Still later.
Northern papers as late as the 16th instant have been received at the office of the Dispatch. We make up the following summary of news, for the truth of which the reader will make due allowance:From Yorktown.
Before Yorktown, April 15, 1862.
Yesterday morning, about 2 o'clock, a section of artillery was posted within half a mile of the rebel works, near the river, supported by sufficient infantry to prevent them being captured.
Fifteen shots were fired into the rebel earthworks before they were able to bring their guns to bear, when our men withdrew without damage.
A fine view was yesterday obtained of the position of the rebels both at Yorktown and Gloucester, from Fair child's house, at the mouth of Wormlith's creek.
Twenty-four guns were seen in the water battery at Yorktown, and nine at Gloucester.
At the latter place a large number of workmen were engaged in erecting new works.
At Yorktown the old works used during the siege of 17th were still visible, and readily distinguished from those of recent construction.
Heavy guns were mounted on the walls, and the rebel flag was flying from its battlements.
The principal wharf was covered with commissary stores, while the river was dotted with soils.
Every one appeared to be busy, as though the coming struggle depended upon his individual exertions.
Late in the afternoon a schooner, anchored a short distance above the wharf, was burned.
The flotilla was yesterday afternoon engaged in shelling out a body of rebels who were engaged in constructing a shore battery about four miles below Gloucester.
The result of the firing was not known.
On Saturday Corporal Walter H. Bean, Company E, Bordan's Sharp shooters, was shot through the neck and back while on picket.
Last night things were remarkably quiet.
A slight shower occurred this morning, but the sun soon made its appearance.
Operation of the Yankee flotilla in York river.
Washington, April 15.
--The steamer Yankee, Capt. Eastman, arrived at the Navy-Yard to-day, having left York river at six o'clock yesterday morning.
The Yankee went about eight miles up the York river on Sunday night, and anchored off Gloucester Point, where the steamers Penobscot, Marblehead, and Wachusett were already lying.
The rebel batteries at the Point, which are said to be very extensive, mounting mostly 100-pound rifled guns, tried the range of their guns on the steamers about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the shot falling very little short of the Marblehead.
The vessels then dropped down the river, and about three miles below the Point discovered a party of rebels building a battery on the north bank, on whom the Yankee opened fire at a distance of three-quarters of a mile.--The rebels seemed 10th to abandon their works, and although the shells of the Yankee fail in their midst, they did not leave the vicinity, but took refuge in the woods and behind some neighboring log houses.
The Yankee, after firing some sixty or seventy shot and shell during an hour and a half, left the scene, the other boats having come up to do their share.
As the Yankee was leaving, the boats of the Marblehead were on the way to the shore to burn the houses behind which the rebels had taken refuge.
During the engagement a battery up the river fired some eight or ten shot, but they fell far short of them.
The guns in the batteries at Gloucester Point are said to be only in a position to reach vessels below them in the middle of the river, and light draught vessels can approach within a short distance of the Point with safety by hugging the shore.
From Fortress Monroe.
Fortress Monroe, April 14.
--The Merrimac has not come out, and nothing has been seen of her to-day.
The tide has been low and this may have kept her in. Early in the morning a rebel rug ran out from behind Sewell's Point, but soon returned.
Later in the day there was a large fire in the woods on the Point, apparently from the burning of brush, which engaged the attention of the curious and gave rise to some speculations that the rebels were building a new battery there.
Washington, April 15.--Dispatches received from Old Point up to nine o'clock this morning report all quiet.
Various rumors were current about the Merrimac, but nothing reliable was known.
She had not made her appearance up to the hour above referred to.
Fortress Monroe, April 15--4 P. M. Hon. E. M. Stanton:
Nothing has occurred since my dispatch of this morning to disturb the quiet then represented.
The fine weather is very favorable for the operations at Yorktown, and it is probable that General McClellan will soon be able to open his batteries at the fortifications of the enemy.
The French Minister honored me with a visit this morning.
He has gone to Norfolk, and will go to Richmond.
On entering the fort I gave him a salute of thirteen guns.
John E. Wool, Major General.
Ex-Secretary Cameron arrested — he is surprised and Mortified.
Philadelphia, April 15.
--Ex-Secretary Cameron was arrested in this city to-day on a warrant issued by the Sheriff's officer, on complaint of Pierce Butler, for alleged Illegal detainer in Fort Lafayette.
To-night a hundred citizens, headed by a number of public officers, visited the residence of Mr. Butler and regaled him with the noise of horns, fiddles, and other discordant instruments.
Mr. Cameron had made ready to start for Europe at an early period, and this arrest will materially interfere with his arrangements.
