The New York herald. [volume], May 12, 1862, Image 1

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THE NEW YORK HERALD.
, WHOLE NO. 9375. NEW YORK, MONDAY, MAY 12, 1862. PRICE TWO CENTS.
NORFOLK OURS!
Highly Important Despatch from
Secretary Stanton.
Norfolk and Portsmouth Cap
tured by General Wool
THE MERRIMAC BLOWN IIP.
That Great Bugbear Out of
the Way.
President Lincoln and Secre
tary Chase in the Field.
important Night Reconnoissance by the
President to Willoughby Point.
GENERAL VIELE IN OCCUPATION.
THE NAVY YARD SAFE.
Retreat of the Rebel
General Huger.
Reported Capture of the Yorktown
and Jamestown.
Sketches of Norfolk, the Wavy Yard
and the Merrimac,
&c., &c.? ftc.
NORFOLK OURS!
W^smKOTOK, May 11, 1802.
The following ww received at the War Department
Ibis morning:?
SECRETARY STANTON'S BULLETIN.
Norfolk is ouri, and also Portsmouth and the Kavy
Yard.
?* General Wool, having completed the landing of hie
ftorces at Wllloughby Point about nina o'clock this morn
fhg, commenced Lie march on Norfolk with 5 ,000 men.
Secretary Chafe accompanied the General.
About Ave miles from the landing place a Tub61 battery
round on the opposite sld>i of the bridge over Tan
fcer'screck, and, after a few dischargee upon two'com.
pact** of Infantry that wera in the advance, the rebels
Virn-d the bridge.
This compelled our forces to march around live miles
arther.
At Ave o'clock In Cio afterwxm our forces were within
? short distune efNorfolk, tad wero met by a delegation
?f citizens.
The city wa* Tormally ?surrendered.
Ot'r trocp* were marched in and now have po?session.
Genera! Tiole is Id "command as Military Governor.
The cKy and Navy Yard were rot burned. Theflres
which have be cm coeu for somo hours provea woods on
Are.
Genoral Worf, with Secretary Chnse, returned about
wleven o'clock to night.
General Hu^or withdrew his force without a battle.
Th? Morrltnac Is 'till of So wall's Point.
Cnmnnndor Rogers' expcd.tion was heard from this s?f
ternoon, ascending the James river.
Reports from General Mci'lollan arc fnvornb'e.
EDWIN1 M. STANTON.
THE PRE88 DESPATCH.
Bai.tijiork, May 11,1882.
Tbe ntd Point boat has arrived.
Otir troop* crossed to the Virginia shore during Friday
aight, while tne P.ip Maps shelled the rebel works at
Bewull's Point.
A landing wis effected at |WI)loiighby Point at a spot
?elected the prcvlcns day by President Lincoln himself,
Who was among the first who stopped ashore.
The rebels flod as our troops advanced.
At inst advices General Mai Weber was within three
?tics of Norfolk.
The Merrimac remained stationary all day off Craney
Island.
THE MERRIMAC DESTROYED.
FomiWA Molfito*, May 11,1883.
To ITon. J. n. Withos. Ae?iitant Secretary of War
The Merrlmac waa blown up by the rebels at two ml
?rates bofore live o'clock this morning, "-'lie wm aat Ore
to about thiee o'cl. ck.
The explosion took plice at the tlm? stated. It la
Stated to bar* been a grnnu tight by tho-ie who saw it.
lhe Monitor, E. A. Stevens (Naugatuck) and the gun
boats liava gone up towards Norfolk.
THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE CAPTURE.
Oar Fortrcu Monroe Correspondence.
F.iRr?K-.t MoKlfcJB, May 7,1802.
ft< Prriid-nl'$ Visit t? Vtiwterlil!??Hit Opinion of
Ike Tliiult llvt VattiUrUU Alan* u Able to
IVit'my I he M"rimar?nf Cn^'lain L--ftcre itI
ths .Si?T<*f of hi* I'rnjnt, ttr., i(?<?.
