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Sljc Wcckto Constitutionalist
BY JAMES GARDNER
From the Petersburg ( Fia.) JCxprc»», May IBM.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAC.
No event of the war has created more intense
excitement, nor a greater outburst of popular
mdignation, ihan has the destruction of this fot>
midable iron clad war vessel. Such were our
emotions upon first hearing the startling tidings.
We find, however, that tin re are many who
lustify the act. and as we have conversed with
prominent officers who were on board, we give
their reasons tor the deed, and let our readers
make their own deductions. These, gentlemen
aay that, since the evacuation of Norfolk, the
course which has been pursued, though a pain
ful cne was an imperative necessity. In proot of
this assertion we have ui.inv reasons, but we have
only.space to enumerate a lew.
It is stated that there are but two rivers in the
Confederate States which can accommodate a
vessel drawing as much water as did the Mein*
uuc. When she last left the Navy Yard, her
draft was 22 feet. Upon going down Thursday,
and driving oft'the bombarding fleet from bew*
oil’s Point, she lay under the guns of Craney
Island, that she might protect the evacuation of
both the Island ana the Point. Early Fnd«y
morning, the iron clad vessels Monitor and Gale
na, moved up in the direction of Newport’s News,
an’<i lay off at a distance of two miles in shoal
water. The guns of the Merrimac were very pows
erful, but of short range, and it was out of the
question to think of engaging the Federal vessels
unless they would come into deep water. All day
Pr.dav these vessels maintained their position,
and Saturday morning, the Roads was filled with
naval vessels of various descriptions. The guns
ut Craney Island and Sewell’s Point bad
been dismounted, and the Merrimac was com
pelled t keep close by, to protect the retreat of
our troops from those points. Saturday after
noon the’roops all got oft’from Craney Island,
those at Sewell’s Point having left in the morn
kUg.
A council was now held among the officers,
and it was determined to try and get into James
River, but upon consultation with the pilots, tne
commander was assured that the vessel could not
tee run in Janies River, unless her draft was re
duced to IS feet. This’fact was announced to the
crew, who received the information with loud
cheers, and went to work with great industry,
throwing out coal, ballast, etc., to lighten the
vessel.£By midnight, she was lightened to the re
quired draft, but Here new difficulties interposed.
She bad come up so high as to expose her hull,
thus rendering her as vulnerab'e as any wooden
vessel, and the pilots came to the conclusion, that
even with only IS feet, at the present low stage of
the water in James River caused by the s’rong
westerly winds, they could not cany her any dis
tance beyond Newport’s News.
To think of giving battle in the now exposed
condition was out of the question, and to remain
Hkher then position rendered her capture only a
matter of time. It was then determined to de*
stroy her, and steps were immediately taken to
consummate the deed. Her roof, already covered
with tallow and other fatty matter, was saturated
with oil, and her decks also received a copious
supply of the same material. Her crew num
bering 350, were then safely disembarked in
small'bos'*, and ten men detailed to apply the
torch. This was accomplished by laying small
trmns ofpowder from each part to various parts
of the ship, which upon being ignited, speedily
eijyeloned the nob’e vessel in a sheet of fl iQtg.— j
but not . ?."w rr» i t i -“?'.*iW' ii tt??7 i of' the Federal i
vessels dared approach the burning mass to ex- I
tingntsb the fire and secure the prize. She con ,
tinned to burn until 4 o’clock, when the fire
reached her magazine and caused an explosion
which shook the earth at Suffolk, 32 miles dis«
tant, and sent her enorm >us guns and nine bun-
of iron plating flying in the air to a
height of three or iour hundred feet.
Tbe plates heated to a cherry red, we are told,
presented an awful but magnificent sight. A
Moment or two more, the flying fragments fell
into the water, and all that remained of the most
formidable war vessel ever constructed, was her
charred and burning bull. We can well imagine
the fiendish delight with which our enemies
chucE'ed over th.s annihilation of wbat had been
to them a “rod of terror,” since the Gtb of March
last, and bow soundly Gen. Wool must have
slept tor the first time since the terrible havoc of
that memorable day.
Her destruction has caused many & heart to
throb with painful anxiety for her fate, but if she
could not have been made useful for the purpose
desired, then it was far better sbe should nave
been burnt a thousand times than to have fallen
into the hands of the enemy. Let us now go
zealously to work and fill our rivers with such
obstructions that the Yankee gunboats cannot
pcss.bly reach the cities-lying on their banks.
