Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-12
THE MERRIMAC SHOWS TIE WHITE
HEATHER.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND SECRETARY
STANTON IN THE FIELD.
THE eALENA "GoEs INn AND WINS.

Ameriean we take the following particulars OF
| the operations which preceded the surrender OF
| Norfolk, up to O'Clock on Saturday evening:
! FORTRESS MoNRoE, May 9.-The Merrimsc
| remained about 0ranev Island last evening until
night set In, and Is still In the same position this
/ morning Our vessels all resumed their old po-
| sitions except the Dacotah, which anchored a
| short distance above the Monitor, in the place
| previously occupied by the Galena, which, with
the Port Royal and thea rostook, are still up T.
| James river, where II Is supposed, from the
| heavy firing heard all yesterday morning they
| have done good service. Report this morning
| captured both the Rebel steamers Yorktown and
jamestown, and sunk two Of the small gunbo ats
| Of the Rebels.
I learn from an officer Of the Monitor that the
| shelling Of Sewells Point and Craney Island yes.
tefday was most effective, far more so than II ap.
peafed TO the lockers. at the distance OF five or
| six miles The Monitor ran up within half a
| mile of Craney Island, the guns Of which were
entirely slenced, whilst the most Of the feet was
| within a mile and a half Of Sewell's Point The
shelling Of Pig Point battery was also very efec-
1 tive-tbe guns soon being silenced
At Sewers Point there were but seven large
| guns In position, ard one Of these was dismount-
ed by a shell from the Seminole whilst the rapid
1 falling Of the shells within the works at times
prevented the men from working any Of the puma
The extensive battery was beat almost level with
i the earth, and at times the sand was sent fyinp
in SPRAYS over the tree tops In the rear of the
work The black smoke on the Point during the
bombardment was occssioned by the burning of
one of the barrack buildings, which YVES fred bv
/ one oil our incendiary shells
| 10 O'Clock m The report Of heavy guns up
James river indicates the approach Of the Gaen a
| on her return from her trip up James river The
| h1errimac was observed to move slightly forward
| from Ter position under the guns Of Craney
Island The Monii or Immediately left her moor
| ings and moved a mile forward, when the Merri.
| mac came to a halt. No signs yet of the alena
/ The President and Secretary Of War have lust
left on the revenue cutter Miami, on a cruise
II thp ia asi ha haaf aaf,
i that the Merrimac must be DESTROYED at IL.
ea7 lest practicable moment, IL II requires the
| whole naval deet on the station to accomplish IT,
l III O'Clock The sancy little Monitor has
steamed steadily up to the mouth of the Elizabeth
/ river, and Is still moving on towards the Merri-
/ mac which remains stati 1nary under the guns of
| Craney Island She has gone up alone, there
being no vessels within five miles of ner and In
| the distance looks no larger than a black beaver
hat floating In the water. The Rip-Raps has, in
l the meantime, opened on Seweli's Point, and has
i stfewn dozen more shells in the woods sur
/ rounding the Point, the dense smoke Of which
can be distinctly seen The Monitor IL now
within mile OF Sewell's Point battery, and about
the same distance from the Merrimac still me.
l wing forward. There che fires her first she'll
| which explodes with d loud report on Seweli' 8
| Point
| TX O'clock The Monitor is still moving
| slowly towards the Merrimac, which remains sta
| tionary, evidently afraid to accept the gauntlet
l thrown down TO her She still hangs 10 Cran,v
| Island battery, and now has the Monitor In her
own waters, far distant from succor or assistance
There, she hfeS another gun, this time at the En-
1 rlmac. There 20, however, no response or for
| ward movement on the part Of tie latter She
hugs Craney Island with the tenscity Of leech.