Thts morriing, about <-lx o'clock, a Strang steamer
#nt?vc<l tU' harlor. Afl?T sleumirii! around the Vandor
fcilt. hailed lior, elating that tho President, with Scc.e
tanas Slxnlon and Chn?e, wn? nn board, and would visit
?lie Vanderbilt. After a lew moments the f'reMdeot
mo alonslde and win receivod at lhe iraug*ay by
Caiiiniu l/pfovro. When the President and lila party
fcad beon abown all through the ship hy Captain
I^fevre, tb-y expresaed themxelvea well satisfied
will tlio preparations made <n board to destroy tha
Merrlmue. It m not permitted at present to make known
xahat these p'eperationa are, but tha President felt ron
fldcr.l that tha Vuudnrbllt alona waa able to destroy the
Werrlmao. The Pratident, Seeretarlea Planum and
Chu'e, expressed a hope that some future day they would
|>e able to take a voyage to Kurope and bacK In tha
VuDd-rbot. It will ba recollected at tlie commencement
?I th-Miar that Commodore Vaularbilt oii'ered hl? entire
fleet of steamers lo the g.ivermneut at the government's
?wn valuation, and alao his beet ateimer, the Van
4orbilt, aa a free gilt to capture privateer;*
?n our cast; but feeretary Welle* did not deem It
At viiuibla to receive th-a oilar, from the fact that
tin outride agents of the .''ecretary eould not receive the
two.iud a half per cant, or any amoit'it of money, In the
flbap* of a bribe trom Omuv?loro Vanderbilt. It wn
with #k" greatest diill "iiy thit b' could got n chatter
flor hi' iftli", on acooi.nt of not paying any bribe money
?oihe c.aarteritig aipuila-, but after the II >sC appearance
?f the MerTS'tnsc lu Hauipt >n Roads. Commodore VunUer
? u, reeiOK ti>e threatened danger, rep ilr<Ml at on>to
Wafh lag ton lint. * |i*irato Interview -with l'ro? Irf-nt
Lincoln, whleb resulted in tha oonwiudoru a>:?in
pr seiiting the Vanderbilt ?* a *r^o g rt to
V.s iwrruineut, wiiych waa accepted )y the
NORFOLK IS OURS!
Scene of President Lincoln's First Military and Naval Operation?Its Great Success.
IfwWTiTSHOAL
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SCALE OF MILES
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GREAT BRJD&E
r
President personally. Tho Vandtrbilt is now undtr ^
the control of the President and Secretary of War,
modore Vanderbilt declining all interviews or torrei
pondeuce ou the subject with the Secretary or the Navy.
Tlie Navy Department has not now iny control of his
ship; bat Commodore Vanderbilt has placed his well
known and popular commander,Captain 1'. R. I.efevre,
in full charge, and the War Department linn allowej
Captain L. to ai-t according to his own discretion. All
Captain LeTcvro hopes for is that the Merrimnc will coftie
out, so that he can sink her before he returns to New
York. Captain L. has been in comraiud of the V. for a
number of ye.ua, in the European trade, an 1 has rnado
the nhortetl parage on record across the Atlantic. Ho
has all confidence In the e'icco'sful performance of tho
dut> assigned to his ship on this occasion. The
other officers on board of tho V. havo also been
attached to her in the European trade for a number of
years, and all anxiously expressed their desire that tho
M rrim ic will make her appearance lu the Koads, so
that they may have tho pleasure of participating in the
honors of sinking her. The naval and military officer* at
this place soein to havo more confidence in tho Vander
bllt for this important undertaking than any other ship
of the foot, on account of hor commander having discre
tionary power.
The following is the list of officers attached to the
Vanderbilt:?
Captain?1'. E. I.efevre.
Chief OflVnr?T. Kidd.
Second Office:'?D. Raj-.
Chiof Engineer?J Germain.
Kir>t \gMlntant?w. ftoldea.
Second Assistant?II. Mile*.
Chief Steward?J. II Henry.
H.iatswaiii?1?. Hlnee.
Government Pilot?O. Cavalller.
Also, a cr<: w of 100 men.
FortMlhs Mosrok , May 8, ISM.
The Ift)'I Stenner York/man? Arrival of the J. A. H'Ai't?
Panic Among the Citiunt of Norfolk?The Bombardment
of Stieall'i Point?The Merrimttr $h"iri HertAf, but
Thre it no Fiyht?He I'resident and Secreinritt Stan
Urn and Chan Prtr*nt <tl the Engngment? Puling in
Br nerd to .Yen ComLat with the tfrrrimtf, <fr.
This meriilt g tho rebel sionmer Yorktown darted up
lh? James river to join her consort, tbe Jamestown. A
little while afterwards tin- Ma imtuR J. A. White cumo
down the river and delivered hereof np to our forces at
Newi?rt't News, when sh# ?m immediately despatched
to (he fort. I'arl of the Intelligence cb? brought waa,
that since tl e emmy's retreat from Yorktown a panic
bus taken poseotalon of ti e irhnbit.mts of Norfolk, and
tlmt both triopa and eltlzers are now evscuntlnn tho
j-lin-e. Commodore GoMaborottgh immediately despatch
ed the flalena, Oetorara and another gunboat up th?
