The New York herald., 1862-04-08
TRIPLE SHEET,
New York. Tuesday, April s, 1864.
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
Important news reached the War Department
from Fortress Monroe and Yorktown up to late
hour last night. The substance of the news is
this General Mcclellan made careful examina-
tion of the rebel works at Yorktown on Sunday,
and found them to be very strong and the ap-
prosches difficult. The water batteries at York
town and Gloucester were considerably increased
1t was evident that siege trains and mortars would
have to be employed before ssssulting the place,
and that although its capture was certain, siege
of two or three days might be necessary. All the
important works before Yorktown were already
taken by our troops, and the greatest enthusiasm
prevails among them. Supplies were being rapid
" received from Shipping Point, which was taken
possession of by our army on Sunday. new
rebel battery was discovered at the Rip Raps, and
was shelled out by our men. A despatch from
General Wool states that the rebel General Ma.
gruder has 10000 men at Yorktown.
! We are in possession of some very interesting
facts concerning the Merrimac. The Navy De-
partmeut has received the information that when
she ran for Norfolk on the 9th of March, after her
oonfict with the Monitor, she had seven feet Of
water in her hold. One shot from the Cumberland
rddled her. and one shot from the Monitor went
through port hole and dismounted two guns.
Our correspondent at Fortress Monroe states
further that she received one shot clean through
both sides Of her roof, and was very considerably
damaged below the water line. 80 that the pumps
had to be kept constantly going to save her from
sinkng. The report that her iron prov broke of
In her attack on the Cumberland and went down
with that ship, is confirmed; two of her guns were
destroyed, and thirteen men killed and seven
wounded. She has not made her second appear
slce yet, although it is undoubtedly true that she
has received supply of coal, and some additional
guns, within few days past.
The brigade of General Sickles, which crossed
Into Virginia few days since, has been doing
some service on the Lower Potomac In skr
mish with the rebels at Stafford Court House his
command captured six prisoners, forty cavalry
horses and number of small arms. These
trophies were sent to Washington by the steamer
Freeborn. While taking them on board the Free
born was fred upon from q neighboring thcket:
but, on returning the fire with shrapnel the enemy
vanished.
The news from Winchester is interesting, al.
though nothing very exciting has occurred there
since yesterday. The bridge over Stony creek
was completed on Sunday, and while our troops
we're crossing yesterday they were met with
pretty heavy fire from the rebel battery of Colonel
Ashley. Our guns, however, soon silenced the
enemy and the rebel chief retired, obstructing the
progress of our troops as far as he could in his
retreat. The rebels opened battery of three
and were scattered by the excellent fire of Captain
Huntngdon's battery, which poured its shells rap
idly into their midst.
From Western Virginia we learn bp despatch
received in Wheeling yesterday, that the rebels
retreating before our forces under General
Miroy, who has advanced from Cheat Mountain,
and now holds Camp Allegheny, lately evacuated
by the rebels. The rebels have also fallen back
from Monterey and Huntersvle, and seemed to be
moving towards Stsunton, where they will have
chance of escape by railroad
We have cheering intelligence from New Madrid
~ TO the progress Of the war on the Mississippi
river. Dispatches received at the War Depart.
nent yesterday state that General Pope had just
landed on the Tennessee shore, and that his entire
movement had been grand success. Another
Kunboat, in addition TO the Carondeet, had run the
rebel gauntlet, and was at the disposal Of General
Pope.
We have no later intelligence of the movements 3
Of the two grand armies Corinth, Mississippi.
The rebel forces continued at last accounts to
Increase in numbers. and it was stated that Beau.
regard was exchanging the raw recruits for the
disciplined soldiers on the seaboard. Ten thou
sand Of his troops we're reported to be without
arms. There had been some sickness among the
Union soldiers, owing to change of climate and
bad water, but their general health was fast being
restored.
A telegraphic despatch was received in Wash.
ington on Sunday announcing that Cen. Mitchell,
with the forces under his command had reached
Bhelbyvlle, Tenn, and had been received with
great enthusiasm by the inhabitants of that place.
By the Columbia. from Havana, we have news