Can she be aground, or Is she afraid to accent the
| challenge The weather is beautiful. and the
l ocean az calm and quiet a duck-pond The
l Monitor has now stopped, and IL awaiting tie
monster rebels pleasure
IL O'Clock m The Monitor ef er waiting pa
/ tently for an hour, has fallen back about mile
but sn III lies In the upper channel The Mefrimac,
| instead Of coming forward, has moved about a
quarter OF a mile further towards Norfolk The
steamer Seden came ont to her early in the m orn-
ing, but for the past two hours there has been no
] other vessel near her The Monitor is evidently
| the 'harbor master" to-day. The Merimac Is
l ! O'Clock p. m.-The Mrrrimac still maintains
her position, constantly blowing Off steam but
) not venturtng away from the protecting guns of
CraneV Island Information has been received
| here that Gem Lee, who has charge Of the NAVY
| Yard, Is destroying all the public property and
declares that he will not leave brick upon an
l o her. Its, therefore, supposed that the Merr,
mac Is merely operating as d floating battery, TO
prevent any Interference with this vandalism
The reconnaissance yesterday, showed that most
Of their camps had been evacuated, and thit there
was only sufficient men at their batteries to man
| small portion Of the guns. That Norfolk 10 be.
ing evacuated, as reported by the fugit!ves yes
serday, there ia now but little doubt.
| 30 O'Clock p. m.-fhe Monitor Is still I'm the
upper channel, but has drifted fdlly three miles
/ from the Mefriinac. Doubts are now expressed
| as to whether the MeniInac has moved TO-DAY
| from the position she was in at daylight IL Is
contended by some that she Is again aground and
| cannot move forward II abe would
O'Clock p. 10 There nave been no move.
| ments to note for The last three hours The Mer-
rimac SIN lies under the guns Of Craney Island
| and the Monitor has anchored above All is auI.
| again, and tHere Will probably be no more move
! nents - day.
learn by passengers from Williams burg that
] Gen. Mcclellan 10 - pushing the enemy To the
wall" in good earnest, and that the Galena aud
. 9th gunEOats are doing heavy service In James
river they silenced all the batteries on the
| tivei, landed and spiked the guns, burnt their
barracks, and moved on towards Richmond 1.
! without the slig htest loss.
From w iiliamsburg learn that Yesterday af.
tern0on the gunooats could be heard Smelling the
rebels on the banks OF the river above the Click.
| ahonimy: As they have not yet returned they
have do Ib!less cut of all communication between y
| the rebels and Richmond, as well as prevented
| their escape across the james river The fact
that they have not returned 10 therefore most inn.
portant
The rebels this afternoon fred aud DESTROYED
| all their barracks at Sewells Point and blew d
thelI magazine. VI tn twenty-five guns for.
| merry mounted at this place. but seven now re.
main the balance having been carried to Rich.
mond last Monday night, along with the un,
| finished gunboats
Old Point this evening presents most stirring
| spectacle. About dozen steamers and t,ananorfs
\ are loading with troopa They win land on the
shore opposite the Rip Raps, ind march direct tc
i
AT the time | commence writing-9 O'Clock n
| IN the moon shines SO brightly that | am sittno
| In open air, In an elevated position and wit :
by moonlight The transports are gathering :
| the sire am, and have on board artillery caya y
| and infantry, and will soon be prepared TO start
The Ripa Raps are pouring shot and shell into
Sewelps Point, and bright Zig ht In the direction
OF Norfolk indicates that the work Of destruction
| has commenced.
President Lincoln, as Cemmander-iu. Chief E
the army aGd navy, 10 experimenting the exped !,
| tion himself. About six O'Clock he went aero.
to the place selected for landing, which 10 abou
, mile below the Rip Raps. l. Is said he was I,
first man to step on shore, and after examinir
| for himself the facilities for landing returned
| the point, where he was received with enthusiss
| tic cheering by the troops who were embarkir =
| The Merimac still lies Of C-aney Island. and
| the Monitor has resumed her usual portion. Tn,
heet are floating quietly at their anchorage read,
at any moment for activity. Ii 10 evident tina
the finale Of the rebellion, 90 far az Norfolk I,
concerned, Is rapidly approaching. The genera
| expectation is that the troops now embark Inc
Will have posses-io Of that city before to.mor
row night
| III O'Clock p. m.-The expedition has not vel
started. The delay being caused by the time re
quired for storing the holses and cannon on thu
II Adelaide. The hatterfes at tha Dr. - %,