, 1862-05-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
HUNTER And HIS PROCLahfa-
Ti0N.
THE PRESIDENT ANNULS IT.


Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune1
WASHINGTON, May 10, 1862.
The gunboat fight with Fort Darling, lasted
four hours. The fort is situated on bluff, at
sudden turn Of the river, so that our boats
came upon it suddenly, and the Monitor went
within four hundred yards. but she could not
elevate her guns sufficiently for effect The
principal fire Was directed at the Galena.
The Monitor was hit three times,
but uninjured. Sharpshooters manned
the rifle pits, which, like the fort,
commanded the river, which at that point was
very NARROW. Two barricades across this
river were found Of sunken vessels, among
them the Jamestown and Yorktown, and
piles fastened with chains. The river is, how
ever, open to within eight miles Of Richmond.
Secretaries Seward and Wel1es, Attorney
General Bates, and party, returned from
Fortress Monroe, arriving at nine O'Clock
this morning. Tue Lake and River Defense
Committee returned last evening.
No official copy of Hunters order has yet
been received by the Secretary Of War OF the
President; but manuscript copy, accompan-
led by 4 letter from member Of his staff, re-
ceiyed by Senator Wade, renders the authen-
ticity certain. The President positively said,
| last night, that he would not recall Hunter or
| necessitate his resignation. There is little
doubt, however, that he will modify or
| atrogatc the proclamation, and it is be-
1ieved that he will at the same time lay
down general rules preventing our Generals
from Issuing such procla1nations in future.
Swell Members Of the Cabinet express the
| opinion that the President alone should an
nounce such IN important policy. Chase is
strenuous for modifying the proclamation.
Visitors to Norfolk represent the city az
like cemetery; grass growing in the streets,
stores closed. NO sign Of Unionism among
tle whites. Mr. Mil]sop, hitherto spoken o1
as all outspoken Unionist, refused tc
talk on politics with Members Of Congress
old friends who called on him cloak his rca
sentiments.
The Fugitive Slave Law is to be tested b,
ha{eds corpus in the case Of one Of Lamon's
slaves, TO be brought before Justice Wayne
GOV. Stau1y Of North Carolina, was On thf
floor of the House to-day
A letter from on board the Ga1ena says sht
fired two hundred and thirty-eight shots Al
Fort Darling, and in a couple of hour
more, hid she had plenty Of shells
would have silenced the battery, although
on bluff, and mounting ten guns, several O
them ten-inch and rifed- The first shot tha
struck pierced the Galena's armor. Anothe
followed, near the same spot, killing one ant
wonnding four. The Galena had twenty -eigh
inside and seventeen on deck. Twelve mel
| 1-iJ1n6 f1Er 3onr " J,1
| fifteen SLIGHTLY wounded.
The Senate Committee on Patents have re
ported, two for and two against the coufrma
tion Of Isaac Newton as Commissioner Of Az
| ricuiture,
| WASHINGTON, May 13.-No official dispatcl
has been received from Commodore Colds
borough, about the expedition up james River
It comprises the steam trigate Susquehanna
three gunboats and the tug Zouaye, the latte
mounting one gun. They found the flrs1
rebel battery at Dogs Point deserted. TIL,
rebel flcg was flying over the battery at Har
dy's Point, 15 miles above Newport News, bu
on landing, the place was found deserted
also all rebel batteries between there IN,
jamestown, with guns mostly dismouuted
Near jamestown they met the squadron unde
Commodore Rogers, which had preyiousl,
gone up the river, and learned from them paI
ticu}ars Of the fight at Fort Darling and tn
I
pedition was last heard from Friday, and wer
still going up the river, securing mos
Of the ordnance left by the rebels, The gen
| erI evacuation below Fort D arlingE has doubt
less given Goldsborough a..chance to bring u
i the mortar boats and to act effectively asainE
!, the fort.
James River and its banks arc now clear c
rebel soldiers. The Monitor and Galena VICE
the only vessels that run By Dogs Point an
Hardy's Bluff batteries. The remainder {
: the fleet stopped below.
OF IS shots which struck the Galena, /
penetrated. None did the Monitor an
damage, all glancing off Both returned dow
, ! the river on Friday last. The Ga1eua is nc
. materially injured. They doubtless fo1lowe
G9ldsbo1oaEh. @ on M Saturday. up the river
!, Of Engineers, has made his report in answ<
: to inquiries on the subject Of changes necc
/ sary in Notifications. He says all the change
in ordnance and projectiles are greatly in favt
Of land batteries against vessels in any con
bat between them. He fayors existing forth
!, cations, and says iron has been used |
strengthen them for years past, and that i
further use is question Of economy.
5 WAsn1SeToH, May 19-It is unofficial
Z stated that Com. Goldsboro has taken posse
:. sion Of the batteries Oh James River, two
Il which were silcnccd by the Galena while {
her way to Richmond.
NEW YORK, May l9.-Thc Hera7tps Was
+ ingtoD dispatch says the recall of Gen. Hunt
q Is determined on. His proclamation will
c made the subject Of communication By Il
II President to Congress, and in that way to Il
:. country, Enthusiastically condcEaning the cour
: OF Gen. Hunter, and clearly announcing Il
u policy OF the Administration in the conduct
y the war.
An effort has been made to have Gen Be
ham placed in command Of the Department
< the South. It is stated that it he could ha
n had the consent of Gen. Hunter, he wou
If long ago haye recaptured Fort Sumter and
& stored the Federal authority in Charleston.
u Probably hereafter, army officers OF ali grad
of will be required to attend exclusively to mi
h tary duties, and leave the management
]. social and political afi:lizs to the Goycrnmeu
re Intelligence received from the Departme
% Of the South states that our army is impatie
r at the kind Of duty assigned them.
III Accounts from McClellan's army are til
t, Gen. Sumner has been relieved from acti
ID service, in consequence Of bis refusal to rc
force Gen. Heintzelnan at the battle Of "
iamsburg.
The New York Tribune has the followfn
ave can positively assert that whatever mt
o.. ifca1ion may be made in his order, Gen HI
ar ter will not be recalled, nor put In positi
es nccessitatiDg his resignation.''
1e Fort Darling, where our gunboats were I