The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-24

they may be soanteraeted BY the certain Dc.
ssraeston Of the railroad BY the Uonfsdsratss
extending from Aanassas to hichmond. The
Obstacles In regard 10 transport ation and sub
| sistencs, particularly the latter, will compel
prem t and rapid action; 20 a. 70 prevent the
Uonfsasraaes Irom terrifying themselves in
army Of Indispensable military facilities and
Of the necessities Of life.
7 TIE kev1nBsr BxPLAugD.
The Frsdericksburg H~aldsays:
The recent movement Of troops going down
explained, 10 view Of the late North ern p. pers
~ hand. We And that the enemy have be 81
terribly exercised 1t the falling back move.
ment Of cen. Johnston, ana that they are
Allied with apprshsnsioAs for the safety Il
the Burnside fleet. Their idea IL, that o large
part Of tho army IL now 1t point to harass
and cut OF Burnstde, and the Thousands Of
soldiers who have left Washington, have
TEE BArTL1 OF HAMPTON RoADs-o11IoIAL n.
PORT - TIE sonnA1Dlk % faI oOssRHss.
WAsAISeros, March 1.-THE Oh ial report
OF Lieutonant Pendergast, addressed to Oon-
maAder Aarston, has been forwarded to the
Navy Department.
Liauteiant Pendergast states that owing
to the death OF tho late Uemmandipg Uftieer,
Joseph 3. Snith. II becomes my paiafai dn-
~ to make report TO yol Of that part which
the United ktates frigato Vongress took In the
Efforts Of our vessels at Newport II ws to 70.
pei tho attack OF the Rebel hotilla ON the sth
instant.
The report states that when the Nerrinac,
with three small gunboats, were seen steam.
ing down from Norfolk, and had approached
near enough to discover her eharacter, ,hs
shipW As cleared for aet1 IN. At 10 minutes after
two the A<rrtmae opened with her bow gun
with grape, passing II. on the star board eide,
At distances OF about 300 yards, receiving oar
brOAd3td0 and giving one In returA.
All n hA sOn nh - = tn nd
sank tho slooD-of.war tJanberland. The
smaller vessels then attacked 1s, killing and
wounding many OF our crew. Seeing the fate
Of the Cumberland, We set the fore and top.
sMi, and, with the assistance Of The gboat
Zoaave, drew the vssssl ashore! At half past
two the Merrlmac took q position astern OF us,
fore and Aft with shells, while one of the
smaller steamers kept up are ON our star
In tie meantime the Patrick Henry and
NJ from mp the James river, firing with pre-
cisfon, and doing us great damsge Our two
stern guns were our only means Of defence.
These we're soon disabled. ono being dis
Knocked awsy The men were knocked away
from them with great ractdity, and slaugh.
tered BY the tsrrisls IRE Of thesaemy.
Lieutenant Pendsrgas. Arst learned Of the
The death happened ten minutes previous
Seeing that oar men wers being killed with.
cut the prospect OF any relief from tho Min-
nesota, which vessel had run ashore In at
tempting to get mp to Us from H Am ton Reads,
no. being able 70 get angle gun to bear
apon the enemy, aAd the ship being on fire
in several places, upon consultation with
Oonnandsr VIM. smith, 800 70 deemed It pro:
further loss Of life ON our part. We were
soon boar ded BY IN ONCE of the Asrrinao
who said he would take charge Of the ship,
a. he intended to burn her Immediately. A
sharp firs with muskets and artillery was
maintained from oar troops ashore upon tho
TUG, having the eff.ct Of driving her of.
The Asrrimae again opened on NJ. although
After having fred several shells into 10,
she left us and On gagged the Minnesota and the
dsrgast states, the wounded were taken ashore
Ia small boats, the ship having been ON firs
from the beginning of the action from hot
Oh OF Aired BY ths Hsrrimso.
He reports the death Of the following ON.
