The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-05-15
THE BLOWING Up-oF TIE MERRI.
MAC = THE EVACUATION OF
GRANEY RLAND-CoNDITloN
EnE UOorD innNpOE r

clock this morning bright light was OBJ
served from Fortress Monroa III the o.
feetionof GIaney Island. Precisely at
bali past A an explosion took place, which
made .he earth and water tremble for
mile sjaround.E In the midst lofthe brigh!
flame ahieb shot up in the distance. sthe-
! ltimbers and iron OF steamer could be
seeRhHqg lhrodeh the air. No 4 dOdbs
was entertained that tile Mcrrinfac Lad
ceased TO exist. ....-..,... ..s.s..
Flag Officer GoIdsb jro, on receiving
this report. ordered armed navaPthgs the
Zouave and Dragon to proceed toward
Craney Island on reconnaissance, and
ascertain the truth of tie rumor.
, immediately after they had turned the
point. the Monitor aud EIAiSievens
steamed in 'he same direction, 4 70 lowed
by the San ia into, Susqushannas Monht
| Vernon, SenliRols and Dacolah. 10 the
meantime the tugbo4ts we're scen com
ing on towards The fortress at .flll spsad; /;
and wheu hearips the wharf, the radiant
lcouutenance,ol Captain Case, of the Min
nessuta, gave assurance that tie new
they brpu sht was of most gratifying
character, The report was true. iisish
- All The taearthworks at Crauey Island
appeared to b. abandoned, though hIothe
rebel Gag was still dyiug. Lieut.. ii
dritge. from the Dragon. laidoil with an
armed crew, took doNn the rebel flag. Wnd
hoisteddhs stars aud stripes amid 6hset-
ina by The eNsw al Gnplnin Case imms.
kdiately iep',rtrd lhs fact to tile President
and Secretary Of Warp who received the
confirmation of the picket boats with
grsst satisfaction. il5 HgfIiqh ga oas
At the request of tho President, Cap.
tain Case Immediately proceeded to- era
ney Island 10 asoerain'i the works were
evacuated, in company with the flee
which was then advancing. As wsuear'
ID Crauey Island We found this immense
fortress upparenllyioabandoned. though
Ihreo rebe flags we're floating from very
:all STATS in diEsre q parts olthe works
Capt. Case was the first loyal man thai
pressed his foot on the soil of this trea
souafle stronghold, and the old flag was
SOON given to the breeze. The forts on
thu island arein fodroI FIVE separate SEQ
tions. They are constructed with the
best engineering skill, and most admlra
bio workmanship. The forts were7in ex
oellens condition, as were also the exten
sive Barracks. which had accom- mod ated
during the winter garrison Of over e.
900 men, Forty heavy guns were noun
ted 10 different parts Of the works. On
the main part oil the Island. tho works
commanded the approaches to tho chan
mel of the river. The whole number oI
guns mounted was thirty-nine. of which
two were PARROTS, and number of riaed
Dallgrens. There were about six guns
in the works, which had not been mount.
cd. After spsnding an hour on the Is,
land, we proceeded to Norfolk. az
Flom men found on The Island, VEGAS
certained. that the MeIrimao had laid
during Saturday. at q point nearly mile
below the head of the Island. During
lhe night she had been brought back auc
run ashore. her entire officers and crew
landed on tho Islapd and slow mattel
applied to her magazine. She was tori
to pieces by the time her crew were ou
Of reach of her. stei.ses F.e 2.
Negroes state that the officers and crew
passed through the adjoining country OF
tho main land about 8 o'clock 10 the morn
ing, 10 the number orabout Two hundred
They said they were on their way to Suf
folk. .'.aaJ ftH.
On the line Of the river leading from
Craney Island to Norfolk, there are no
less than six heavy earthworks, mounting
n all sixty nine cannon, all OF which
we're still in position. The amount o
powder found in the magazines Id estima
ted Mt 5000 pounds, and the fixed am
munilion taken can ony be enumerated
by tho cargo. 4D r .4t V4eaja.A
We landed and took stroll through
Norfolk. IL being Sunday, Of course al
places Of business awerc olossd, and III,
city prescn led Almost quiet appearances
The wharves were crowded with blacks
male aud fmale, and a'goodly number o
white working peoph, with their wiye,
and children were strolhng about. 5,ao ,a
Soldiers were stationed on the whsrve
and pielsetcdhhrough the city, while th'
aag Of the Union Heated triumphanll]
over the Custom House. VI eaieiAgon
The houses through the city ware gen
orally closed. especially those Of the veal
thier classes Tho ,oSecessionists spok,
boldly Of the Southarn yConfcderacy, de
clAring their,iul entOu 10 receive hotbinl
but Confederate money. and saying they
would have nothing TO do with the Lin
coin shinpasters. They we've fully con
fident tha, inI,wsnty dayssNprfolk &oult
be repossossSd audithe Yankees driver
out 2.a!3 ni mb o. H4'f's rn1air
The President laid bff in the steamer
Baltimore for about an hour, ia front o
tho city, and, then, steamed back co. tli,
FoIlrsss. Secretary Chase returned witl
Him.. while Seorslary y, ,SlaWtouton remain
cd rill late hour in, consultation with tht
Military Ioysrnors,p Generals +Veilu anc
Wool. no u0'nnTn s'i zri9hiq e.u 't Hti
Trus to the spiritlof secession. tho Ere
as IN tieipated On, Saturday. and ,whicl
threw broad red glare acrosslthe hsay
cusnon Saturday night. proceeded from
tho obstruction Of the Navy yard, ahC
was done by order of,the rebel commend
ant --sShrceIy anything being olefta bu
black Walls and chimd6ys, Even tho i'm
meaSC dry ,dockiw was ruined. aand itaii'
said tho ,ougina and pumps belonging tt
lie ,weIe 3remot ed to RlohmOnd.ao iuc %
II !. LII. 4