o'clock this morning. She was set fire to about 3 o'clock, and the explosion took place at the time stated. It is said to have been a grand sight by those who saw it. The Monitor, Stevens, and the gunboats have gone up toward Norfolk.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

[Similar dispatch to McClellan.]

CAMP, NINETEEN MILES FROM WILLIAMSBURG, May 11 - 9 a. m.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart upon the destruction of the Merrimac. I would now most earnestly urge that our gunboats and the iron-clad boats be sent as far as possible up the James River without delay. This will enable me to make our movements much more decisive.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General, U. S. Army.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, May 11, 1862.

Flag-Officer L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH,

Hampton Roads:

I suggest preparations for an immediate attack upon Fort Caswell with all the force you can spare, including the two iron-clads, so soon as they can be spared, which should be in a couple of days. Answer by telegraph, and report daily by the Cherrystone boat. Push all the boats you can spare up James River, even to Richmond, unless the President directs to the contrary.

GIDEON WELLES,

Secretary of the Navy.

SUNDAY, May 11, 1862 - 2 p. m.

Major-General McCLELLAN:

We are on board the steamer homeward bound, having just returned from Norfolk.

The order to sen the Monitor, Stevens, and one or two other boats up the James River has been given and will be executed immediately, as I am assured by Flag-Officer Goldsborough.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

CAMP, NINETEEN MILES FROM WILLIAMSBURG, May 11, 1862.

Honorable E. M. STANTON:

Without waiting further for official reports which have not yet reached me, I wish to bear testimony to the splendid conduct of Hooker's and