.lame - rl< ?r In pursuit of the Yorktown. In about two
bonrs haavy cannonading waa hesrd In the direction of
Pay's I'otnt, e rne flftm-n miles from N'owiwt'tNews,
where It was s.ipjiosed tbat our vessels wore en
gagml wiib ?ho enemy's batteries and fleet. It Is
now nine -> lo. k. Nothing has been he->rd from tham
since. Tlii? >inrn!nrt then aignaliaed the fleet to pre
pare for aei nr. J d- ypatclied tugs to t!io "rams" alio
to be p-efiared, uk lie w?i< shout to engage Sewall's Point
batteries, In hor>?? to draw the Merrlmac down from her
hole. The Seminole immediately got under way for th#
Point, followed by the Pau Jacinto, Susquehanna and
Waehussett, and took a position abreast of the Point,
when they opened fire, which was not replied to untl
gome flvo or six ahota were O.-cd. When the ball waa
fairly opaned the Monitor started and took a position In
advance of mir fleot, between the flip Raj* and Sftwail's
Point. In tbe meantime General Wool ordered a body of
trooi*?a portion of Oe.ieral Mat Weber's division?to
hold themselves in readiness to emhat k at a moment's
notice, aa It was the intent ton to land them and tnko poa
tension of tbe works aa Boon aa thn navy had prepared
.ha way. A hnavy and continuous lira waa kept up on
Pig and Sewall's Points for about four hours. Abunt two
o'clock a heavy black column of smoko was observed
to anre from Few-all's Point. At first it was
supposed tbe enemy had fired their works,
and ivero retreating, as the "altery had not flred for some
little time previous: but our fond hopes were soon ?li?.
polled when a jet of white smoke arose and a shell w.ia
~cnt in tbe direct ion of the Monitor. About four o'clock the
Merrlmae mude bar appearance, when our yoked* emn
n>enced to fall back from their positions, in hnjies that
hb? would follow them <i|> But she thought "d lactation
was the better part of valor," and did not follow. The
Rip t?Aps opened upon her until the put i>ack towards
Crupev Iclfctid. Some of the abets went cle-xr beyoud j
her?one hit her. During the engagement the enomy's
dugwas shot, away, when one of tlieir men weut to take
H up, and a shell ?ent him to lsia loan home, President
Lincoln, with Secretaries Stanton and Chase, wore on the
Rip Rap? during the engagement. Thus ended this d?y *
work.
Tonight it is tbo intention to land a body of
troops at T.ind Haven Bay, and to morrow the curtain
will again rise, when, it is earnestly wished and
"hoped, it will not descend until Norfolk is
in our ]K>s?eseion, and that pest, the Merri.
mac, destroyed; for it will be a disgrace to
tho nation if the is not. Here we have the representa
tives of throe European rowers in these Roads iu the pre
sence <>f the English, Fronch and Norwegian men-of-war.
It is a burning shame to have them lock upon this flne
fleet, and see one solitary vossel keep thum all at bay.
The Monitor is her equal, if not her superior, so it is re
presontod; If so, she having such a tleet to n slst her, why
Is it that the Merrimao is such a terror, uti-1 why haa
she not been destroys I before, so th it part of tho vefse'e
can be relieved from this point, and sent to other places
that stand in nocd of their assistance?to Charleston, for
instance t
Foot*!*" Mojmot, May 0,1812.
Ttie SrwaH't Point flombarilmtrit?What U ThoitgV of It
at th' A'< rt?The Mtrrimac aiul Monitor?Kemniurintanee
of the Latter Vessel?The Dcjitrrlure of (innboats Up
J a me.* Hirer?Sharp Firing "? the Ht'.cl lla'teri"?Tkt
President atul Serrelartj fit ate at 'h' Furl?A K coiM'iit
sance by the Firmer, <fc., <fc.