The French Minister's Visit to Richmond.
—There is equally as much speculation among
the northern as among the southern journals in
regard to the late visit of M. Mercier, the
.French minister to Richmond. The Washing
ton Star asserts that he held no official com
munication whatever, while there, with any
person but the Consul of his own Government,
but that he saw and conversed unofficially,with
many persons he had known in Washington,
society, and among them Benjamin, the Secre
tary of State.
The Courier des Plats Unis, of New York,
very likely to be well informed, says the visit of
M. Mr rcier was to “learn for himself the con
dition of affairs and the direction in which they
tend, especially in what nearly or remotely con
cerns French interests. If the word‘recon
noisanoe’ can be applied outside'of military
movements, the general object of his visi
may be defined as a * diplomatic reconnois
aance.’ ’’
We think this opinion more liable to be cor
rect than any speculation we have yeU seen on
the subject.— Memphis {Tenn.) Appeal, May Ith.
FROM FOR?~PIL.LOW.
[SECOND DISPATCH TO THE CHICAGO TIMES.]
Cairo, 111, April 28.-—The steamer Shing
hiss reached here to-night from Fort Pillow.
The bombardment is still progressing, though
our mortars fire but few shots.
Twenty-nine deserters from the enemy came
in on Sunday, and were taken on board the gun
boats by order of the flag-officer.
The bombardment will soon be opened in
earnest, and the rebel stronghold will be shelled
constantly until the enemy surrenders.
There is a report, which is deemed reliable,
that the rebel gunboat fleet is coming up the
river to attack our flotilla, and then make a
cold strike for the possession of the Mississippi.
*fne enemy are known to have a number of
powerful gunboats quite equal in strength and
capability te our own; but whether they dare
nltack us is a far different thing.
On the reception of news of the intended at
tack, a steamer was immediately dispatched to
[eland 10, having on board a force of gunners
sufficient to man the batteries on the island.
This step was thought advisable in view of the
reported attack by the rebel fleet.
.* :
M. Louis deGeofry, First Secretary of the
French Legation at Washington, has been pro
moted to be the French Minister to Greece. Vi
cotnpte Julius Trellhard takes his place ae First
/Secretary of Legation at Washington.
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE OF THE BAVAN
NAH REPUBLICAN.
Corinth, May 3.—The movements of the enes
my are inexplicable. According to the best in
formation at hand, it would appear that be had
moved out upon our right alone. There are
three roads by which he can advance upon Cor*
inth from the river, viz: the Purdy road on the
left, the Monterey road in front, and the Far
mington road on the light. We bear of no de*
monstration on the first, and none on the second
this side oi Pea Ridge, ten miles distant. On
the last, however, Gem Pope’s division, lately
at New Madrid, has advanced from Hamburg to
Farmington, aud be now occupies that point and
the country to the right.
Possibly this force has been thrown forward,
for the purpose of drawing us beyond our lines,
while the mam body »'t the Federal army moves
down upon our left. Or, it way be that. Halleck
has his forces massed together in the rear of
Pepe, and that the latter has received orders io
retire before our forces until they shall have
encountered IlalieCK in position and upon bis
own ground, Should bis plan be to occupy the
line of the Mobile and Ohio road to the South,
he will find himself wofully disappointed. Beaur
regard is fully prepared to meet him there, er
indeed at auy,oiber point, whether upon the
right, the left, or in front. I
The destruction of a part of the Mobile aud
Ohio road near Bethel, above, and of the Mem
phis and Charleston road, to the east, does not
occasion us any inconvenience whatever. • ■
A prisoner reports that large quantities of
plank and bridge timber hf. w e been sent up the
Tennessee river, to be used in the advance of the
army. We hear, also, that heavy siege guns
have been received, and that the difficulty of
transporting them over the muddy roads leading
out from the river has delayed the long expect*
ed attack. Possibly, Halleck hopes to invest our
position, to cut the lines of railway by which
our supplies are drawn, and to force us to with
draw, in which event be may think he will be
able to fall upon our rear and cut us to pieces. :
If such be hot his scheme, then to what i
use can he apply siege guns in this muddy wil» i
derness? |
Information has been received, also, that be ,
is digging rifle pits and planting batteries at the |
crossings of the streams and ot her commanding
points along the road. This, it true, would in
dicate that he does not consider hi* defeat an
utter ktanossihilitv; otherwise, he would not be
consul’tciiog defences along the road over which
he b&4g£ady advanced. •Halleck may be brave
and conSflent ■ imseif, but it is evident he has
manyTuTen m his ranks who, like Let’s wite,
look wistfully back from the hills to the piains
below, and'who would gladly return.
