The New York herald., 1862-04-24
TRIPLE SHEET.
New York. rhursday. April -, 1904.
THE SITUATION.


change in the Savy Department has, IL sp-
pears. been resolved upon BY the President. The
removal Of Secretary welles IL said to bs only o
question Of time dependent upon the jadicious Sc.
lection OF . successor in this critical moment Of
cur naval history. II is reported that the names
of three gentlemen are strongly urged urca Mr..
Lincoln for Secretary Of the Navy namely Gene
raj Banks. Governor sprague, and Judge D IL. Of
Illinois.
By the Information gathered from several fagi-
tives from Norfolk at Fortress Eonroe yesterday.
il would appear that the presumption tha, the
Merrimac was aground OF Craney Island on the
occasion Of her last attempt to get out. proves to
be quite true, IS was supposed BY many people
who were observing her. II she lay helplessiy
at the mercy Of our feet for any length OF time.
che must have dono if these statements be cor.
rect, it WAS . great oversight on the part Of
some one that she was not either captured
or crippled IS she lay there; and the neglect
TO attack her may have much to do with the con-
templated change in the Navy Department. These
refugees report the Merrimac still Of the Gosport
Navy Yard. workmen were engaged in placing
iron shields over her port holes. II was supposed
that the improvements would be completed and
the Merrimac would be out again In two or three
days. Nothing was said in Norfolk about the
bursting of her gun. The steamer jamestown and
steamtug Beaufort went up the James river on
Monday, and the Yorktown on Sunday. TO obtain
coal at Richmond. They took in TOW number Of
schooncrs loaded with iron TO be rolled into plates
at the Tredegsr Works in Richmond. -Four new
gunboats have been launched at the Navy Yard,
and four more are in the course Of construction st
Norfolk, and part Of these with iron plates.
The French Minister arrived at Fortress Monroe
yesterday, on the steamer Gsssend, on his return
from Richmond. The object of his mission has. Of
course, not transpired, but dispatches were Of
once forwarded by him to this city for instsn,
transportation to France. No political import
snce, it would appear. is attached In Washington
to the visit Of N. Mercier to the rebel capital.
Our news from Fredericksburg is important.
The steamer Yankee went up the Rappahannock
river to that city on Tuesday, carefully avoiding
the distractions in the river which the rebels had
laid some seven miles below the city. Our aotilla
captured recently seven rebel schooners-one Of
which had valuable cargo Of dry goods, medi'
cines and saltpetre-and also two small steamers.
The rebel pickets are occasionally seen on the
south side of the river. Our troops are still in
possession of Fredericksburg, the residents Of
which are not interfered with in their usual bust.
ness pursuits.
The report circulated by the rebels a. to the de.
feat of General Burnside's troops near Elizabeth
City, turns out to have been based upon little
skirmish on the beach above the city on Saturday,
ia which only five hundred Of our troops were en-.
gagged. The rebels fed upon being attacked,
leaving fifteen killed and thirty-fve wounded be.
hind them
The latest news from the Mississippi, up TO yes
terdsy comes to US by the arrival Of steamer at
Cairo, which reports that for three days previous
no firing had occurred either from our feet or the
rebels, both being apparently waiting for an effect
i've moment to arrive. The Last accounts from
Fort Wright state that the rebels have fourteen
gunbeats and the Manassas lying of the forts,
and that Captains Hollins and McRae were also
there. Our map of that portion Of the Mississippi
to-day showing the rebel defences, including Forts
Wright, Randolph, Pillow, and the Notifications Of
Memphis, will be found Of the highest Importance
BY the Bohemian, at Portland, and Persia, at
New York. we have news from Europe to the 18th
Of April, three days later.
The commander Of the Cnited States gunboat
rno, at Palermo, had arrested the master and
crew Of the schooner W. G. Alexander, Of Savan-
oah. and taken them on board his vessel 40
prisoners. They were subsequently released al
the instance of some Of the officers of the port.
England remained intensely excited on the sub
iect Of the great naval revolution, - likely
to affect her supremacy" on tho ocean
aud the security of her coast. The duel be-
tween improved artillery and iron naval srmor
shoeburyness having produced no very satis-
factory result was to be continued, Sir William
Armstrong promising to construct some very for.
nidable guns according to bis peculiar principle.
We publish to-day foil report Of tho interest.
ns experiments made al shgcburyness 10 order