After the splendid (!) cannonade or bombardment of
tho rebel works at Sewall's Point ycMerday, in which
noltody whs killed and nobody was wonuded, our vee?el?
returned to their re?f>ectlve anchoragcs unscathed. The
appearance of tho rebel craft Mtrrimac, as she steamed
down the Elizabeth river, hastened, and in fact termi
nated, the all'nir. This morning I learn that Flag Officer
(I* ldsborougli gave orders to the vessels of the tleet
to engage the rebel batteries at long range. Had a
contrary system been pursued thera is no doubt
but that our lient could have brought tho rebols
to surrendering terms. Tho officers on our fleet,
than whom there are nil braver in the service, f. It much
chagrined at not being permitted to close In ou the rebel*
and rapture their gnns. Vlag Officer Coldshorough tc>k
110 part In the engagement, but remained quietly enjoy
Ing the scone on beard hi* shl;i?tho Minnesota?four
miles from tho scene of RCtion. His orders were convey
ed from timo to time, as the engagement proceeded, by
mears of small steam propellers, of which he employed
half a dos?n or more.
Tho Merrimac, after she came out as far Into Hampton
Road* as the prudence of her traitor officers would per.
mit, looked at the Monitor as a lion watches It* prey,and
then steamed back to the north end of Crancy Island,
where *he is now keeping watch and ward over Norfolk
and its vicinity.
At ten o'clock this forenoon the Flag Officer sent or
d< rs to the Monitor to slip anchor and make a reoonncii
tauce in tho direction of Sewall's Point. and feol the eno
my's works, and to ascertain, If possible, whether or not
the rebals had evacuated them, as had been reported
by the refugees who escaped from Norfolk the dsy pre
vlous. In a few mlnt.tes the Monitor w ?s under full
steam snd heading to execute the ordors of the Hug
Officer. The day was exceodinply tine, the sky sn azure
blue snd clear, and tbo waters in the Roads of glassy
smoothness. The Monitor glided from her mooring.1 with
ease, and as she made the various turns In the tortuous
channel leading to the Elisabeth river sho answered her
helm with apparent ease. There was another objjet lu
view by moving tho Moultor In th? direction of Kllsabcth
river. As I mentioned in my letter of yesterd 'y, the
battery Gsleua and the gunboats Port Roys), com
manded by the gallant Lieutenant Morris, of Cum
berland fame, and the Areoitoolc, which were sent
up the James River on a reomnoissanco, were expected
to return at noon to?day. From the menacing positi >n
of the Merrimac It wss thought she might eoajr to at
tack our ve???la ss Ihey returned to Hampton Roads.
To obviate this the Monitor took a position in the chan
nel, to frustrate this apparent design. At twrnty-flra
minutes past ten the Merrlmao w*a observed steaming
?lowly down the river towards the Monitor, but she bud
pro. nedad but a few lergtbs when she apparently
brought up > n a Sand bar, us it was but " half ebb tl.le'.
at the time. As soon a* rhe stooped the heavy elon.is
of steam leaning from her steam pi|i* indicate'I th.t *:>
had a good bond or force of steam or. About ti,l? t,,n ,
heavy cannonading was beard, eomii>| from (he riirec
(km of James rivor ; it was supposed lo have been from
the Galena and her consorts, engaging tho rebel bat to
ries at Pay's Point and vicinity, which, 1 am informed
by Assistant Secretary of War Tucker, they passed sitc
cessfully yosterrtay, under a terrific cannonade from
tho enemy.
At ten minutes piwt eleveu o'clock A. M. the Monitor
hid attained a )>osition about four miles from her porraa
uentauchorage,equi-distantfrom the fortrossandCraney
Mmd and where the Merriiuao lay. She steamed
?lowly, a-" If to eha'.lenge licr ninch vauntol antagonist
to combat. The rolvl craft did not seem inclined to ao
eept the Invitation, b'it nought more congenial grounds,
under tho cover of tbu rebel batteries at Sowall's Point
and Cl ancy Island. The Monitor men turned her prow
toward* So wall's Point, and gleamed up to within a mile
of the rcbol works, where a good 'nspection of thein wis
had. Several guns were eeuU in position the rebil dag
was flnuuting deflnntly to tho breeze. yet hut few rebel
goldier:' woro seen. At flvo imuutos of eleveu o'clock
tho futon battery at Port Woo!, Rip Raps, opened
Are on Sewall'g Point. The very first shell went directly
into the rebel camp, Its arrival being denoted by a loud
report and tho rising of a dense colifnn ol' smoke from
woods in the vicinity. The first shot was but tho pre.
cursor of many others, and for upwards of two hours
there were fifty shells thrown at the rebel*, with an ac
c uracy of range, aim and effectiveness not to bo suri ass
ed. Atone time the woods at Sewall'a Point were flred
In several places, but the wet and sappy nature of the
trees prevented its spreading to.my great extent. Of course
I could not l< am to what extent tho rebels suffered by
this bombardment, if at all; but It seems to me tho sharp
reports of our bursting shells must have been unpleasant
to their auricular senses.
