From the North.
the fight at Drury's bluff,&c.
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, under date of May 18th, sends the following: ‘ The great anxiety which has prevailed here for a week past to hear from the expedition up James river has at last been gratified.
This afternoon the little Naugatuck was descried coming down the Roads, and immediately the anxious ones hurried to the beach to ask whether ‘"the Monitor was shelling Richmond? "’
’ Having conversed with one of the officers of the Naugatuck, I am enabled to give you the following interesting particulars:
Last Sunday morning the Monitor, Galena, and Naugatuck, started for the rebel capital via James river. They were soon followed by the Aroustock and Port Royal.
They silenced several of the batteries which lined the snore, and passed some with the most contemptuous silence.
The Captain of the Monitor stood upon the turret and waved his cap to a battery which he considered unworthy of the notice of his pet, although three balls struck the M turret with considerable force.
The progress of the fleet was a continued success until they arrived to within about seven miles of Richmond. Here the river takes a sharp turn around a propitious bluff fully one hundred and fifty feet in Leight..
Upon the top of this bluff the rebels have erected a most scientific and formidable battery, mounting many guns of superior range and calibre. This battery commands the river in the most effective manner and its on became evident to our fleet that an engagement of no ordinary character was imminent.
On last Thursday morning, at seven o'clock, our fleet formed their line of battle, and commenced the reduction of the rebel stronghold.
From the unusual elevation of the battery, and the difficulty our men experienced in getting the proper range they were for a time unable to do any execution. In the mean-time the battery poured an incessant fire of shell and ball down upon the decks of our vessels, and did a fearful work!
The Naugatuck, after several brilliant shots, burst her one hundred-pound rifled Parrott gun, killing the gunner and wounding several others. Having no other armament, except two boarding howitzers, and being thus disabled, she withdrew from the engagement.
The Galena suffered, severally — the rebel shots riddling her deck with great ease, and several of the balls entering her side. Fourteen of her crew were killed and thirteen wounded; the majority of the latter, however, will recover. Those who were killed are terribly cut and mangled — some beyond the hope of recognition. For one hour the Galena was exposed to the entire fire of the rebel battery. On account of the narrowness of the channel, she could not ‘"spring"’ or turn so as to work to advantage.
The Monitor, however, maintained her superior strength and invulnerability. The balls glanced harmless from her tower of strength, and fell into the placid waters of the river. For sometime she labored under the greatest difficulty in acquiring the requisite elevation for her guns. But having once obtained it, she poured her missiles with fearful effect upon the battery, and thus encouraging her associates, the fleet belched forth such an iron half that the battery was silenced for three quarters of an hour. At this juncture our vessels ran short of ammunition, and retired from action, while the rebels remanned their guns and again commenced the conflict. A portion of the fleet came down the river to Jamestown island, near Williamsburg. The Monitor and Galena remained in order to keep the rebels awake, the Monitor firing regularly once in two minutes, (it is stated above that the ammunition gave out — liars should have good memories,) fully sustaining the reputation of the ‘ "cheese-box"’ The Aristook and Port Royal were not materially injured. the action lasted four hours and a half, constituting one of the most brilliant of the war.
About a quarter of a mile further up the river the rebels have made a strong barricade to the further progress of a hostile fleet. They have sunk the Yorktown and Jamestown in the channel, and driven immense piles from one side of the river to the other, forming a stockade similar to that in the entrance to the Norfolk harbor.
The guns of the battery are said to be manned by the remnants of the crews of the Merrimac, Yorktown and Jamestown — The firing was excellent, showing a great deal of skill.
The Naugatuck escaped serious injury by having her pilot house and deck protected by iron rails laid transversely.
The body of Mr. Borrum, gunner of the Galena, has been brought here for interment.
Accounts from Fortress Monroe.
A gentleman who was at Fortress Monroe and Norfolk yesterday, furnishes the following information:
The repulse of the gunboats at Fort Darling, seven or eight miles below Richmond was generally regarded as a very serious affair, though no full account of it has been made public.
On board the Naugatuck eighteen men were reported killed by the explosion of her big-gun. The boat was, of course, made useless in the fight and was withdrawn.
The Galena was riddled by the shots from the rebel batteries, having been ‘"perorated, "’ as the dispatch said, no less than eighteen times. The loss of life on board was not stated, but it was thought to be heavy.
The Monitor was struck repeatedly, but was said to be uninjured. She, however, could do nothing offensive, as the batteries are on so high a bluff that it was impossible to give her guns sufficient elevation for the proper range.
Affairs were quiet at Norfolk yesterday, but the people still manifest an insolent and sullen disposition, and say that the United States troops will soon be driven out of the place.
Several attempts to assassinate Union soldiers have been made lately, and yesterday an affair occurred which caused some uneasiness.
Col. Brown, of the Twentieth Indiana regiment, stationed at Portsmouth, went out of town in the morning to take a side. In an hour or two afterwards his horse came into town wounded and riderless, and it was feared that the Colonel had been killed or captured.
It is reported that the Galena was considerably damaged by the shot from the rebel batteries.
The Post-Office in Norfolk has been reopened by Col. Trott, of the Department.--No postmaster has yet been selected.
Seward and Welles at Norfolk.
Secretaries Seward and Welles reached Fortress Monroe from Washington last Friday, and left the same evening in a special steamer for Norfolk. They were received with the proper salute and ceremony, and remained in the city until late next morning, when they returned, visiting on their way back the wreck of the Merrimac.The repulse of the gunboats had a depressing effect at Philadelphia and New York.--The Philadelphia Inquirer says ‘"our people have acquired such voracious appetites for victory, that nothing short of complete and instant triumph in every undertaking will now satisfy them. Hence the news of the temporary check to the James river squadron, on Thursday last, threw a film of shadow over the broad countenance of the public. "’
A letter from New York, dated May 19th says ‘"the town was in a very bad humor all the morning. The unsatisfactory telegram about the mishap to our gunboats up the James river was productive of a very general diffusion of blues. That class of people who always prefer the gloomy side of a picture were certain that the affair was a regular 'skedaddle,' and that the prestige of the Monitor was gone."’
The Rev. Dr. Bothune, of the Reformed Dutch Church, is dead.
The movements of the Eastern and Western armies, for prudential motives, will be kept very quiet for the next three or four days, unless, in the meantime, a decisive battle takes place.
It is estimated that over 500 vessels will sail for the Southern ports by the 1st of June.--There will be at least 200 clearances for cargoes of ice.
Lincoln has repudiated Gen. Hunter a proclamation, and that officer, it is said, will probably resign.