It is believed in official circles that Curtiss
will not be ordered from Southwestern Missouri
to the Tennessee, and tuat Fremont will be kept
in North-western Virginia. Ti\e latter was re
moved from the Western department, and it he
were sent back now, he would rank Halleck and
• take command of the army - It is not proba
ble, therefore, that he will be ordered to the
West, or that any part of his troops will be i
seDthither. . . •
Assuming this to be true, it is not believed
that Halleck’s effective force can exceed 75,‘j00 j
men. This number is diminished daily by sick- I
ness and ’be Morgan,'
fitflU *,*n*tue direction of Columbia and Nash- |
rille, will make it necessary for the Federal j
commander to send off large detachments J
to guard his rear and protect his provision j
| trains.
There was considerable skirmishing this after-
I noon, in which the Confederates suffered some
loss. The casualties of the enemy have not been
i ascertained, beyond the fact that he lost a Major
i of cavalry killed, aud the Surgeon ot the 27th
Ohio regiment, taken prisoner. It was mostly
an affair of artillery.
The sth and 41st regiments are here from I
Georgia, together with the Washington Artillery !
and Capt. Avery’s Mountain Dragoons. I sent j
you some account of the part taken by the two ’
last commands at the battle ot Shiloh, The
Washington Artillery lost ene of their guns, not
by a charge from the enemy, but because some
of the horses were killed, which rendered it im
iGssible, under the circumstances, to bring off
•.he gun. ■ P. W. A.
Postscript - May 9th—6 A. M.—A report has
come in that the enemy fell back last night, leav
ing some of their tents. I cannot vouch for the
I c.. rrectness of the report; but, if true, they did
| not leave a moment too soon. P. W. A.
~ THE WAR NEWS
The hour of trial seems to have arrived, and
although we would avoid giving publicity to
anything calculated to excite alarm, or give un
easiness, we deem it useless to disguise the
fact that there exists grounds for the most seri
ous apprehensions. The news of yesterday is
of the most exciting character, and a doubt can
no longer exist that the gunboats of the enemy
are making their way up James river. This
may be relied upon, the last accounts repre
senting them as one mile and a half below City-
Point, cautiously and slowly advancing. It is
not for ub to speak advisedly of the obstruc
tions intended to impede their progress. They
mey be formidable; they may not. We can only
hope that our Government has foreseen the
storm, and wisely made preparations to meet it.
Tne Monitor, Galeaa, and Stevens’s battery, all
iron-clad, are embraced in the fleet that now
menaces our beautiful capital. At half-past 12
o'clock yesterday this armada was within thirty
miles of the obstructions in the James, intend
ed as a barrier to their further ad valley’s. Yes
terday afternoon the Curtis Peck, Jamestown,
and Northampton, were all sunk in the channel,
to add to the existing obstructions.
Reliable information from the command of
Gen. Jackson states that the fragment ot Mil
roy’s army, which escaped destruction at the
battle of Sutlington Hill, had been reinforced
by Fremont with iour additional regiments,
and had taken position four miles north of
Franklin, in Pendleton county. The advance of
Gen. Jackson’s army was six miles south of
that point, and still advancing on the enemy
It is thought a battle was imminent yester
day.
Official dispatches, received yesterday, from
General Beauregard, states that the scout's from
Oceola say that the enemy’s gunboats Mound
City and Carondelet ran aground to prevent
sinking. One pilot and seventeen! men killed
pen. B. thinks the report reliable. There has
oeen no firing from the enemy since yesterday
morning. Their mortar boats have all been
tow-ed out of range. The river defence men
are greatly elated, aud feel oonfideece in their
boats.— Richmond Dispatch, May lAth.
