FORT MONROE AND YORKTOWN: The Rebel Steamer Merrimac Again in the Roads; She Fires One Gun and Retires (4/12/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 4/12/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Friday, April 11.

Mr. FOX, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, returned from Fortress Monroe to-day. He has been in the vicinity for the past five days, expecting to witness the destruction of the rebel steamer Merrimac if she ventured out from under the shelter of Craney Island rebel batteries, where she lay up to 10 1/2 o'clock this morning. In her present position she controls the mouth of James River, and will choose to remain there at present to prevent our gunboats from going up that river to shell the right wing of the enemy, now powerfully fortified on the west bank of the Warwick River near its mouth. The necessity for this delay to venture into the bay will soon be removed, when it is to he hoped that the traitors who now shield themselves behind the iron mall of the stolen steamer, will meet the Monitor in fair combat, and no longer skulk behind the guns of Craney Island. But the fear is that this hope will not be realized, as it is now asserted that the rebels prefer to keep the Merrimac as a protection to Norfolk, in the event of the approach of our forces by land and water, rather than to risk her total destruction.

A gentleman who left Fortress Monroe and the army of the Potomac yesterday asserts that our troops are in the best of spirits, notwithstanding the recent severe storm. But for the latter a decisive battle would have occurred ere this in front of Yorktown. In consequence of the storm much delay has been occasioned. It is known reliably that a short time since Gloucester Point, directly opposite Yorktown, was strongly fortified. The river here is not over three-fourths of a mile wide,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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Fort Monroe and Yorktown: The Rebel Steamer Merrimac Again in the Roads – 2-3
The Battle of Pittsburgh: Our Loss Seven Thousand, Including Two Thousand Taken Prisoners – 3
News from Washington: Bulletin from the War Department – 3-4
The Siege of Yorktown – 4
Editorial: A Year of the War – 4-5
Abolition in the District of Columbia – 5
Editorial: The Health Bill – 5
General News – 5