
Union. Is army sufficient Let the call be sounded
! for its Increase"
MEETING THE BOARD or ESeysERs FoRxxsy.-The
above Board held special meeting Thursday evening at
Fireman Hail. Chief Engineer John Decker in the chair
After the adoption Of the minutes Of the previous moct
ngs the collection Of nes and Dues the resignation
! Of Assistant Engineer Thomas Rowe was accepted A