The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-13

out making desperate resistance and the explosion
heard was thatof powder magazine.
WHICH.
About half hour after the explosion before alluded
to, signal from the flagship Minnesota conveyed the
order for the vessels to get under weigh and pre-
pare for action The vessels of the fleet at tins time
were variously located the fortress
Tho sloop Dacotah occupied position opposite Hampton
cove the Seminole anchored between the fortress
andtbe Rip Raps the frgatc San Jacnto quarter Of
mile east OF the latter; the gunboat Mount Vernon, the
flagship and the Seminole tho mouth OF Chesapeake
Bay The rams Illinois, Arago and Vanderbilt also
numbsredto be among the attacking fleet.
PIONEER BOAT NORFOLK.
Before the large vessels OF the feet got under weigh,
the little propeller gunboat Dragon, Captain Watson, was
sent from the Roads reconnotre the rebel works in
the Elizabeth river and survey channel for the feet to
pass through TO Norfolk Lieutenant Sefridge, OF the
flagship Minnesota WAS on board and con
Quoted the reconnaissance IA the Dragon aps
preached the battery at Sewalls Point her thirty
two FOUNDER Parrot gun loaded trained for &C.
ton, to draw the fire Of the enemy such there was
there. As the boat gradually approached tho rebel
work. the stars and bars flying from the gar.
rison Flagstaff. The boat stopped and close OBJ
taken of the rebel works through spyglasses
The result that not a rebel could be
seen, and 1t concluded that the rebels
had made precpitato retreat. The Dragon was then
headed for the rebel battery and In few moments APP
preached the shore The draught Of the boat forbade
her approaching within hundred feet OF tho
bend, and Lieutenant Selfridge ordered boat 70 be
lowered, in which he and the to land. The
American ensign OF the Dragon lowered taken from
tho pennant haards and rolled up be taken shore
70 tho rebel fort there replace tho rebel emblem While
the boat preparations going on noble sailor,
o OF Drap Z0d
American flag, and placing It under his arm, jumped
overheard and swan to the shore with II. and in few
minutes il replaced the rebel one on the fort.
rnE FORT AT sEwAILs POINT.
Lieutenant Selfridge then made thorough examina.
OF the work. The fort consisted OF long curtaned
about three hundred feet long portion OF which
was embrasured, and in which six guns were then
| mounted. The armament consisted OF five nine inch
guns hundred FOUNDER ried gun The pieces
were spiked Several other heavy guns were in the
work. but had apparently been recently dsmounted,
ready for removal. The Of the work was
| ntrenched and ditched, and at several points
were redoubts for rifemen. In the interior or the
works large number Of wooden cabins or barracks
for the the officers and OF the garrison These
barracks laid out in systematic manner, were
very comfortable and capacous enough for two thousand
men The rebels In their retreat took most OF the mill
tary and commissarat stores with them; nothing was
i
papers, few unssrviceable muskets and other small
The condition Of the work gave abundant evidence
that evacuation Of the work done eisursy and
that it had taken several days to complete It, The
magazine Of the work closed and the recent OK
in the torpedo murders when troops entered
Yorktown induced Liout Sefridge to prevent his men
opening t. On cursory examination OF the fertilization
showed the most conclusive evidence Of the lombard
ment IL received by feet the day previous The
face OF the work largely ndented whore our shells
shot exploded tho interior Of the work ploughed
up, and several OF the barrack houses shattered
perforated The large building supposed 70 have
been storshouse, the ruins only Of which were thcre
| was no doubt fred by OF our incendary shells.
i SURVEY EIIzABErH RIVER
The Dragon then proceeded on a survey OF Elizabeth
river, going within two miles Of the Craney Island
battery Two secession nags flying from the
stas Of the foticatons but rebel soldiers were wish
bIs Lieutenant Ssridge observed tho works carefully,
and returned and reported the result Of his
| 70 the senior officer Of the fleet.
l THE FIxEr UNDER WEIGH.
At half-past six A. N. Sunday naval feet got
weigh and proceeded from Hampton Roads up the
Elizabeth river In the following order viz the iron bat.
terry Monitor iron battery E. A. Stevens (Naugatuck)
frigats San Jacinto, sloopofwar Seminole, side wheel
rigate Susquehanna, and sloop Dacotah The relative
positions OF the vessels changed from time to time AZ
/ PROCEEDED,
the Roads was quite smooth and tho fleet proceeded
| there was n grandeur in their movements that must
have excited tho OF tho rebels IL such there
| had been In the batteries against which this
| feet was to have tried its strength. The
OF the feet excited the curiosity Of the gar
rison Of the fortress and the inhabitants the vicinity
every one experimenting that the rebel Notifications
would desperately dispute its approach to Norfolk. The
slowed speed after making the turn In tho channel
leading from Hampton Roads TO the Elizabeth river. Al
seven O'Clock A. NJ. tho Monitor still in the lead closely
followed by the battery f. A. Stevens within range
of Craney Island Notifications Those on board saw thu
rebel ensgns the garrison hagstaIs The Monitor still
steamed towards Norfolk the wooden vessels Of the fee
stopping behind until tho former felt the rebel battery
The Monitor opposite aud within half mile Of Craney
Island but not rebel could be seen thore. These yes
sells proceeded directly past the rebel works without
firing shot, They arrived at Norfolk at hapast eight
O'Clock A. M. When they appeared in sight OF Norfolk
tho populace almost locked the quays TO
the "ttle cheese box" and the oppsnont Of the
| considered nvulnerable Merrimac. s
| TIE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT EvAcrATox REsxl
i WORKS AT yoRTRRsS MONROE.
| After the Monitor had safely passed Craney
| STAND, tho little gunboats Dragon and Zouave
| which had been performing good duty all the
| morning, started from of Craney Island with
ocspatchos TO Flag 011cer Goldsborough TO
the good The two little steamers put all
and their approach to tho fortress put the spectators
there almost in GREATNESS until tho should
have becn announced. On, on the little steamers
black smoke and steam putting out OF their pipes and
| the spray dashing their bows. When they ap
preached TO within mile OF tho fortress they were moi
by the gunboa Zouave board of which Fleet Cap
tain Casey who Fastening to the Of action Ia
| direct the movements OF the fleet. Tho good news
| communicated to that officer. and tho
zouave turned and headed for tho fort,
| and the three steamers continued tho trip 70
the fortress "neck and neck" The spectators rushed
down the government wharf, and when the FIRST boat
the Zcuavc-mado the landing, and Captain Case an.
nounced the good news, the crowd were inspired with
enthusiasm and cheer upon cheer was given for the
grand success OF the Stars and Stripes Captain Case
L - Al L. xxaolta