GERS: Lieut. Jos. b. Smith, Acting Master
Thos. Moore. and Pilot VIM. Rhodes.
aIPoRT OF TIE conNAHDlR OF TIE sf. LAW
1lHss.
The following extract from tia report OF
Commander Purvianoe, Of the United States
frigate st. Lawrsnes. in regard to the action
with the rebel flotilla at Hampton Roads will
prove Interesting:
At half-pes o'el ,ck we got under way In
3DrD1Dt
| the rebel battery at SewelPs Point the bat
terry opened IRE, one Of the shells exploatuG
under the fore fsot Of the St. Lswrsacs, do.
| Ing, however, ne material injury. The IRE
| was returned, and 1t 10 believed with some
l eject. The Cumberlnod had at this time
| gone down, having been rum in to by the Mer.
rimac, AID TIE CONGRESS had surrendered
when rendered perfectly powsrless by the
| ara Of the rebels.
The Minnesota was aground and engaging
| the enemy, WAoss Afs Q insisted Of the rebel
| stsam ram and four or nvs aide. wheel gun.
| boats.
When near the MiAnsso,a. the St. Lawrence
grounded. and at that time opened nre, but
her shot did NO exseation. The armor Of the
paratiyely feeble projestiles Taking aAvaU.
tags OF tnese pcrtentous circI2stanssD, the
Msrrimae directed her attention to Hiring
one Of which. An eiGhty-poand shsll. psns.
tratsd the starbosrd quarter about foar inches
j above the watsr line, passed through the
/ pantry Of the ward room, and into tAs state.
side, completely dsmoliahing the balkhsad,
| apd then struck stong Iron bar which &C.
| cured the bulls eye Of the port II returned
into the ward :, Dom, expended:
con vas injured. TIE damage done s. This
| shot proved the power Of the projsetiies
which she employed, and readily explained
| the quick destruction Of our wooden and { n.
/
vas one Of some anxiety. Being aground, the
| tug Young Am erlaAn came alongside and got
| NJ 4. After which powerfal broadsids
/ from the spar and gan docks OF the u. Law.
| renee. thsn distant about half . mile, thrown
| into the MeIrimse, tndncod her TO withdraw,
whether nom neOessty or diseretion u not
| nlsolILAs1oys.
The Fzsdsricksbsrs Asssvl~ makes mp the
aprsndsA summary. from Northsrn papers
= late - tAs 18TH:
I The 81. Lolts IpsSlisas p1blisAes IN -.
| oouut Of q hloody hattie WAtoA occurred near
| Fort Oraie. IN new Ae1ioo. bosNQea the 1ex.
ans and tie Fs1sral ibyess. TAs lastsr ~
ing dsssrted by thNMeV nexlsea lsviee. (es
/ psSate sinsels. With tAs loss ef oil thsiy ar.
ullssY aid tAs lcas OF - KILLED SO vo1sa'
a.: fAis occurred On the llss q t:ssassy:,
0eA. MaOlAllaa hAa Wyittea . testes g All
eo0naAAers Ct loStao On TIE sseooelos 80.
t1e thAD Of tAe. ueryiDoe oaA ,ouoo0ne
tAen - bepatiA ~ Seesesoaels ossenee, .
The lAA1sk aeeelAta Non Ne Af1aaooe aehe
IYo1raa0ot tA6 1U0egal lesc o lsoeo kaliea =
ITO ~ thsy captured tA1rseoa Dleees 81 afs
0lloSy enai - te4eooese.
IT, e. =. 6sAato ~, ~ voeo q 4 % u,
/ ~ HoeS 8 e1Dol ~. Gov. 1oV01l.s Hi eoa.
tiSn9ue 0Asf1tt 0Aytes Wao u1uoat nat 10
WHsn % news = ~ Mer1tnaes aeiaea
yeaehed New Yegks pfoyoGlitoae were ooIts
onaiy eaterssine1 leR several 1Aye toelnk -.
esSaeaAone % the eAapo q $500 49,.