The New York herald., 1862-04-24
-Four New Rebel Gunboats Launched and
-Four More Building.
Return Of tho French Minister
from Richmond.
rho Fight Between tho Union and Rebel
Troops on the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Large Rebel ReinfOrcements En-
Route for Yorktown,
&C., &e.s 10.

FORTRESS MONROE, April ~, 16oZ
small rowtoat arrived here this morning from Nor.
folk containing three men woman and two children.
The refugees report the Msrrmac still at the Gosport
Navy Yard workmsu were engaged In placing iron
shields her port holes II was supposed that the
improvements would bs completed, and tho Merrimac
would bo out again In two or three days.
The Mcrrimac was aground The last day she out
i. was generally supposed here
Nothing was said In Norfolk about the bursting OF
gun, and that suppostion undoubtedly incorrect.
Captain buchanan 10 thought to be still alive, having
bsen wounded only BY rife ehot in the thigh. II
only ncsh wound.
The steamer jamestown and steam tug Besufort went
up tho James river Friday, and the Yorktown on
Sunday to obtain coal Richmond They took in tow
aumber Of schooncrs loaded with rcn to DO rolled into
plates at the Tredegsr Works, in Richmond.
-Four new gunboats have bssn launched at the Navy
Yard and four In the Of construction at
Norfolk and part of these will be covered with the iron
plates above mentioned.
The previously reported engagement between tho
troops Of General burnside and Georgia regiment took
place saturday. The Union troops are said TO have
numbered nve hundred. The rebel troops consisted Of
Che Third Georgia regiment, Colonel wright The en-
gagemept took place, not At Elizabeth City but the
canal above that place. The rebel loss was fifteen killed
and thIrty-nvs wounded. They only partly equip
ped and many lacked muskets and ammunition. They
ere said to have run being attacked. The Union
troops held their ground until shsy had buried thor doad
and carried away their wounded, when they retired
Eleven graves Of Union soldiers were subsequently
counted on ls battle nsld.
One Of the refugees visited Richmond last week. Hs
that there very few troops sther hsrc or At
Norfolk they mostly having been sent 10 Yorktown
1900 troops said to have passed through Richmond
o. one day last week, bound for Yorktown.
r~ar,
u tho men, who brings his wife and children belongs in
Halifax Another belongs Ia New York, and carpen-
ter BY trade The third Of the crew Of the steam
Or FngaI, which rsu the blockade time since at
osvannah
The crow os the Fngal were sent here from
Norfolk by . Gag of truce some weeks since,
but were Immediately returned. The rest Of tho
crew are still In Norfolk. Up 10 last Saturday
they supported by tho British Consul but recent
despatch Lord Lyons has thrown them upon their
resources and IL Is supposed they Will bs forced 70
snst In the rebel navy.
Ono OF tho msn who left savannah on the ls Of March,
reports great condemnation thore Tho steamer Fngal
and other vessels 10 the harbor ready to be sunk
or burned Tho troops In tho vicinity OF Savannah have
been dying largo numbors on account Of the dirty
condition n which they keep themselves Tho city might
have bcen easily by troops 81 the time Of the
nrss landing at Fort Royal An attack was then coun
IDENTIFY expected. and the whole city WAS In state Of
tense excitement and alarm
Ths refugees arrived a Old Point shout han past
two O'Clock this morning. after passing vcfy close 10 toe
eebo piokcs and batteries ana we're haed for TIE ur,
'timo By the steamer Baltimore. lying 10 tho Roads
Tho English steamer Rinadc lst her anchorage 10 ,hs
uppor part Of the Roads this forenoon enc nov -
.ohored hollow the Minnesota
Tho French steamer asssend, rssuross from forfoh
With Moroer, the French Miosser. shv afternoon
His dispatches proceed ,mmedAte'y 70 New vess ~
,sss where steamer 10 waiting oross sss Atlantic