The successor of the late Governor Harvey, of
Wisconsin, is Edward Solomon, Esq., of Miiwau-,
kee, who, says the Milwaukee News, is the first
German born citizen that has ever filled the
gubernatorial chair of any State in the Union. In
polities he is a Democrat.
The New York Leader, a democratic paper, has
been notified by .Secretary Stanton that its trans
mission through the mads would hereaftet be
prohibited
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 21, 18G2.
LATEST FROM PORTSMOUTH
We have intelligence from Portsmouth as late
as Sunday, 10 A. M. ®p to that hour our infor
mant states, that Confederate flags were flying
all over the city, but that the gridiron banner
was nowhere to be seen. All the cotton and
navr.l stores of every description, were bnrnt,
and the tobacco was placed beyond the reach of
the invaders, by knocking the ends from the boxes
and pitching them into the Elizabeth. The peo*
pie generally submitted to this execution of the
government’s orders without a murmur. We
heard of but one or two instances where objection
was interposed, and in tbese the Provost Marshal
quickly settled matters by the aid of an armed
force.
The destruction of the Navy Yard and al! the
buildings, including stores, timber, etc., was
complete. The officers’ quarters m the Yard were
spared, for two or three reasons--the most potent
being the dangerous proximity of the buildings
near, owned by private citizens. There are con
flicting reports relative :o toe burning of ’he
elegant Naval Hospital, just below Portsmouth.
Some say that it has been burned, others say not.
Oue statement is, that a squadron of the Massas
ch u setts cavalry slept in the Naval Hospital
Saturday night.
We have no later reliable information from
Norfolk, than that already given, there are many
rumors. One is that the Atlantic and National
Hotels, Norfolk, have been burnt. Another is,
that the Confederate flags were fluttering to the
breeze there more profusely than in Portsmouth.
And a third is, that one Gen. Ballow, or Barlow,
has been proclaimed Military Governor of the
city. If the latter, we hope it is not the famous
, ‘Billy.”
We are again assured by those likely to know,
that nothing of value in either the Quartermaster
or Commissary’s Department at Norfolk was left
to the invaders. Here, as in Portsmouth, the
cotton, etc., was all burnt. It is stated by an
hundred or more persons that a man in Norfolk,
•a well known dealer in West India fruit, before
the blockade, was hung by order of the military
authorities for his outspoken sympathy with the
Lincoln cause ; and that a man recently employed
in the Navy Yard named Mahone was shot
through the head for a similar offence.
The proprietor of the B<wfc, Mr. Hathaway,
has determined to remain in Norfolk and publish
the Day Boole, if the Lincoln authorities will
permit. He wili now be enabled to procure the
late Northern news without trouble.
Petersburg ( F«.j £xpress, May YZtn.
Destruction of Cottos in the South.—The
following is a copy of a dispatch, dated Camp
Moore*, La., May the Bth, received in Richmond
May 9 :
Hon. J. P. Benjamin : The Governor of Louis*
iana direct me to inform yon that all the cotton
on the Mississippi river up to the mouth of Red
river has been burnt, and all on its tributaries is
ready for the torch. He issued a proclamation
ordering its destruction in the event it could not
ba removed into the interior, but the spontane
ous action of the people anticipated his order.
! >,Ve have traveled on the Red and Owachita rtvs
jers since the fall of New Orleans, and find-the
ise ntimenfs of the people unanimous to destroy
i the whole crop, rather than permit a pound to
! fall into the hands of the enemy. The capital
i= , j j-L.i.l fn'tat-Opelo’’.saß. .
Publish this if neceg*—ryT-Y - •—w
of the pe-'ple.
T. C. Manning, A. D. C.
The Federal Fleet Gone Back. —The Vicks
burg Vt'hig, of yesterday, says:
A dispatch was received in our city yesterday,
stating that the Federal fleet, which was lying
at Ellis’Clift’, about fifteen miles beiow Natchez,
weighed anchor yesterday and started down the
riveragain. This will enable our authorities to
add to the preparations already made for their
reception; and we trust that everything pessible
i will be dane before their arrival. They will not
i give us much time to prepare, and we must strain
I every nerve in completing everything during the
little time we have got. Who knows but that
here on the. old hills so famous in the early days
of America we may again make history and add
fresh laurels to Mississippi’s present celebrity
for heroic achievement.
