General Wool for operations in the North Carolina waters. It is presumed he will soon return with most of them. Until that period arrives this Department has other force to place at Hampton Roads. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 7, 1862—10 p. m. Capt. JOHN MARSTON, Senior Naval Officer, Hampton Roads (via boat): Send the St. Lawrence, Congress, and Cumberland immediately into the Potomac River. Let the disposition of the remainder of the vessels at Hampton Roads be made according to your best judgment, after consultation with General Wool. Use steam to tow them up. I will also try and send a couple of steamers from Baltimore to assist. Let there be no delay. GIDEON WELLES, Capt. JOHN MARSTON, Senior Naval Officer, Hampton Roads: The Assistant Secretary will be at Old Point by the Baltimore boat of this evening. Do not move the ships until further orders, which he will carry. GIDEON WELLES, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Consulting with General Wool, I have ordered the frigates out of the Roads-the St. Lawrence to the Potomac, Roanoke and Minnesota to New York, the latter being disabled. The Monitor, of course, remains. If there are any of those 11-inch gunboats (I think there are two in Boston) please send them at once to this place. They can keep clear of the Merrimac and be of great assistance. Nearly all here are of the opinion that the Merrimac is disabled. I was the nearest person to her, outside of the Monitor, and I am of opinion she is not seriously injured. I have sent a steamer for Commodore Goldsborough. I cannot see that anything more can be done by the Navy. G. V. FOX. WAR DEPARTMENT, HENRY B. RENWICK, Esq., 21 Fifth Avenue, corner Ninth street, New York: The Merrimac, an armor-clad vessel belonging to the rebels, issued from Norfolk yesterday, and captured several of the United States blockading vessels, and threatens to sweep our whole flotilla from Chesapeake Bay. Under these circumstances it is of the last importance to capture or destroy the Merrimac, and the whole wealth and power of the United States will be at command for that purpose. As this movement was anticipated and the subject of discussion between you and myself last December, you have no doubt thought of various modes by which it could be met and overcome most promptly. The Secretary of War desires you quietly to call a meeting of from three to nine persons, at your discretion, of the best judgment in naval engineering and warfare, to meet immediately at your father's house or some other convenient and suitable place, and to sit as a committee to devise the best plan of speedily accomplishing the capture or destruction of the Merrimac. I would suggest the name of Abram S. Hewitt as a member of the committee. You will bear in mind that every hour's delay to destroy the Merrimac may result in incalculable damage to the United States, and that the plan or plans for her destruction should be submitted at the earliest hour practicable for the approval of this Department, to the end that their execution may not be unneces sarily delayed a moment. To enable you to communicate hourly with this Department, the telegraphic company is directed to transmit all messages from you at the expense of the Government. Acknowledge this dispatch the moment you receive it. Spare no pains or expense to get the committee together immediately. Act with the utmost energy. You and each member of the committee will consider this whole matter confidential. P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, COMMANDING OFFICERS Fort Delaware; Fort Mifflin; New York Harbor, N. Y.; Newport, R. I.; Fort Trumbull, New London; Boston Harbor; Portland, Me.: It The rebel iron-clad steamer Merrimac has destroyed two of our frigates near Fort Monroe and finally retired last night to Craney Island. She may succeed in passing the batteries and go to sea. is necessary that you at once place your post in the best possible condition for defense, and do your best to stop her should she endeavor to run by. Anything that can be effected in the way of temporary batteries should be done at once. Col. GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN, GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, HEADQUARTERS, Baltimore, March 9, 1862. Commanding Fort Federal Hill: COLONEL: The Merrimac has come down from Norfolk and destroyed the Cumberland and the Congress. She may pass Fort Monroe and come here. You will have Forts Federal Hill and Marshall prepared for action, and take every precaution for their security against attack. This is especially necessary in regard to the latter, which has a very small garrison. You will make the same arrangements which would be necessary i we were in the presence of an enemy. Very respectfully, yours, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 9, 1862. To the GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, Albany; MASSACHUSETTS, Boston MAINE, Portland: The opinion of the naval commanders here is that the Merrima will not venture to sea, but they advise that immediate preparation be made to guard against the danger to our ports by large timbe rafts, protected by batteries. They regard timber rafts, guarded by batteries, as the best protection for temporary purposes. General Totten says do not neglect the batteries. His Excellency E. D. MORGAN, Governor of New York, Albany, N. Y.: The Merrimac was beaten back by the Monitor to-day after a five hours' contest, and is reported to be disabled. