Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-10
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

FhVu FUN InESS uVNhVhs
The Bsmbardment Of Sewalrs Psint.The
at West Psint.
The Fortress Monroe correspondent Of the As
ISOLATED Press writes, Mays:
learn from an officer Of the Seminole that the
flag staff at Sewall's Point was twice shot away
during the bombardment. The first time IL fell it
on the ramparts. with the stump Of the staff, and
flag, and waved ID, when a second she'll struck
him and cut him In two, and IL IL supposed,
killed a number of oilers who were near him.
OF the msnv shot fred from SewalI's Point and
Crapey Island not one struck any Of the vessels
One or two went over their masts, but the bal
ance fell short. The rebels could be distinctly
seen carrying of their dead and wounded, the
shell, at times raining In among them with such
fsiy that It was impossible to escape.
At half past six O'Clock on Thursday morning
the iron-clad steamer Galena, and the gunboats
Arostook and Port Royal were observed steaming
up towards Newport News. The Galena led the
way, followed first by the Arostook and then the
Port Royal, about quarter ola mile apart They
steamed up close under the Pig Point battery, and
their course was watched with Intense interest
When approaching Newport News a strange
tugboat, throwing out immense volumes of black
smoke, was observed coming down towards the
fortress. Before her lines could be made ont the
color Of her smoke indicated that she was rebel.
and she was evidently coming down with all the
speed she could command. She passed the three
steamers without battling, and came on down,
having a white flag at her bow, with the name
81. B. White" inscribed on 1t, There was
great rush to the wharf to know the tidjnga Abe
brought; and General Wool, Secretary stanton.
and Mr. Tucker, Assistant Secretary of War, also
came down to meet her She had on hoard the
provost marshal Of Newport News and ale Of
soldiers, with her crew and four citizens Of Nor
folk. They state that they were ordered to Tan.
ners Point to take heavy gun to Richmond,
and that on arriving at Newport News thew. nv
previous consent, dropped the schooner and sur.
rendered the steamer to General Mansfield.
The crew OF the steamtug report that there is a
great excitement at Norfolk this norning-that
Gen. Burnside, with a large force, is within a
few miles Of Weldon, and that the Rebel troops
are evacuatlng the city with all possible speed
sewell's Point and Pig Point, they say, are al.
rsady abandoned, and preparations are maxine
to destroy the Navy Yard and other public prop
erty. rOP
The Merrimac, which came out under C,anev
Island Yesterday afternoon, and returned to Nor
folk after dark, they state, leaked so badly that
she was with difficulty kept afoat. She returned
to Norfolk, which accounts for her not coming
out this morning to follow our gunbOats up the
James river. They, however, expect her out TO.
day or Tomorrow to do some act Of desperation,
as the old hulk United Sta. e, and other hulks
are being brought down to sink In the channel
when she comes out.
The refugees inform me that there are hundred.
OF Union men In Richmond and Portsmouth, all
anxious to see the old flag restored, and prayino
for the end OF Rebel tyranny Even the ieadinS
Rebels, or large number Of them, now cons,ds
ering the cause hopeless, have expressed deter.
mnation TO remain and take the oath Of allegiance
when the city falls.
A more happy set OF individuals than CAPTAIN
Byers aud his refugees have not met with for a
long time. They, were Immediately escorted to
neadqusLters, and had the pleasure of an inter-
view with President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton.
General Wool, and host of other ofhcials, before
whom they took the oath OF allegiance with
hearty good WILL, and tears Of joy streaming down
Rebel h1g flying, but dropped 1t so soon az thew
got out OF the range Of the guns Of Sewell Point
and would have hoisted the stars and Stripe, had
they succeeded In obtaining a flag before they
left Those who have tie old flags concealed ara
unwilling to part with them regarding them s.
em6lems Of their faith during twelve months Of
suffering and privation that they have oone
through. These flags will be thrown out when
the time comes with hearty good will CsniaIn
Byers presented his Rebel flag to Gen Mans Seld.
who retains 1t as trophy Of the rebellion
AT lO O'Clock the reverberation Of heavy cannon
up the James river indicates t.at our gunboats
are doing good service. The heavy guns of th,,
Galena can be distinctly heard, and we have
ndlngs that they soon silenced tue rebel hatterv
at Days Point, and Were at last accounts at worI
s a. tne reoet battery on Hog Island, which was
Ihey were expected to be above WiIlian,burg
at noon, and will arrive at most Cd portnne nn'
ment to strike the death blow TO Maeruder Iohn-
SION ana Lee, VINO VIII thus be cut of from es.
SedgwIck have outfapked them from We,
Point, and driven them back after a terrible ha,-
ue, II 30 the gunboats will flank them on the
Other and cut OF their retreat southwark
learn by the Nelly Baker, just arrived from
Yorktown, that General Mcclellan has ad yanced
twelve miles beyond Williamsburg, and has had
with heavy loss.
A heavy battle had taken place on Wedne.d.,
afternoon between the troops OF Generals FRI
and Sedgwick, at West Point, and the Ieia,s
under General Lee, who Were endea.yo,ina 90
make their way to Richmond. IL IL said 10 81 We
been the severest battle on the Peninsula. and the
rebels Were totally routed and fanked hs,n1
orven back towards the forces under Johnston,
on the Chickahominy
] learn that the affair at West Point wa. -,
attempt 70 prevent our troops from landing, ybs
ieoels, numbering thirty thousand, were d,,ven
oack WIN great siaug hter principally by the are
at the time being small.