—
from the.CharlMion Courier, May
THE STEAMER PLANTER
Our community was intensely agitated Tues*
day morning by the intelligence that the steamer
Planter, for the last twelve months or-aacre em*
ployed both in State and Confederate service, had
been taken possession of by her colored (j.rew,
steamed up and boldly run outtoibe bloeka&ers.
The news at first was not credited; and it was
not until, by the aid of glasses, she was discover
ed, lying between two Federal frigates, that all
doubt on the subject was dispelled. A great va
riety of rumors and surmises were circulated in
reference to the parties concerned, and the num
ber of the fugitives on board the steamer. The
most authentic particulars that we could gather
are as follows :
Between three and four o’clock, Tuesday morn
ing, the steamer left Southern Wharf, having, it
is supposed, on board five negroes, namely three
engineers, one pilot and a deck hand. Upon
leaving the wharf the usual wharf signal was
given by those on board, and the usual private
signals given when passing Fort Sumter, The
officer of the watch at the latter post was claled,
as usual, but observing the signal and supposing
all right, allowed her to proceed. Sbe Ban im
mediately out to the blockading vessels.
The Planter had on board four large guns des*
tined for one of our new fortifications, and were
as follows:
One rifled forty-two pounder, lately put in
Hplendtd condition at the Foundry of Eason &
Brothers, und said to be a splendid piece; two
eight inch Columbiads and one thirty-two poun.->
der. In addition to these, sbe had on board her
own armament, which consisted of one thirty-two
pounder and one twenty«four pounder, making
six guns in ail taken put to the fleet.
The Planter was a new high-pressure steamer,
beloning to Captain John Ferguson. She was re
garded as one of the fastest boats in the harbor,
and very valuable for river service, but unfit for
sea work. Three of the negroes who left also be*
longed to Captain Ferguson, one to Mrs. Mitchell;
arid one to Mrs. McKee.
I Theie are rumors of othe* - s havieg gone, who
were missing from the city yesterday, out for in
formation on this point we suppose we must
await the next arrival of Northern news from
Portßopal.
The Planter was observed alongside of the
fleet yesterday afternoon, and from appearances
it was supposed that one of the Federal gunboats
was engaged in removing the arms from her
deck, Such are the material facts so far os we
have been able to gather them m relation to this
extraordinary o«currence. if>l
The Afetcwry has the following additional in
formation on this subject ■
Hiie officers of the Planter were Relyea,Captain,
Smith, Mate, and Pilcher, Engineer They have
been arrested, and will, we learn, be tried by
court martial for disobedience of a standing
general order, that the officers and crews of all
light-draught steamers tn the employment of
the Government will remain on board day and
night.
The result of this negligence suay be only the
loss of the guns and of the boat, desirable for
transportation. But things of this kind are
sometimes of incalculable injury. The lives and
property of this whole community are at stake,
and might be jeoparded by events apparently as
trifling as th:.;:.
YANKEE AND MEXICAN NEWS.
From the Tribune, of the 6th, we clip the sols
lowing additional items of news :
THE NEWS FROM MEXICO.
Some official adviceshave been received here
from Havana to the 29tb, and from Vera Cruz to
the 22d ult. They chiefly deal with the rupture
which had taken place between the allies, the
French declaring that they must obey the Emper
or’s orders to disregard tbe La Soledad agree
roentand enter into nc treaty with the Constitu*
tional Government.
The English and Spanish Commissions, on the
other hand, say that by the refusal of France to
abide by the La Soledad agreement, and tbe pro
tection she was affording to Almonte and other
Mexican refugees, sbe had broken the treaty of
Loudon, and if she insisted upon her hostile
course to Mexico, they would retire from the al
liance aud from the country.
The French notified the Mexican Government
of their hostile intentions, and the Spanish forces
had left the interior for Vera Cruz. Gen. Prim
sent a courier to the Captain-General of Cuba
asking transportation to take his troops to Ha«
vana. Gen. Serrano refused to send any vessel,
and ordered Gen. Prim to remain at Vera Cruz
until instructed from Madrid.
Meantime, before Gen. Prim received this re*,
ply, his traops had taken passage in an English
man of war, a part of them had already arrived
at Havana, and the res.t were soon expected.
THE SLAVE TRADE TREATY.
