The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-12
New York. Monday, May Is, 1864.
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The capture Of Norfolk and Portsmouth and
the destruction of the formidable rebel gunboat
Merrimac, which has so long been a terror and an
obstruction TO our operations at Hampton Roads
is the most important news of the day. As we an
nounced in our extra of yesterday afternoon, Gen.
Wool, with force of five thousand men, whom he
landed at Willoughby Point, advanced on Norfolk
on Saturday, and after a brief skirmish with a
rebel battery at Tanners Creek bridge, pushed on
and took possession of the city without opposition.
delegation Of the citizens met him five miles out
de of Norfolk, and formally surrendered the place.
The rebel General Huger had withdrawn his
troops previously, and Brigadier General Egbert
L. viele was put in command by General Wool, as
m litary governor of Norfolk. The city was found
t. be uninjured, and the Gosport Navy Yard in
perfect condition and good order. The rebels,
finding that they could not save the Merrimac
from capture, set her ON fire at three O'Clock yes
terday morning, and she blew up in two hours
after. President Lincoln in person selected the
and was among the first to step ashore.
The arrival Of the steam transport Jersey Blue
from Nswbern, N. c.. yesterday, which port she
left on the 9TH inst, brought the news that our
iron-clsd gunbost Gaiena had gone up the James
river and sunk the rebel steamer Yorktown and
captured the jamestown; but as her intelligence
purports to have been received at Fortress Mon
roe on Friday the 9TH it is evident that there can
be no truth in it, inasmuch a. the despatch Of
Secretary Stanton, from the fort, dated at mid
night on Saturday, mentions that the expedition Of
Commander Rogers was heard from that afternoon
ascending the James river; hence the feet could
not have accomplished what the news By the
Jersey Blue recounts.
In addition to this news from Norfolk we have
information that General Mcclellan has pursued
the enemy to point within twenty-five miles Of
Richmond. The rebels were still In sight on Satur.
day at three O'Clock. but were rapidly falling back
II was reported tat they would make stand at
Bottom Bridge, on the Chckahominy river, fifteen
miles from Richmond. General Mcclellan, how.
ever, win no doubt make short work Of il, though
heavy battle may be fought there, and viii push
on to Richmond without much delay.
Tho Richmond papers admit that the safety Of
that city depended upon the Merrimac and the
prospects of obstructng the James river by sink
ing RATS Of trees in the stream. These chances
are Of course now destroyed. The Richmond En-
0miner also advocates the plan Of concentrating
oil the manufactured tobacco In the city in certain
prescribed warehouses, where 1t can be destroyed
in case Of an unlucky visit from the yankee
vandals." The probability ID that the rebels
will have an opportunity Of disposing
Of their stock Of tobacco sooner than
hey imagine. The destruction Of the cotton crop
seems to be deliberately resolved upon by the rebel
government, rather than any portion Of it should
fall into the hands Of the armies OF the United
States. The rebel Secretary Of State, j. p. Ben.
jarnin, has addressed letter in answer to an in.
quiry by Southern firm whether cotton purchas-
cd on foreign account would be treated as exempt
ed from the general law which declares that
to fall into the hands Of the enemy, in
which he says:-"T know no law which prohi.
bits the purchase Of cotton foreign account but
am not aware Of any law or reason Of policy
which should induce this Cover nment to extend to
property thus purchased greater protection than
extended to that Of our own citizens. II Is the
settled determination Of the government 10 allow
cotton to fall into the hands Of our enemies, as
1t is perfectly well known that they would seize
and appropriate to themselves all cotton they could
find, without regard to ownership. II your cor.
respondents buy cotton they must expect to share
the same risks a. are incurred by our own citi.
zens.'
Our navy on the Mississippi Is maintaining its
laures braveiy. A despatch from Commander
Davis, on board the flagship Benton, Of Fort
Wright, to the Secretary Of the Navy, dated on
Saturday, contains the important and glorious
oews that our gunboats had . contest with tho
ssbel feet. consisting Of eight iron-cad gunboats
~ which the rebel boats were defeated
AID two Of them were blown up and on;
OF them sunk. Commander Hollins command
ed the rebel fotilla. Commander Davis
made quick work Of IL. Ho was at Cairo. on BIZ
way down the river on tho 9Th, and. as will be
seen by his official report, had met and defeated
the rebel gunboats near Fort Wright on the lotl
instant. We give a map Of the scene Of action 10
day.
Dispatches from General BANKS column dated
Of Nswutr1at on the 1olh, represent that the
y.bGls ia thal vicinity are making attacks upon "a