At six minutes |?st eleven A. M. the Monitor attained
? position within Ihree-fourtha of a mile of the rebel but
tery; from my point of observation 1 noticed the
fl ing of the gun by tho tla<h ami rapid
movement of a dense column of white
smoke, expanding a* it rarifled out Into thin sir. a few
seconds elapsed, and the re|Kirt reachod my ears, mid
almost simultaneously the spla-hns In the water, throw
ing up a tliin column of spray, indicate I the direction of
the ball as It rlchochottea Into tho rebel works. The
aim of the e'even inch ??hell, for such it whs, v aj very
Accurate. When the >hell struck, which was in about
ten seconds after it left the nmx/le of the gun, it bin st
with a loud report. At twenty minutes past eievon
o'clock the signal officer in tho fort reported tho Mor
riwar moving down (he Elizabeth rivor, having, It wa?
thougbt, extricated herself from her position on the*
sandbar, on which she ran in the early part of the f to
noon. The alarm gun iu the esplanade of tho fortress
was fired, the guns on the ramparts were manned by our
trail-disciplined cannoniers, and everything * as got ia
readiness for action.
At twenty seven minutes past eleven o'clock the M ml
tor lired a second shot at the rebel buttery. The report
of the gun was like ? clap of thunder, and tho exploalou
of the missile in the ensiny 'a rauka must have occasioned
some mischief. At half-past eleven o'clock the Merrl
mac was observed uuder way again down tho river,
but after moving a short distance brought up again
suddenly on a sand bar, where (he remained until four
P M.
Tier aide ?wung roun I, by the actn? of the tide, re as
to present a broadside to tho fare of the channel. Ilor
armor wai covered with a thick coat of grease and black
load, which, as thw sun reflected on It. gave It a brilliant'
gintsy appearance. The Monitor continued to sleatn
about the Hosds, between this point and Newport's
New,exhibiting her sailing qualities with much satis
faction. M five P. M. she returned to hor an<.horarie.
President I.lnooln an i Secretaries Chase and Stanton
still remain here; the business of the goverumont pro
U ipnrr appear* to have been transferred hero. The
President h is himself, by h.s personal orders, stirred tip
the FT'C Officer of the naval fWt, who has a reputation
for m i tetly Inactivity. 1 have learned of men.
sures that the President and his sec retaries have now
under consideration, which will be put into practical
operation ere the lapse of many days. The Prt*i4-nt
and Orntrnl Wool,and Ciptain J. M.l'mtrJ, 'Jr., mid*
an iuifOilani end danfftroui rixonn I mne? fe-ifoy in
lh? ,+rmue i/'Viiirr Miitmi. Tht Mttune w<u ins iiut d
Ov the I'le.iihnt, and carrier! out under Ml txnrn a/
dirnii'iH. Ilr hn< tku.* r.hoiiti him&lf, nnl only a cllm,
ditjwm i>ot*, Htmni stair*man, lw' 4 m<iiiiJ unit military
iOirtmomtrr uf no m' UI flftt tilioiu I shill *p ak frr
iiicroi the nature of llils recount) usance it tbo |'io,er
tun*. ?he I'UKidfits'ibie'iiiei:i!jr pr<tested <n itbi.ef
excursion in the R^ads, vL-itiug the naval vessels and
communicating order*.
For tho pant week volunteer surgeon* and nurses have
arrived In great number*. Tli'ir services are available
at a most opportune time, when the wounded are rcach
lug this polut from the Army of tho Potomac. Thore are
all" nuuierouB wealthy gentlemen and philanthropist*,
who, from a souse of thoir duty to tho country, u ow
vit-it this military department to aid, personally :md pe
cuniarily. thesick and destitute soldiers. Among these
geut) men, whoso liberal act* entitle thim to hotiorablo
mention, la Dr. Clomeiil B. Barclay, of Philadelphia. He
1* indefatigable In measures for the re'icf and comfort of
the sick. A few days ago, while going hi* rounds in the
hospital, be was suddenly accosted by a friend, who
said, "Why. sir, I am glad to gee yon. I understood that
you were looking after the .sick and wounded of Philadel
phia." Sir. B. replied, after passing the time of day,
"I am a citizen of Pennsylvania, but I came here to help
the soldiers of the whole Union; I recognize uo ft-ito
linn* ia the present crisis"?a sentiment well and patri
otically said.
