The New York herald., 1862-04-15
The Merrimac Out.

kCnmDnu II, g.
Il would not be practicable, even II IT dssirabs
70 Keep secret the important fact that the Virginia (er
rimac) has again sailed forth She left Norfolk yester
day half hour after noon what special errsnd beno
we know more than the reader gentleman VIII
was at Sswal's Point Sunday informs there
that time abundant game'n the Roads ], not mpossi
monsters freaks among the Yankee small fry that rough
weather may have prevented her attempting anything
this time. Commodore Tatnal is in command and
body will doubt that nothing done IL will not be for
lack Of will and daring.
The Whs says matters grow interesting on the York.
town peninsula ;" but adds;-"Ths impression prevails
that general engagement viii come on to-day TO NOR
row or during the week. We have every confidence
that the gallant Masrudsr will give the invaders another
Bethel"
General A. 8. Johnston ON the Fall OF
Fort Donelson.
The following letter written 70 Mr.. Barksdale mem
Der Of the rebel Congress from Mississippi read by
Mr. B. in Congress on the 7th inst -
DECATUR, Ala, March Is, 1862
when about TO assume command Of this department,
the government charged me with the duty Of deciding
the question OF occupying Bowling Green, Kentucky,
which involved not only military but political cousidsra
tiop At the time Of my arrival at Nashville the action
latter +. by ssnesionins the formssion Of companies
msnacng Tennessee, BY assuming tho cause Of the 60
vernment At Warrington, and by abandoning the
sesisu The oceupsiion Of Bowling Green became nsces
ssry Of sedsfence, a least in the first step
About the middle Of September General Buckner sd-
vsncsd with small fsres Of about four thousand men
which was increased by the 18th Of October 10 twelve
thousand and hsush accssssns Of force received
a continued about the strength until the end Of
measles and other diseases keeping down the
effective force. Ths ensmys force was then reported
70 the w.Ip.psr'nsn, nfsy thousand and an advance
Beiiss~e e 70 e Of he srss,sa moment 70 pvot.aei ne
oorpdos a. Ne dedvth Of cotton msgh bring arph frsm
abroad and d1ocwogs ne NoyA, md snd 70 gam time N 70
strsagthsa myself by new troops from Tennessee and
other States Imagfed my forces 10 fAs enemy, bat made
known my true strength 70 the department and the Go
OF the states TAs aid given sndu leN0A
when General Becursourd came out IN February. Ne en-
pressed his ruprf~ al hs satnes Of Wy force, osd zoos
impressd ,oeh ne danger Of my position. fadnted what
was manifest, and laid before him my views for the
future, IN which be entirely concurred and sent
memorandum Of our conference, copy OF which send
70 you. determined TO fight fer Nashville at Doneson,
and have the best part of my army 10 do IT, retaining
only. fourteen thousand TO cover my front, aud
| giving sixteen thousand 10 defend Donelson.
The force al Doneson s stated In General Pillow q
report much'les and do not doubt the correct
| nsss Of his statement, for the force at Bowling
| Green which J supposed 10 be fourteen thousand
| eIectiya men (the medical report showing ouly a
little over vs hundred sick in the hosptsD was dinn.
isbed more than I'VE Thousand by those who were unable
no stand the fatigue Of march and made my force on
| reaching Nashville less than ten Thousand men
Had wholly uncovered my front 10 defend Donss on
r. eli would have known IL, and marched directly on