The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-26

Manu. having obtained the range did good execution d.
recled BY signals.
REBEL RAM AIBKMAELs,
which s the name OF this rebel monster, is quite for
midable craft built the plan Of the Merrimac Captain
James spotswoode Coke, late lieutenant in the United
States Navy, commands her, and has crew OF sixty
Her dimensions foIlows,-Lengtb, l62 feel;
breadth Of BEAM 40 feet depth Of hold, IL feet She
10 built OF sixeen.inch timber, and is said 10 have
plating Of sxnch iron. Others however assert that her
OF mail is rail, laid and fastened Her
engine s low pressure, English built, with two screws
She 10 pierced Dor elk guns, viz one portfolio at the
stern and ste and four the sarboard and port SIDES
her armament consists Of only two twenty FOUNDER Whit
worth gune, revolving on swivel, which can be Cred
out Of three portfolios The accompanying cut is fac.
simk Of the rebel ram, drawn by q gentleman who
her while engaged In the act OF sinking the sonthned
TIE gNENY
is supposed TO be moving Little Washington and al
though well prepared there for an attack, bot
and bloody work will soon ensue The motive Of the
rebels as stated by Of their officers, for making
the onslaught on Plymouth aud other posts in North
Carolina 10 to drive the Union forces out Of the State,
and transfer the theatre Of war from Virginia 70 North
Carolina; also 10 check the movement amore the dis.
affected towards resisting the JEFF Davis tyranny. This,
therefore, may be said to be the earnest commencement
Of vigorous sgrirg campaign.
Mr.. George II. Harris Dispatches.
EIApouAnERs. DISTRICT or NORTH CAsotNA,
NEwBsRs, April 20, e6a. J
orEvIYc or HosrpIrs-uSioS picgETs DRIVEN IN.
Since my last despatch have been enabled TO obtain
full particulars Of the copditiou Of affairs at Plymouth
On Sunday at hair pat three O'Clock in the afternoon
the pckets driven n,1ot without much skirmsh.
ing, and resulting Lieutenant Russell az the Twelfth
New York cavalry, being severely wounded and pri
vate killed The United States steamer Ceres, Acting
Master Foster commanding, AZ once despatched up
the Roanoke river 10 communicate with the Whitehead,
Acting Ensign Barrett commanding, who was stationed
below Hyners Ferry watching for the rebel ram, known
for some psft 10 have been built and for this pur
pose
To anticipation OF visit from this ram, oostructions
bad been placed the river opposite Hyners Ferry
ENGAGEMENT WIN TUE crREs.
As the Ceres passed Fort Cray, strong fertilization
two and half miles above Plymouth the enemy opened
her from battery Of six guns, the Ceres a.
spending with her small PARROT rifles
The casualties on board the Ceres 10 this affair were
two men killed and six or seven wounded, including OF.
GERS, none Of whom we're seriously hurt.
BY this AFFAIR the position OF the enemy was disclosed
10 Captain Brown, the commandant OF Fort Gray who
thereupon opened Gre from PARROT and
two smooth bore OF ess caibrc The firing OF both par
ties became brisk the rebel practice being excellent,
and one Of their shots carried away the fagsian OF the
rori but which was almost instantly reelevaied TO the
top Of . tree.
This artillery duel lasted until eight or nine O'Clock In
the night the Casualties In the fort being up that time
slight while their Gre must have done good execution on
the enemy.
The garrison at the fort were In excellent spirits,
and consisted 81 a company OF the second Massa.
chusetts heavy artillery, under the command of
Captain Fiske ard q detachment OF the Eighty Rfth
New York, the whole under the command Of Captain
Brown, Of the Eighty 9th. On Monday morning about
daybreak the enemy urcer cover o. their guns attempt
cd the assault Of toe fort, out repulsed with heavy
Ices.
rHr posRrriI rsoreHr rvro ACTION.
About this time the army guntAat Bombshef, IN.
der the command o. Acting Ensign stoscs OF the navy
moved up communicate with the fort. when within
range OF their guns TIE enemy opened on her. and
ceeded 10 striking her eight ten times, woundu
ore man damaging her bull 10 such sn extent that
on reaching the dock the cwo, she sunk. with her
colors Tying from her mast During the night Of Sun.
day General vessels despatched The transports Masssso
and Dewitt Clinton, with the women and children, whom
be had caused leave the town. 70 befoswarded 10
Roanoke Island This was done @ precautionary msa.
sure IN Anticipation o. the rebels max nc demand 10
that purpors and 10 prevent giving them The time 10
maze 40 advantageous disposition Of their forces and tho
General TOOK prompt action towards making despe-
rate essisnce. NMH kMr8
nRwssxe- TIMING FROM Trr FORTS AM erSpoArs.
Al through tho day. Monday, our men skrmehcd
hriesy with The rebels who had taken possession OF the
woSds n frops Of The town, and extending on
both sdes The snemy during this tine we're also en-.
easso - fslips trees ard erecting lines Of ferncasons
10 piso view o. our troops Al intervals Forts WI.
llsms, vessels and Gray opened Ore and sneled The
~cods, and fortter the river . water ba,lery-Hat
terry Wor'h-sep W en- ircessant Ore, directed prnct
pay against battery erected by the rebels, and boar
INC sspscisy o. Fort wesses In the evening Al about
ss o'ajook the enemy made r.nnd and viscrous an