The slave trade treaty, royally domiciled in a
rosewood box, left Washington on its way tc
London, in charge of Mr. Geo. E. Baker of the
State Department, this afternoon. He delivers it
at New York into the hands of the special mes
senger who will carry it to England.
THE GREAT FORTRESS AT SANDT HOOE.
The Governor of New York and a select party
of military and civilians recently made a visit to j
the great fortress at the month of the harbor. ‘
The following is a general description of* the j
work; ;
About noon, the boat reached Sandy Hook, ,
where the party disembatked, and proceeded to
examine the extensive fortification now in pro
gress at that point. For obvious reasons, we are
unable to give a minute description of this fort, ;
but this much we may say, that the work is the
most stupendous of the kind ever projected on
this continent, and, when completed, it will be
tbe largest and most formidable fortification in
tbe world. It will cover 47 acres, including the
outworks, and will present three water and two
land fronts. The water fronts will be defended by
over 105 guns in the casements, and as many on
the parapets. Quite a large number of 8 and
10-inch cohitnbiads are on tbe ground ready for
mounting. Tbe wall is of granite, neat ly all of
the blocks used in thejconstruction qf the same,
weighing from five to eight tons. The embra
sures are eight feet deep, aud are protected cn
the outside by marginal plates and iron shutters.
At each of the salient water bastions are small
service magazines, there being three large maga
zines at tbe East, West and South points of the
work. A deep ditch is to surround tbe Fort.
There are, at present) about five hundred man em.
gaged on the fortification, who Jive in barracks
at the Hook.
We clip tbe following paragraphs irom
tbe Richmond (Va ) BRaxmlner, of May 13
Dhstructivs ot the Virginia-Merrtwac— the
Evacuation of Norfolk.—News reao’ued here
yesterday morning that the Virginia-;’Merrimac,
the pride of tbe Southern Confederacy and the
terror of the Yankee navy, had been destroyed
about five o’clock Sunday morning'oy direction
it is supposed, of the Confederate Authorities.
The crew of the Virginia arrived here yester
day morning by railroad from Petersburg. They
r. port that the vessel was destroyed near Craney
Island. She was fired in k,er woodwork and
abandoned, and the fire rea/aing her magazine,
the splendid naval structir,*e was blown to the
four winds of Heaven by terrific explosion.
We learn that tbe grea yest reluctance was ex
pressed by the crew of the Vitgmia to abandon
and destroy her withe j>t leaving some monument
other prowess, and tl*ey expressed a willingness
to steam down to Foi -tress Monroe to assail that
fortification and to stand to their guns to the
last.
Thfe Virginia wAg provisioned and loaded with
coal to her fullest, capacity. Her armament was
the most powerfu l known to modern warfare, and
she was-perfectly invulnerable to the combined
attacks of the whole enemy’s fleet.
A report w»n nut in circulation yesterday even
ing that the authorities of tbe government were
not response ble for tbe destruction of the Vir
ginia, and that her fate had been determined by
a council j.f the officers of the vessel.
The statement put out in official quarters yes*
terday evening is, that on learning the evacuation
of Norfolk it was at first proposed to run the Vir
ginia up the York river; that the four pilots who
were consulted about this proposition advised
against its practicability, and that it was aiso
considered advisable not to withdraw the vessel
from the source of its supplies. It appears, then,
according to the allegations of the statement re
ferred to, the pilots expressed their opinion that
if the Virginia, which drew twenty-three feet of
water, could be lightened so as to draw only nine
teen feet, they could get her up James river. The
experiment of lightening the vessel was then
tried; all her coal and her ballast were thrown
overboard. It was found that she still could n*t
get up the river, and the lightening bad had the
effect of raising her beyond the line <-f her ar
mour, exposing her wood work above the water.
It is declared that in this emergency Commodore
Tatnall determined, en bis own responsibility, to
destroy the vessel, and did so by exp.oding her
magazine.
Notwithstanding that this statement has the
official stamp, we do know as a positive fact that
tbe destruction of the Virginia, as a determined
'conclusion, was known m the department Sun
day morning, and was spoken ol there at a time
when the government could possibly have got
no notice of the destruction, if it was the exclus
sive act of Commodore Tatnall, unless by the
echoes of its explosion, when it was blown into
atoms.
