From the North.
Northern papers to the 22d of March, furnish, the following:
Mr. Yancey.
The capture of Wm. L. Yancey is asserted ‘"Day before yesterday,"’ says a letter from on board the gunboat R. R. Cuyler, at Key West the 10th instant, ‘"the steamer Water Witch overhauled a schooner while attempting to run the blockade. Among those on board was Wm. L. Yancey, disguised in sailor's clothes. He was recognized and handed over to the fort."’ This is further confirmed by a letter from Howard Potts, engineer of the Water Witch. This is rendered doubtful to the Feds. by Southern accounts, which announce Yancey's arrival at New Orleans.
The capture of Newbern.
The day before yesterday (March 13th) we landed all our troops (about nine thousand) fifteen miles below Newbern, and, as they marched up, we sailed up, and shelled the woods as we went. Now and then we came across a stubborn fort, when we would have to stop and give them a few extra ‘"pills."’The fight did not commence in real earnest until yesterday morning about daylight.
The enemy had one thousand three hundred in the field. It has been the hardest fight we have had. Our troops have suffered severely, and we have lost some of our best officers.
We have taken about five hundred prisoners, over fifty pieces of cannon, and large quantities of arms and ammunition.
A large part of our troops are at Newbern, in good quarters. The rebels, upon leaving the town, set fire to the splendid railroad bridge, which was soon destroyed. They then set fire to the city in three different places and retired. This all took place before we reached the town.
The negroes extinguished two of the fires, but they were unable to suppress the third, which burned one or two hotels and a lot of restaurants.
It is true that the people, on leaving the town, set jugs of poisoned rum and whiskey out on their counters, so that our troops would get hold of the liquor.
Fortunately some of our officers visited the city early in the afternoon, and discovered the attempt, but not until two of them had partaken of the mixture. One of them fired last night in fits, and the other is not expected to live. The troops emptied the jugs into the gutters.
[This poisoning story is a lie. Nevertheless, while it would have served them right, it is an ingenious Yankee trick to cover up the drunkenness of their soldiers.]
The city now contains one hundred people, male and female, of the old population.--This does not include negroes. Only three stores are open. Newbern originally contained twelve hundred people, and contains many excellent houses, churches, &c.
We have captured two nice little light draught steamboats and several schooners, and the crew of the Chasseur have also seized a regular White Hall boat, sails and all.
The barracks of the Secessionists present a sorrowful sight. Any quantity of clothing, small arms, ammunition and cooking utensils were thrown around. At the time of the capture they were cooking dinner and the tables were set out. The barracks consisted of one hundred clapboard buildings. Among the articles found on the premises was a lady's gold watch.
The rebel blockade was two miles below the city, and consisted of a line of brigs and schooners. We found a channel, however, at the east end of the blockade, and quietly passed all of the obstructions.
Yankee Deductions from the Naval battle.
A Baltimore letter to a Northern paper says:‘ I learn upon good authority that Franklin Buchanan, commander of the rebel steamer Merrimac, has since died of his wounds. I believe he died last Sunday, and has been buried, or embalmed, to be kept and sent home to his relatives in Maryland for interment. The deceased belonged to one of our old Maryland families. His friends at Norfolk are anxious he should be buried under the Confederate flag — a thing not likely to be permitted in Maryland at present under the operations of the new treason law.
The telegraph cable is again being re-laid, and it is expected will be in operating order in a day or two.
The steamer Merrimac has not yet appeared, nor is it likely that she will again attempt to encounter the Monitor, known and conceded on all hands to be more than her match. It is now certainly known that she was quite seriously injured, three balls having passed through her, one of which killed seventeen persons and wounded many others.
I learn, through the friends of Capt. Worden, that he is steadily recovering from his injuries. One eye is but little injured. The other may also be saved.
’
From the West.
‘ "The cannonading and mortar boats was continued all day on Wednesday. All the guns but one in the upper battery on the Tennessee shore, have been silenced, and one gun on the Island dismounted.
"The shells from the mortars constantly fall in the rebel camp and batteries, and numbers of the killed and wounded can be seen being carried away on litters.
"A large number of loaded wagons are leaving the Tennessee shore, from which it is believed that preparations are being made for the evacuation of the works by the enemy.
"The floating battery of the rebels has been moored nearer to the head of the Island.
"Gen. Pope allowed a rebel gunboat to approach within fifty yards of a masked battery, on Tuesday, and then sunk her, killing fifteen of those on board. He had previously allowed five rebel steamers to pass on towards New Madrid, and they are now between his batteries, unable to escape.
"Over a dozen vessels, together with the floating battery and battering ram, are now above General Pope's batteries, and will be either sunk or captured.
"Mr. Beadle, one of the oldest citizens of Memphis, arrived last night. He reports that but three rebel regiments are now between New Madrid and Memphis, and they are stationed at Fort Pillow.
"The Rebel Government are manufacturing pikes at Memphis for the new recruits, but less than one hundred men have responded to the last call of the Governor.
"The railroads terminating at Memphis are being connected, so that all the rolling stock can be sent down the New Orleans road, when necessary,"
’ Chicago, March 21.--A special dispatch from Cairo to the Journal says that a moderate fire was kept up by the fleet at Island No.10 during Tuesday, Wednesday, and yesterday. The gunboat Minnesota dismounted a 128-pound gun, placed on the enemy's upper batteries.
On Tuesday, Com. Foote directed the fuses to be wet, with a view to destroy the work, and dismount the guns. The result was satisfactory.
As yet, but one man has been killed by the enemy.
Some of the rebel gunboats tried to force their way up yesterday morning, but had to retire.
Gen. Pope has twenty-two guns mounted at Mount Pleasant, and has erected a new battery four miles below.
Miscellaneous.
A joint resolution is before the Federal Congress to turn the Roanoke into an ironclad steamer.The Rev. Mr. McVeigh, of Loudoun county, Va., for some time confined in the Capitol prison, has been paroled for an exchange, or to deliver himself up in ninety days.
The Monitor occupies her usual position above the fleet. She has received some alterations and additions that will materially add to her impregnability.
The telegraph line has been partially under run, but the bad weather has put a stop to further operations.
Old Abe visited Alexandria a few days ago, but we have no account of his sensations when on ‘"old Virginia's"’ soil.
