The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-18

The siege OF Yorktown.
Fort Monroe, April I6.
Calm weather prevails here. 1t has
| been most propitious for the temperance
1 Of the Herrimac, but as she does not come
IT is concluded she was most likely in
lnred by getting aground when last ont.
! A flag OF truce was sent this morning
To exchange letters and dispatches, but
no news transpired. 1t was impossible to
obtain even o glimpse of the papers re-
ceived at headquarters. Copies of the
Richmond Dispatch and Norfolk Daybook
we're received here last evening.
The Dispatch contains telegram from
BBesareeard, dated =Gorinth 9th inst, stat
ing that he was strongly entrenched and
prepared to defy the Federals in what
ever numbers they might attack him. He
claims the battle al Piltsburg Landing as
most important victory. He says he
captured six thousand Federal prisoners
and thirty six cannon. The Dispatch
commenting Oh the above thinks that the
total rout of Genls. Buell. and Grant is
certain. No mention is made of Beaure-
gard being wounded.
The Dispatch says in reference to af-
fairs in the Peninsula that no anxiety need
be felt as TO the result of the forthcoming
battle, the Yankees are to be driven back
to the fort and thoroughly vauquished
by the forces under Genls Lee, johnson
and Magruder
The Richmond Dispatch has some
comments on the Merrimac which it saws
spent two days N Hampton Roads banter.
ing the Monitor and Yankee feet to come
up from the shelter of the batteries. The
rebels claim the Merrimac is the master
Of Hampton Roads. The exploit of the
jamestown in seizing three of the Fed
eral vessels is regarded as showing the
terror with which the Yankees view the
Merrimae. The Dispatch says consider
ing it not worth while to waste any more
coal to cntice the Monitor into conflict,
the Merrimac has returned to her anchor
age.
The belief is very general here that the
Merrimac received some injury during
the recent raid which compelled her to 60
back to Norfolk she was undoubtedly
aground all the second day and may, from
the heavy weight of her armament, have
sprung leak. She is, however, back it
the Norfolk Navy Yard, and was, there
is little doubt, taken back for repairs of
come kind. When moving along the
upper roads on Friday last and exchaas,-
ing shots with the Naugatuck, she was
very Gloss 70 the English steamer Race,
long time she uss close along side. In
conversation with one of the English
sailors yesterday, an experienced gamer,
he assured me that the last gun the Mer-
rimae fred the shell exploded before it
left the muxzle. He was close enough to
sec great explosion on board and the
escape u smoke ont Of her port holss.
The 1ehnls have for several days been
building large fortifcations on theGlouces-
ter side Of the York river about two miles
from Yorktown and within sight Of our
gunboats, hut their guns we're Of too long
a range to allow Of the approach Of the
gunboats to modest them. About one
men were ct work on the forti- i
6cations, and The mortars, If not sufii Gent
10 drive them from their work, at least
had the effect to check the operations. -
Yesterday morning, however, the gun
boat Sebastian arrived having hundred
FOUNDER rifed Parrot gun, and at once
opened upon them with shell which we're
80 we'll aimed that they could be seen
falling in their midst and exploding with
fatal effect. The rebels could be distinct
" seen carrying of their killed and
and in the course Of two hours
the work was entirely suspended the
men retiring out Of range. At every at
tempt to renew the work they we're driven
back, up to night. The guns moundet
by the enemy on the Yorktown side 81
she river number not less then fifty one
hundred Founders, some Of them riAed,
oearing.on the bar. Our gunboats are
Il present about two miles below the town
md the Berdan sharpshooters are spread
ne terror among the gunners Of the enc
my by their unerring aims. The enenyl
nave made several sorties with infantry tot
lislodge or capture our ri1emen, but have
been driven back With heavy loss. AZ y Ii
Ihs arEaaaemaAts foe thA Ansl sieee ~
aesa only ~ ~ work goes blassl9 o..