Mr. Wall and friends, of Burlington, N. J., have been in town all day, waiting to castigate Mr. Cameron for the arrest of Mr. Wall last fall.
The ex-Secretary is guarded by the United States Marshal, the District Attorney, and others.
For the present Mr. Cameron has declared his intention not to sail for Russia until the case in question is disposed of.
The arrest took him entirely by surprise, and occasioned much mortification.
Operations of Commodore Dupont--negroes must make themselves Useful.
Washington, April 14, 1862.
--The Navy Department has received dispatches from Com. Dupont, enclosing a communication from Commander Godon, dated United States steamer Mohican, March 30, from which it appears that on the 17th ult., with the launches and another armed boat, he entered Jekyl creek, and proceeded to Dubignon's place, where he discovered a deserted battery of three guns commanding that stream and the remains of a camp of some two humdred men. A considerable number of cattle remained on the island, but were very wild upon our men approaching them.
On the 22d the Bibb made her appearance, and Capt. Boutelle at once commenced placing the buoys for the bar and channels.
Commander Godon says: ‘--Contrabands continue to come to us. I sent a number by the Potomac to Fernandina, and also several by the Connecticut.
We landed our field pieces and a strong force on Colonel's Island and obtained what we needed, and that night, after again firing a shell or two at Fancy Bluff, proceeded to St. Simons.
There I landed all the contrabands, with their corn and provisions, tools, &c., and, having housed them, set them to work.
Already they have planted potatoes.
To-morrow they will being to prepare the land for corn.
They have set up their mill, and I have told them they are to plant cotton, and thus to become of use to themselves.
They seem contented; but, without a vessel at the other end of the island, they are in danger of being interfered with by soldiers landing in that direction and approaching them at night.
St. Simons is a fine, rich island, about ten miles long; on the north end is a village — Frederick.
It is said to be healthy, and a thousand blacks could be usefully employed here and made self-supporting.
Such a colony properly managed would do much good.
Those now here, some forty in number, live on F. Dullerking's place, under cover of our guns.
’
The Yankees destroying bridges.
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 14.
--A force of four thousand men, on five transports, left this landing on Saturday night, accompanied by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, and proceeded up the Tennessee river to a point near Eastport, Miss, where they landed and proceeded inland to Bear creek bridge, and destroyed the two bridges on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, one measuring 121 and the other 210 feet in length.
A cavalry force of one hundred and fifty men was found there, who, after having four killed, ‘"skedaddled"’ in the most approved Southern style.
The expedition returned on Sunday night, without having lost a man.
This is one of the most successful operations of its kind during the war, completely cutting off the communication of the main rebel body at Corinth with Alabama and the rest of the Confederacy, except New Orleans.
A flag of truce arrived at the outposts yesterday, with Gov. Johnson's son, of Kentucky, asking for his father.
More Falsehoods.
St. Louis, April 15.
--Several gentlemen, connected with the army at Pittsburg, arrived here yesterday; among them is Captain Lagow, of Gen. Grant's staff, who is the bearer of Gen. Grant's official report of the battle of Pittsburg.
They left the army on Friday night.
General Halleck arrived at Pittsburg on Friday, and immediately assumed command of the army.
General Grant, in his official report, estimates our loss at 1,500 killed and 3,500 wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed and left on the field is greater than ours.
In waned an estimate cannot be made, as many must have been sent to Corinth and other places.
The loss of artillery was very great, many pieces being disabled by the enemy's shot, some losing all their horses and many men. Not less than 200 horses were killed.
The rebel army has its headquarters at the foot of Pea Ridge, extending two miles from Corinth.
The advance of the Union troops is eight miles from Pittsburg Landing, leaving a space of only two miles between the opposing armies.
A battle may be fought at any moment.
We have the strongest assurance that our army is ready for the encounter.
Cincinnati,April 15.--The Cincinnati Commercial has information from a reliable man, who left the battle ground on Thursday evening. He estimates our loss in killed at from 1,200 to 1,500; wounded, 3,500 to 4,000; missing, 2,500.
The rebels lost more in killed than we did, but not so many wounded.
About 1,000 unwounded rebel prisoners were taken and about 1200 wounded. Up to the time he left 2,200 rebels had been buried.
Our troops retook on Monday all the batteries lost on Sunday, and captured twelve pieces from the enemy.
The rebels were so confident of their ability to hold our camps which they took on Sunday that with a single exception they did not destroy them.
On Tuesday General Beauregard sent a flag of truce, requesting permission to bury his dead, and saying; ‘"Owing to the heavy reinforcements you received Sunday night and Monday, and the fatigue of my men, I deemed it prudent to retire and not renew the battle."’
The permission was not granted.
The bearer of the flag admitted that General Beauregard received a slight wound in the left arm.
