The New York herald., 1862-04-15
OPERATIONS OF THE MERRIMAC.
Her Second Appearance i'm
Hampton Roads.
Interesting Description Of Her
ManGuvres,
&C.. &C., &c.
FORTRESS MONROE, April I3, 1862

WC.A CGCsS W.
FORTRESS MONROE, April I3, 1862.
The Merrimac remained in the same position all day
yesterday until evening, when together with the rest OF
the rebel feet she returned TO Norfolk She was
generally supposed 10 have been aground.
None Of the rebel feet have shown themselves to-day.
Several captains Of vessels port testify relation to
the three vessels captured by the rebel James
town. that they ordered 10 either outside Of
Fortress Monroe or inside Of Hampton bar.
The United States schooner Haze sails for Hateras this
afternoon, with the mails and passengers.
WASHINGTON, April IA, 1862.
private despatch dated Fortress Monroe last night
O'Clock. received here this morning, represents
that there was clear moonlight and all quiet in that
vicinity.
Our Fortress Monroe Correspondence.
FORTRESS AONRoE, April II, 1862
The Reoppedrance Of the AerrimacPreparations Of the
Union Vessels to Xeet Her-Orders to Act the Den
sse-Acticity in the Bay-Per Practice Of the MaT1-
macs Gums-Sudden Death Of Soldier, de-. dc.
The long expected reappearanos Of the rebel steamer
Mcrrimac occurred yesterday morning After lapse Of
nearly 1--WE weeks in repairing damages sustained by
her engagement with the Monitor she returned TO the
Roads from Norfolk at sevenP yesterday accompanied
Raleigh and Empire The visit would doubt have
been made earlier as the rebel feet at anchor for
several days previous the prevalence Of the north
eastery gale which lasted three days. and only termn
ated last night, prevented it.
This morning the peeped out OF the horizon,
and llumned clear sky slight haze
percopt,ble on the water, which for short
time obscured the vision, but at seven A. M. 1t
cleared up, and instanter the rebel feet
abreast Of Sewalls Point. The announcement OF the
approach Of tho rebels created no little excitement,
as at the time their feet appeared running directly for
this point The signal gun at the fortress was fred and
in few minutes the garrison was under arms and the
artersts composed Of detachments OF the Naval bri
gade and Wisconsin artillery soon after manned the guns
on the parapet Of the fortress The large feet Union
schooner transports which was anchored in the Roads,
on seeing the rebel fleet, slipped their moorngs. and
favored by wind and tide, soon out Of harms way
Many Hampton Cove restricted BY the
and serpentne channels being to get out Of the
way themselves assisted by the stsamtugs, Of
which there number here. The little Monitor which
has been anxiousy awaiting the temperance OF the
Merrimac on seeing the latter approach got ready for
action by clearing her decks, lowering her smoke and
steam pipes slipping her anchor and in less than ten
minutes ready for action. The orders from Flag
officer Godsborough were however, to act strictly on
the defensive, and to give battle only when the rebe
craft should approach given point. The Aerrimae and
her consorts meanwhile had approached to within four
miles Of the fortress, and there she stopped having
as 1t afterwards proved, certain boundary, without
the range Of the guns Of the fort, over which she
would not pass. The French war steamer Catinst,
which was anchored the Monitor when the
Msrrimac hove in sight, and taking in
water from Union schooner, took up her anchor,
and taking the schooner under the protection Of her
Hag proceeded to point between here and Newport
News she had already been preceded French
war steamer Gassand and the British steamer Rinaldo
The steam transports State Of Maine, Mystic, South Ame
rica and others, with troops were in the harbor, but
soon haven Of safety out Of the range Of the
threatened point The Monitor, in her defensive at
tudc Joined by the Stevens battery Naugatuck steam
cd around in the Roads, at times showing their broad
sides dehanty the rebel feet The rebel fleet seemed
to take a cowardy advantage Of the presence OF the
foregu vessels in the Roads, and kept continually under
their cover that had policy been on the offensive
we could not have fired shot at the rebels without
dangering the neutral vessels alluded 10 the position
of these foreign vessels in former letter. and the ne
cessity OF their removal to another point but the flag
officer in charge here has displayed judgment in the
case which merits public condemnation Things re-
NAMED pretty much in aau quo the rebel feet backing
and nling times running up 10 the Merrinac for
ders and then steaming away At nine O'Clock A. NJ the
rebel gunboat Patrick Henry left the feet and into
Hampton Cove by the inside channei leading from New
ports News Point toward Hampton village At first il
seemed to be manGuvrs induce the Monitor change
her position and others supposed tho rebel steamer had
hostile designs the federal camp at Hampton Camp
Hamilton) The sequel to the problem was soon dis
covered when the rebel craft subsequently joined by the
rebel steamer Teazsr, cutting out two Union
brigs and . schooner which we're at anchor about
two miles from shore. The affair deeply humil.
atng and efforts made BY our feet to prevent
the outrage until after the rebel steamers escaping
with their prizes and under full hsadway for Norfolk,
when the gunboats Octarora and Naugatuek up
Hampton Cove point near whore the stolen vessels
had been anchored.
The Patrick Henry towsd her prizes 10 Norfolk and r
turned 10 Join the rebel feet shortly after twelve large
number Of rebel excursonsts steamers followed the
feet down from Norfolk 70 see the fun; but they
doomed to DISAPPOINTMENT tight occurred up Eve
p NJ up TO which time the rebel fleet confined them
selves TO the bounds established by them in the morn
ing Al this time the Monitor is st her old moorngs but
ready for action at any moment. The flagship did
approach the threatened Of conflict, but
chorcd several miles down the bay from which point all
orders had TO be communicated General Wool with his
STAFF was busy throughout the day, making the most
ample preparation guard against and meet the assaults
OF the rebel feet
The Merrimac and her rebel consorts returned TO
Norfolk from the Roads at halpast i've O'Clock last
evening without having induced our fleet including the
Monitor, to give them battle on unequal grounds Be-
fore leaving, however, she exchanged few shots At
long range with the Union gunboats Octarora and Ste
vens battery Naugatuck the latter lying At anchor in
Hampton Cove The practice Of the Msrrimac very
- ~A-a~-
while her opponents threw shot three and onehaf
mles-the Naugatuck, with her superior one hundred
pound Parrott gum throwing further. apprehend,
from the movements Of the rebel feet that they de-
iermined to counne their operations within such bounds
as 10 easily run under Of the batteries when
ever the tide Of battle seems against them. do
not concur in the opinion Of some people, that
the Merrimac intends to run the blockade. euch
step would be highly njudcious 70 rebel
interests and would at open the channel for the
Union forces 70 Norfolk and 10 Richmond via the James
river The Merruac will conHne herself 70 Norfolk and