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. NAVY-YARD, Washington, D. C., March 9, 1862-2 p. m. Brig. Gen. HOOKER, Commanding : Please have the following communicated to Captain Wyman as soon as possible: The Merrimac has got out of harbor, and had pretty much used up our ships at Hampton Roads. It is impossible to say what she may attempt, but as a proper precaution it is proposed to be ready to block the channel of this river in the event of an attempt to enter it. By direction of the President it has been agreed on by General McClellan, General Meigs, and myself, the Secretary of War present, to fill some canal-boats and other craft and tow them down near the place where it would be advisable to sink them. I wish you therefore to send up some of the steamers to tow down. You have no doubt received my dispatch to send a fast vessel to observe the mouth of the Potomac. Let this duty be well looked to. Will General Hooker please to inform me of this reaching Captain Wyman. JNO. A. DAHLGREN, WASHINGTON NAVY-YARD, His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I beg leave to inform you that upon consultation with such pilots as I have in the yard, I find them to be of opinion that a vessel draw ing 22 feet water can pass up the Potomac within a hundred yards of the Arsenal. As far as the light-house on Blackistone Island, some 30 miles, there is abundant water for any ship. About 5 miles higher up is the first obstacle-the Kettle Bottoms. The channel passes among these shoals for 5 miles, and the pilot says 24 feet can be had, which I doubt. The narrowest part about 300 yards wide. From this the chanuel continues good until just below Aquia, where it shoals, so that 23 feet is considered the best water at common high tide. Having passed this, the water deepens passing the batteries and shoals about Mattawoman Creek, where the depth at common high tide is 22 feet. This obstruction is less than a mile in extent, after which the channel deepens several feet; though it narrows, it runs nearly to the Arsenal, and perhaps some 3 miles from the Capitol. I have The actual blocking of the river is only to be resorted to when the exigency arises, the means being at hand. There are three points. where it can be done-the Kettle Bottoms, below Smith's Point, and at Mattawoman. I would advise that some heavy ordnance be got ready for placing at the Arsenal, at Giesborough Point, and at Buzzard Point. Fort Washington should also have suitable cannon. telegraphed to the flotilla for some steamers to tow down the blocking vessels as soon as General Meigs has them ready. It happens unfortunately that the only two good steamers belonging to the yard are at Fortress Monroe. JNO. A. DAHLGREN, Commandant. General MCCLELLAN, Commander: MARCH 9, 1862-3.40 p. m. I am making arrangements to place an 11-inch gun and some 10-inch mortars on Giesborough Point, which will command at short range the nearest point that a vessel drawing 22 feet can approach the Capitol. The channel passes within 50 yards of this position. As I have but a handful of men, it might be convenient to have some assistance from the neighboring regiments. If so, please authorize it. JNO. A. DAHLGREN. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 9, 1862-5.30 p. m. Captain DAHLGREN: The steamer Sophia will leave G-street wharf in ten minutes, having in tow eight canal-boats loaded with sufficient stone to sink them. Another steamer, with eight more, will leave in the course of the night. The captain of the Sophia bears a letter to the officer in command of the flotilla, stating "that the boats are to be sunk if necessary." This telegram is sent for your information. By order of General Meigs, Quartermaster-General : D. H. RUCKER, Quartermaster and Colonel. FORTRESS MONROE, March 9, 1862–6.45 p. m. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy: The Monitor arrived at 10 p. m. last night and went immediately to the protection of the Minnesota, lying aground just below Newport News. At 7 a. m. to-day the Merrimac, accompanied by two wooden steamers and several tugs, stood out toward the Minnesota and opened fire. The Monitor met them at once and opened her fire, when all th enemy's vessels retired excepting the Merrimac. These two iron-clad fought, part of the time touching each other, from 8 a. m. to noon, wher the Merrimac retired. Whether she is injured or not it is impossibl to say. Lieut. J. L. Worden, who commanded the Monitor, handled her with great skill, and was assisted by Chief Engineer Stimers Lieutenant Worden was injured by the cement from the pilot-hous being driven into his eyes, but I trust not seriously. The Minnesota kept up a continuous fire, and is herself somewhat injured. She wa moved considerably to-day, and will probably be off to-night. The Monitor is uninjured and ready at any moment to repel another attack G. V. FOX, Assistant Secretary. WASHINGTON NAVY-YARD, March 9, 1862-9 p. m. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy: The proposed measures for guarding the Potomac are in progress I am informed from the Quartermaster's Department that eight canal boats, loaded with stone, were about to leave, and eight more would leave during the night. I have sent instructions to the commandant of the flotilla as to their disposition and use at the three places where the channel has the least depth of water. The only 11-inch gun and 50-pounder which I have will be landed on Giesborough Point before midnight. The platforms will be laid and the guns in position to-morrow morning. The mortars will also be placed. Shot are being cast for all of them, and a full supply will be ready to morrow. The Secretary of War has visited the defensive points and given me authority to draw on any of the regiments or forts for men, guns, or munitions. He has also authorized me to take for the while the private steamers plying on the river for present use of the Government, and I have sent around for them. If there should be any use at all for a battery on Giesborough, there ought to be twenty of the heaviest cannon. Shot of 170 pounds at 50 or 100 yards will be apt to do something. A smart steamer has been dispatched to the mouth of the Potomac to observe it. JNO. A. DAHLGREN, Commandant. BUDD'S FERRY, March 9, 1862–9.15 p. m. Captain DAHLGREN: I was absent when your telegram for Captain Wyman reached this office; it was, however, duly communicated. Captain Wyman is of the opinion that the Merrimac cannot ascend the Potomac. HOOKER, Brigadier-General. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, March 9, 1862. Colonel INGALLS, Quartermaster, Annapolis: Should the Merrimac, which did so much damage at Newport News, attempt anything at Annapolis, it is believed that the best defense would be an attack by a number of swift steamers, full of men, who |