Tho fact that the Cit irons r>f Norfolk did not ru*h with
very great eugornvss to the support of Jeff. Davis, would
appear to be proven from the following:?
[Correspondence of the Petersburg Express. Moy ?.]
Norpomc, 1, isfii
Another importation of unrrnw. I mllitli retched her*
yesterday, and were seen making their way through the
htrools. A ' iuLttfuW' wot j iuxhqted here ycAerday
tor f 1,200.
Koitrbiw moxmo*, May 9?Evening.
Old Point this evening prxnonta ? most stirring spec
tacle. About a dizen steam transports are loading troop*.
They will land on the shore opposite the Rip Rapa, aud
march direct on Norfolk.
At the time I commence writing (nine P. M ), the
moon shi.ies *<> brightly that I am sittiug in the open
air, in an elevated portion, writing by mooulight. The
transports are gathering In the stream. They have on
board artillery, cavalry, infantry, and will soon be
prepared to start.
The Rio Haps are pouring shot nod shell into SawaTs
Point, and a bright light in the direction of Norfolk
I'-a ls to the rup|iosltiou that the work of destruction kis
commenced.
President Lincoln, as Coinmandei in Chief of tha Army
snd Navy, is tu/^rnJuHjing the e-rjr.dilion himtrif. Alo\il
tir o\lork he irmt acrntt In the plare fleeted for the laud
tug, which u i bvut a title below the Hip llupi. Il is tcii
hr km* tKf/irtl tn ft'p i<n shore, ami, alter fur
him elf the ftiri/ilifl fur landing, r/lumnt to the I'oinl,
i rh-r. h' vnt recti i*tl with tnth uriaj ic ch' erinij t y the lrr*n i
who nitre embarking.
It is evident tbut itiojinal* of the rebellion, as far a*
Norfolk i* couceraed, is rapidly approaching. The gene
ral expectation is that the troops now embarking will
have possession of the city before to morrow night.
Tkm P. it.
The expedition ha* not yet started, the delay being
caused by the tlino required for staking the horse- and
cannon on the Adeliti la. Tho batteries at the Rii? Hap*
have stopped throwing shells, and all i* quiet. The
scene in tha roads, of the transport* steaming about, is
most beautiful, presenting a'panoramic view seldom wit
neased.
Ei.svxx P. M.
Tlie ve?*ot? hsve not yet sailed. The Merrlmao exhibits
a bright light. It I* said the Semlnola will go up the
James river In Ibe course of tha night.
WlLtOluMIrtr Poivt, Hay 10,18M.
Tha troops left during the night, and at daylight could
ba seen landing at WlllongUby Point, a short distanc<
from the Rip Rape.
Through the influence of Hccrelary Stanton I obtained
this morning a permit to accompany General Wool and
General Mansfield aud staff's to Wlllonghby Point, ot
board the steamer Kansas, and here I am on "aacrac
soil," within eight miles of Norfolk. The point at whirl
we landed is know n as 1'olut Plea*-ant, oue of the favoriti
drives from Norfolk.
'Hie ttrat regiment landed was the Twentieth New
York, known as Mas Weber's regiment, which poshed
on Immediately, under o-nimind of <>en. Weber, an><
were, at eight A. M., picketed within Ave mile* of Nor
I'o'.k. ihe First Delaw ire,Colonel Andrews, was pushed
forward at nine o'clock, accompanied by Generals Mam
He'd and Viele aud ainlf. They were eoon followed by
the fixt enth MasMchueetts, <olonel Wyman.
The h ? unco of the expedition consist* of the Tenth
Sew Y i It,Colonel Rend x; the Vorty eighth I'ennsylvam-t
C ')? nel II*tley ,'he Vmetv Diiili No \ Y< rk (coast iu?nlj
Mijor I'odge'a battalion {mount ?d rifles, and last
Folktt's C mpany D, of Fourth regular artiPery. Gen.
Wool and suit remained lo superiuteud the lauding of
tbo balance of tho force, ail of whom wers landed and
off before noon.
The President, aeeomranied by Secretary Stanton, ac.
companied (ion. Wool and staff to tha wharf, and then
?ook a tug and pmceedod to the Minnesota, where bo
wis received with a national salute.
It is generally admitted that tha President and Sacra"
tiry Stanton have infused new vigor iuto both the naval
and military operations beie, and that the country will
bar* no cause for further e"inpl.iint.