Comm jdore Tatnall, who, it now appears, re»
tained the command of tbe Virginia at the solic
itations of the government, arrived here last night
by the Petersburg train.
The crew of the Virginia have been sent down
to tbe batteries or, tbe river,
We are informed that, the .Dry Dock was not
entirely destroyed, hut that its gates were blown
off and the sluice injured ao seriomsi,-
repairs necessary to make the structure of
to tbe enemy would occupy twelve months at
least. This dock is said to have cost five million
of dollars.
It appears that the evacuation of Norfolk in
volved tbe destruction not only of the Virginia,
bat of a number of gunboats which were on the
stocks, the transport William Selden, aud anum
ber of smaller steamers, tugs, Ac. The surprise
effected by the appearance of the Federals Satur
day morning at Ocean View appears to have been
complete, and a portion of our forces stationed
near Sewell’s Point is said to have narrowly es*
eaped being out off. Everything was burnt or
abandoned. The greater portion of the troops ’>
had been moved away, while the removal of stores j
and munitions was still incomplete, and a loss 1
estimated in millions of dollars has been incurred ;
in the long pending evacuation of Norfolk aun i
the disasters under which it has been finally ac.* i
complished.
Many of the womeu and children escaped from >
Norfolk, and others were in great distress at not
being able to getaway, We hear that groups v s
VOL. 14,—N0 21
I ladies in the streets, with tears in their eyes, ap«
pealed to our hurrying soldiers to protect them.
Oats hasty sympathizer with the Yankees is re»
ported to have been killed by our troops. The
report, as we get it from a passenger from Nors
folk, is that a man of the name of Parham, said
to be a brother of the Provost Marshal, seeing a
Confederate artillery company driving through
the streets, and mistaking them for Yankee troops
I dashed into the street, waving his hat and bawl -
ing, “Hurrah for Lincoln.” He was immediately
i seized and put to death by our troops.
j From the Peninsula.—We )earn that President
I Davis and Gen. Lee went down yesterday to our
j line df defences on the Chickahominy. At a late
hour yesterday reliable information was reoeived.
that McClellan’s forces had fallen back, and the
supposition is, that the astute general is about to
join his forces with Burnside, and attempt opera
ations on the south side of the James river, to
which consummation as his plans tbe evacuation
of Norfolk has broadly and plainly opened the
way.
Through a gentleman who has obtained sight
-of a late copy of thr Baltimore San, yee learn
| that that paper published some days ago an »f
--! ficial dispatch addressed by General McClellan
to the President, in which he writes, “Yorktown
is ours, and we will press the rebels to the wall.”
This dispatch was succeeded by one of later date,
in which it was announced that “the rebels were
in superior force.” This is very good as a pre--
face to the news of tne batt'e of Williamsburg,
which by this time is fully kaown in Washing
ton.
Further Reports from the Valley.—-A report
reached here last night by th« Central train that
Gen. Jackson, who, last dispatches stated, was
pursuin g the enemy, bad come upon the Y’ankees
in Pendleton county, and had achieved another
victory. No particulars are given to enable us to
judge of the credit, or likelihood ot the report.
From the Mobile [Afatawia] Advertiser A Register May 14 t
LATEST FRUM NEW ORLEANS-
Through the politeness of Mr. W. A. Arnold,
we are in possession of New Orleans papers of
Thursday, Bth inst., one day later than our latest
previous advices. Mr. A. left New Orleans on
Thursday by schooner, but reports that commu
nication has since been cut off. A party of Fed
erate from the city went, up the Jackson road to
Pass Manshac, on Wednesday night, aud des
troyed one span of the bridge at that point, so as
to cut off communication in that direction. They
captured on the way some of our people, who
were at a station near by, a'nd, it is said, look them.
Into the city.
i The invaders are already experiencing the es-
I fectsof the summer climate’m the Crescent city,
I and it is stated that about sixty have already died
' there. They have es’.alished a hospital in Odd
• Fellows’ Hail. Their conduct towards the citfo
! -.zees continued to be marked with great circum-
I spection and courtesy, evidently with Vue hope
;ot encouraging the developeinent of that latent ’
Union feeling which they, have vainly imagined
i to exist in our siffer city.
i The papers continue to be put to great straits
for interesting matter for their columns, and two
■ or three are gradually going into the “light liter-
I ature” business, and publishing stories, roman
ces, et cetera, original and selected.
