The New York herald., 1862-03-10

The Exciting News from Fortress Mon-
roe-Operations OF the Union Iron-Clad
Steamers.
The news we receive from Fortress Monroe is
of an exciting character. 1t Itgives us the parti-
culars of the coming out Of Norfolk Of the IRON
clad rebel steamer Merrimac and the descent of
the James river of the rebel steamers jamestown
and Yorktown, also iron-clad, and their attack
on our vessels at Newport's News, sinking the
Cumberland and burning the Congress, two
sailing frigates of the navy. The attack on
these vessels led to spirited naval engage
ment, in which these three iron-ciad vessels on
the part of the rebels, and the Minnesota, Roam
oke, St. Lawrence, Mystic, Congress and Cum
berland took part on our side, aided by such
artillery as the troops at Newport's News could
bring to bear.
This is briefly the first days news. But it ap-
pears that the rebels were not permitted fully
to complete their designs; for, fortunate
ly, the new iron-clad gunboat Monitor,
sometimes called the Ericsson Battery, soon af-
ter arrived there, when she was attacked by the
three rebel steamers. and, after q gallant and
brilliant engagement of five hours duration
succeeded in beating off the three and sending
the Merrimac back to Norfolk in sinking con-
dition.
These two engagements clearly show that suffi-
cient heed was not given to our admonition con-
cerning the intended mission of the Merrimac,
as soon as she was prepared, and of the visit
of the jamestown and Yorktown to Newports
News for the very purpose attempted on
Friday. So far back as the Sd Of October last
We stated that information had been received
from Norfolk that it was the intention of tho
rebels to do this very thing, and we forewarned
the government, so that our forces at Hampton
Roads and Newport's News should always be
strong enough to guard against any surprise.
But the great success of the Ericsson Bat
terry proves that we now have the means
of preventing any more operations such
as this news describes on the part of
the rebels and their gunboats in that
vicinity. 1t also shows the great value of this
class of vessels and their superiority over the
old wooden war ships, both steam and sailing.
Our iron-clad vessels have been tested at Forts
Henry and Donelson, and now in q most decisive
manner at Newport's News-the last case being
the only one in which iron vessels were op-
posed to iron vessels. That the Monitor was
superior to the combined three Of the rebel
ships was plainly shown in the combat, and
Captain Ericsson will feel justly proud Of the
great success Of his noble vessel.
Now that We have these two actions before
us, 1t is to be hoped that the Naval Committee
Of the Senate will at once reconsider their
action in regard to the appropriation Of fifteen
millions of dollars for additional iron gunboats
for our navy. Their value is so strikingly mani
fest ct this time that there should be no delay
in adding as many more of them as possible to
the naval arm of our service. The money
should therefore be appropriated at once, and
the vessels begun with all speed.
Meanwhile let the Navy Department make
the most vigorous efforts to repair this disaster,
and Sc prepared for any further emergency.