The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-23
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
Merrimac No. 2-PIan to Destroy the Mo-
MISUNDERSTANDING the james.

Aerrfmac No. 2-PIan to Destroy the N o.
nttor-BlOckadin4 the James.
From our Special Correspondent.
A few days previous to the evacuation of
Norfolk ty the rebels, Merrimac No. Two .
was lowed from the Navy Yard in that city
up james River to Richmond, where large
number of mechanics have since been engaged
In plating her with iron and preparing her
for service Her armor is in plates instead of
bars, her sides of wood, and six feet thick: and
she will have all the Improvements suggested
by the Merrimac. In the haste of the evacua-
tion her boilers were left behind on the dock
OF Norfolk; but she has since been supplied
with others at Richmond, which circumstance
has oceasione,l delay in her coming cut. She
has received the engines of the Arctic, COM
manded by Captain Hartstein in his Northern
explorations.
Ihesc engines were taken out of the vessel
al Norfolk soon after her return from her
memorable voyage. The name of the new
steamer or ram has been changed to the Rich
moEd, and is about two-thirds the size of the
Merrimac Tor Nirgnia6 will draw about ten
feet, and is represented as being altogether
more formidable than the slayer Of the Cum
berland and Congress. Deserters, escaped pri-
soners, and others represent that she is nearly
ready to make her appearance in the james
River, and slaughter of any number of our
gunhoots Is confidently counted on. 1t is said
that the distractions ct Fort Darling have
been SO contrived as to let her drop through,
as did the Teazer the ether day.
These are substantially the particulars as
they have been obtained from various sources,
and are believed to be mainly correct. They
have for seme time been in the possession Of
/ the government were the main facts con-
corning the Merrimac, long before she made
her appearance in thu Roads. Whether, as in
her case, no heed will be paid to them, / am
unable to say. That some sort of iron clad
steamer or ram is constructing at Richmond,
there can har51y be doubt. Prisoners taken
at different times and without any knowledge
of each others story, concur in the general
statement. But there is information much
more direct aud Trustworthy; and though in
some respects the information gathered from
various sources may be erroneous, there would
seem to be little room for questioning the main
| fact.
On board the rebel gun boat Teazer, captured
| few days since, were complete and elaborate
| drawings of the Monitor, and q eontrivance to
be used in capturing her, the main features of
which are two steamers connected by chain
cable-one to go on each side of the Monitor
which would be- drawn along by the two
steamers thus attached to her. There were
also minute specifications as part of the plan
of capture and details of men as boarders,
while Others were to be provided with iron
plates to cover the openings in the Monitors
decks; others with compounds to pour down
her pipe and fue; others with wedges to pre-
vent the revolving of her turret, and others
still to play different parts.
On the Teazer were also found drawings of
submarine batteries and internal machines and
their different locations. 1t is conjectured
that the submarine cable found on board of
her related to this branch of the rebel service,
in which it is supposed she was engaged when
, she was captured.
, The efforts of the rebels to blockade James
; river, and cut off supplies from Gen. McClel-
Ian have assumed quite serious shape. There
, are SO many points between Harrison's Land.
D ing and Jameston where musketry can be
employed with almost unerring certainty that
this species of blockade has become even more
/ effective than artillery or heavy guns since
I sharp-shooters in rifle pits and ambuscades bio
. defiance to the gunbosts, while artillery anc
{ land batteries cannot stand their fire.
p On Saturday our transports were fired OF
4 repeatedly from what is known as old For
! Powhatsn, situated on bluff about forty fee
r above the water, on the west side of the river
: about ten miles below Harrison's Landing
d where the river makes sharp turn, and
very narrow, and where the fort bears directl
Al on a channel for a stretch of two or thre
Il miles as you approach or go up. The Pacific
u
poiut on Saturday, and the line cut by car
non-shot.
The Captain of the Pacific, with great hero
ism, while the shot were flying around hin
"A went back and picked up his tow, and pro
l. ceeded. Capt. John Pennington, of New Jel
40 sey, of the bark Mustang, was shot throug
rs the body by rife ball. Though he yet SUI
ve wives in the hospital here, he is believed to t
n in critical condition. The mail-boat Wa
ts ner was fred on also, and struck several tins
IN by musket shot, but no damage was done.
ts Two or three gunboats shelled the place, bl
nt the artillery held out for some time. I'll
ed sharpshooters seemed to regard the shellin
n very little. They have the effect tointimida
navigators who have no fear of heavy gun
as and for this reason the former are really mo
e. mischievous. The gunboats now convoy ev
II rything that goes up or comes down, for
nd considerable distance. The general belief
to that the rebels are engaged in conetructlI
h batteries, which they will open shortly, wi
tv. the view of closing the river. Gen. Holmes
H. in command on the west side of the river, al
ne his force extends for some twenty miles belo
k City Point,
on Gen. McClelIan's pickets now extend eig
miles (by land) down the east side of the riv,
Iv. and it is said that his cavalry have been as
co. down as the mouth of the Chickahominy.
re A gentleman-a foreigner-who left Ric
he mond very lately, says the rebel army Las
at len back to its old position near Richmor
aw leaving but small force in front. He sa
also, the army is very much shattered, and (
ri noralized, and that there exists no intenti
ZEE of taking the offensive for the present.
= Al