Tne Picaytute acknowledges the receipt of a
Philadelphia paper, and “regrets that its con
tents are of .snob a nature as to maze it almost a
i perfectly sealed book to us, for any practical pur
! poses, tinder tbe recent proclamation of General
Butler. .. .
The same paper announces that tbe steamer
St. Maurice will leave the foot of Jackson street
at about 5 o'clock, this evening, under the charge
of A. D. Grieff, Esq., for Red River, in accord
ance with the arrangements made between tbe
city and military authorities, as set forth in the
resolutions of the former and the orders of line
latter.
The Picayune has received a copy of the Ad
vertiser and Register of the 4th instant,from which
it makes brief selections, tbe greater part of the
paper being considered “contraband” iu that
quarter. This did not prevent, however, the as
semblage cf a large crowd on Canal street to bear
tbe paper read, and we are informed that when
the stirring address of Beauregard to the “Army
of the Mississippi and Elkhorn” was read out,
cheer on cheer rent the air, despite Gen. Butler
and his Provost Marshals ana his Massachusetts
regiments. No interruption, however, was at
tempted, and the Orleanois enjoyed the news in
their own way.
The following record of Wednesday’s proceed
ings in the “Feueral Provost Cour’.” will per
; haps be read with interest:
Luther J. Carpenter. Rodolphus Allen, of Com
pany A, 31st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers,
and John E. Palmer, of Company C, of the same
regiment, were charged with stealing ale at the
St. Charles Hotel on last Sunday, and were made
io forfeit two months' pay, and do police duty
two months; Chester Devins, of the first named
company and regiment, was made to forfeit three
months pay _ and perform three months police
duty ; Win. Martin, Florence Barnard and Peter
Fold, sailors, charged with drunKenness, were
remanded to their ships for punishment by their
officers; Thomas A. Fitzpatrick, Company A.
13th Regiment Maine Volunteers, drunk, for*
felted two months’ pay; Ales. Stewart, sailor,
drunk,fined <BS or suffer one week’s imprisonment
jin the Parish Prison; George D. Muribut, Reed’s
Cavalry, drunk, two months’ police duty; Miles
Flynn, Company B, 30lh Regiment Massachusetts
do. do ; R. Philips, flth Massachusetts Battery
drunk, two mor,ibs’ pay forfeited ; Michael Mc-
Kern, same offence aud same penalty; E. W.
Outlaw, charged with shouting, creating distur
bance and insulting the troops passing the St.
Charles Hotel, on Friday last, was sentenced to
three months’ hard labor at Fort Jackson.
The following cases were disposed of yester
day :
Thomas F. Meagher and Michael Corcoran 6th
Massachusetts Battery, convicted ot stealing
hardware, were each condemned to three months
forfeiture of pay and three months police duty
one in bandcuffs. 1
Robert Phillips,of the same battery, for repeat
ing his offence of drunkenness and disturbance
wes sentenced to do police duty in handcuffs one
month.
.to “Talk on the Flags.” We clip from it this
paragraph;
We observed yesterday at anchor off Gravier
street, me steamship Tennessee, lately captured
in ion? ■ 1 wo are correctly advised, she was
t 1 ’ ' ®ve<-tis since with cotton, and tm-
- interested, did uo t succeed
n gettin-. ■■ >. -,Ve are informed that sbe was
oaaer saiang orders for New York. It must be
ueany one year since New York was greeted with
a direct arrival from the Crescent City.
The valoe of tbe dry goods imported at New
Yofk during the mouth o, April was S 2 849 o ß',
an excess of nearly half a million over the ’im
ports cf the same month last yeat.
P ’ r ,rt %’J ate of the
p tt'/ - :lU ’*> ‘ idti Marsaall Carter, son
‘ > “‘ !ei ’ several months in the
se '.. CCl ‘ icturoed to their homes in Ver*
1 ’ -” kCl u ‘\y> ' ,,u Saturday last. They were
•' :t “ by toe Provost Marshal u s Lex
m, auu sent North for sate keeping.
C t tfir^ rd ’ ? ie w ' lfe of the President of
- • i, w)be- daughter, w.fl visit New York i n
Muy in a Hsytien man.of-war. on the" wav to
Ai ‘ idatti Geff ' a, ' d has daughters