The iron clad gunboat Galena, accompanied bj the
Port Iluyal and Aiooslook, went up the James river on
Wednotday night, and although 1 have been unable to
obtain any positive information from them since the
silenced the forts on the lower part of tha river, it is un
derstood that the President lias received despatches from
General McCleilan to the effect that they have g.yen him
meet valuable aid in driving the enemy to the wall. It
in even stated to-day that the Gale La not only captured
the Yorktown and Jamestown, hut has put crews on
board and ran thom up to within shell in? distance of tha
river -iefences of Richmond. Of the truth of this, bow
ever, I cannot vouch, as Old Point is becoming famous
for fabulous rumors.
SKETCHES OF NORFOLK AXD PORTSMOUTH.
Sketch of Norfolk.
Norfolk is a city and port of entry of Norfolk county >
Virginia, and is situated on tho right or nortb bank of
Elizabeth river. It is distant about ei.-ht milos from
Hampton lioads, thirty-two miles from the s?a,one hun*
dred and sixty miles by water from Richmond, or ono
hundred and six miles in a direct southeast line. It is
situated in latitude 36 51 north, longitude 70 1U west of
Greenwich, or forty-ftvu derrecs oast of Washington.
'I he river, which is seven eighths of a mile wide, se|?>
ra.es it from Portsmouth. Next to Richmond, Norfolk
wa* the most populous city in Virginia previous to the
rebellion, and had more foreign commerce than nny
oth r place In the Statu. It lia.l also be-u, in connection
witli Portsmouth, the most lmjmrtant nav al station in
the rtiitod States, and the harbor was larce, safe and
easily accessible, admitting vessels of the largest class
to come to tho wharves. Tho site of tho city is almost
a dead lovol, tho plan is somewhat Irregular, the streota
are wido,mostly wo 1 built with b.ick or s'.'Ji>e houses and
lighted with gas. The most conspicuous public buih.inB
is the Cily Hall, which has a granito front, a cupola i no
hundred and ten foot high, and a portico of six Tuscan
eoluiius. Its dimensions aru oighty feet by sixty. The Nor
folk Military Academy is a lino Poricstructure,ninety one
feet by forty-seven, with u portico of six columns at each
end. The M?ch?nies' Ilall, a Gothic building, ninotv fact
by Sixty; Ashland Hall, and a Rptist church, with a
steeple over two hundred feet In height, ara also promi
nent buildings. A new Custom House w.'.s in the course
of erection by the United States government at the ccm.
mem ement of tho rebellion, which would have cost the
sum of one hundred and forty thousand dollars. Tbe
city contained fourteen cburchea, nlue semlnarios, a
hospital, an orphan asylum, three batiks and two read
,uk rooms. Five newspapers were but recently pub*
lisbod at Norfolk. The trade of Norfolk was greatly faci
litated by tbe Irtsmal Swamp Canal, which opens a water
commuulcation between Chesapeake Hay and Albemarle
Sound, and by the Seaboard andRoalioke Railroad, which
connected it with tbe towns of North . nd frouth Caro
lina. There are many oiber items of interest connected
with the city which we would like to give, but our spac*
is at present too limited.
Sketch or Portsmovtfc*
Portsmouth is a seaport and important naYal depot of
tho United States, and capital of Norfolk county, Va.
It is situated on tho loft bank of Elizabeth river, opposite
the city of Norfolk. The harbor is similar to that of
Norfolk, and tne geueral government had at Gusport?a
suburb of Portsmouth?a large a..d costly dry dorkt
which was capable of admitting the large t sUi;<s. More
than a thousand hands were sometimes employed in th<
construction of vessels at th? Navy Yard. This Navy
Yard was partially destroyed by Ore about twelve
months since, was seiz?d by tho rebols, and Ins bat now
been reta'wi by the United States troop*. B"si<fc?sth?
United States Naval Hospital in the vlcinltj?a lar(feand
showy building of s'ucccod brick?Portsmouth contained
a court bouse, six churches, a branch of the Itank of
Virginia, and the Virginia Literary, Solentitlo and Mill*
tarv Academy. The town is situated on level gr< und,
immediately bolow the junction of tho south and c ast
branches of tho river. The streets are strait and actm.
gular. Portsmouth U the terminus of thj Seaboard and
Ruoik We Il.iiIro.id, tho con truction of which Ins increas.
ed considerably the business an I population of the
town. Ferry boats ply constantly frr m P "mi th to
Norfolk, and a dally line of steamboats connecting wltb
Richmond. Five newspapers were | nblished there be*
fore the rebellion. It was founded in 170:1, and at last
returns bad a population of 8 fiM.
