From Washington

WASHIGNTON, March 9.

The telegraph lines to Fortress Monroe were built by order of the Secretary of War, under the direction of the general manager of military telegraph lines.  The extension of the government line from Harrington, Del., to Cape Charles, was constructed in three days.  Thirty miles of the submerged cable was manufactured from the channel crossing in twenty days from the date of the order, by S. C. Bishop, of New York City.  The sixteen miles laid before the recent gale was recovered in good condition.

The cable to replace the portion lost off Cape Henry was furnished by Mr. Bishop in five days.  The shore end was landed at Cape Charles at 4 o’clock this (Sunday) p.m., by Mr. W. Harris, assistant manager of government telegraphs, who has had the immediate charge of the work.  Its completion at this opportune moment bringing as the news of the splendid victory of the Moniteur, and the drubbing of the Merrimac has saved the country from great anxiety and expense.  The delay in completing the cable connection has been owning entirely to the continuous boisterous weather.

WASHINGTON, March 10.

Lieut. Wise, commanding the Potomac flotilla, in his official report to the Navy Department, confirms the rumor of the abandonment of the rebel batteries at Cockpit, Shipping and other points along the Potomac, and also the burning of the steamer Page and other rebel craft.

Lieut. Wise arrived this afternoon, bringing dispatches from Fortress Monroe.  But few particulars have yet transpired, as his interview is not yet closed.

The following items are reliable: Capt. Radford was engaged in a court martial, and not on the Cumberland.  Lieut. Smith, son of Com. Smith, was on board the congress, and is killed.

The loss in killed, drowned, wounded and missing, is supposed to be 100.

Lieut. Warder, who handled the Monitor so skillfully, is here in the hands of a surgeon.  He was in the pilot house of the Monitor, when the Merrimac directed a whole broadside at it, and received his injuries from the minute fragments of shells and powder, which were driven through the lookout holes.  He was stunned by the concussion and was carried away.  On recovering he asked, “Have I saved the Minnesota?”  The reply was, “Yes, and whipping the Merrimac.”  To which he answered, “Then I don’t care what becomes of me.”  His injuries are not supposed to be dangerous.  The Minnesota was eventually got off and towed under the guns of Fort Monroe.

The loss of 100 killed given was on board the Cumberland.  The crew of the Congress is scattered, at there are no means of ascertaining her loss at present.

The naval authorities and experts here are confident that the Merrimac is disabled, and that the Monitor is adequate to her in every respect.

There is no longer any doubt that the rebels have evacuated Centerville, Winchester and other important points, indicating a general falling back of their forces.

The telegraph to Fortress Monroe has been fully occupied on government business all day, which has prevented the Associated Press dispatch from coming.  There has been no change in the state of affairs at that point.

Every effort will be made [to] give the names of the killed and wounded at the earliest moment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 11, 1862, p. 1