NORFOLK BEFORE ITS CAPTURE.
Despotism tmler (lie Rebel Regime?
Rebel Troops Stationed There, <&c.
As Norfolk bu shared the fat? of New Orleans,
we give below a rtateinent, ?o far as w? can team,
of ilia rebel troops that wore posted in that vicinity. Aa
our readers are aware, tlis approaches to that city wera
guarded by the famous rani Merrlmae, the steam gun*
boits Yorktown and JaineMown, and others of smallcf
capacity, on (he water, and llio batteries at So wall'*
Point, Craney Inland, Pig Point, on tho sides of Eiizabetb
river, and Kort Norfolk, the nearest fortification to thecity
projier, aliont one mil# to the north, (io-port and Ports
mouth (ths former of which com ns the Navy Yard}
aro on tbo westerly side of tho r! ;*r, opposite the city.
The city and vicinage were,for many months past, under
martial law, Major (iensrsl Ifenjumln F. llugor command*
Ins, with Major S. 8. Anderson as A*siMaut AdjuUbl
lieueral. The Provost Marshal of Norfolk was W. A.
Paiham: *>{ Portsmouth, A. B. Butt.
The following advertisements will tend to thrnw soma
light on the condition of things In the city under tlx
robel regime ?
[From the Norfolk Day Rook, M.y 2 ]
District or Nokm.i.k. May 1,18C2.
The fol}.<wiug auditivusl i tiles are ad >t ted tor tha
markets ?>f Norfolk and Portsmouth:?
I The prhile/e of bringing oysters to the market It
extended from May 1 to Ju.to 1.
II. The butchort in the market are allowed, under tha
control of ihi cle-k, to purchase |Hirlt Iwfore ten o'clock.
III. 1 he law ?ill nut l>? so coiMtrueU as to prevent a
in.u living in the country frc in bring lug his neighbor*
produce to market.
W. A. P ARM AM, Provost Marshal.
Omc? I'aoTotT \Ur'iul, i
CiTT or XoarOUI, March 1802. /
On und after the l?t day of April next all huckstering
will !><? absviutely i rohlbited within this military district,
fin? i no [ktsou will llmreaiter bo allowed, under any pre.
twice, to |?or? h.ise m y articles on thsir way to the mar.
kets of Norfolk and Portsmouth. or within the said dia*
trict. lor the purpose of selling the same again her* or
elsewhere.
The privilege of selling poultry, egg*, game, fish, eyf
tots, vegetable* and fi uit will be reurn ted to those wha
rabe or catch the same, or those in their immediate ?u2
ployment. .
Persons violating, or attempting to evade this order,
will be dealt w itli in tho most summary manner.
Tbo clerks of the markets o. Norfolk and Port mo ah, tha
police and guards, aro hereby Instructed t > use dtligoiica
in discovering and giving information of all TMlatieoa ot
evasions of this orUgf. W. A. l'AHIIAM,
Provost Marsha).
o*>rn \t oanitiw?if". 84.
Hiaihji a?KM,T?t aRraR\Tur Nonvnt*. I
Nimrtu, Va., Apill 2. 1811:1. /
Persoaa holding authority iroin the Se?i otary nf Wa?
to raise raglmeati, i.attaliens or companies wiil not ba
purmrted to Interfere with the present organisation of
this department of the army.
Commanders of posts or eompanles w II report an par*
sotis tn m per lug with and offering Indnesmaott to annates
in'ti t ? jidn new comi'anlee, to those lo ad ( .arters, and
P?mmis \ luting posts for this puritan will be arreatsd
and the fact reported. ? . - .
By command of Major General HtOEH. ,
H. S. Asst. Adj. fletieral.
Tho n? osfity no lougsr e\lsting, the orders requiring
stores mid oihor places of b?is4nvns to clr*ee at two P.M.
are hereby rascioded. W. A. PAHHAM.
Provost Marshal.
Ifliw|t ?itrviw, ntraimniiY of Nnmoi.it,)
N'Aimtt, Va., Ma eh I*, It?2. /
No pe'Sott will b*> allowed to proceal from Norfolk ta
Km t II >nroe alter this dale.
lly command of Major Oeneral HUGKR.
Hs>j. Ileum, Jr., Asst Adj. Oem ral.
Itrbel Troops l.ately Stationed la Wore
folk City.
HeaMos Ihe tr ?'ps mentioned below, thne were nuna*
[(.<?ittni;ko on nunm pauk i