From Fortress Monroe

Burnside advancing to Suffolk

Great excitement in Norfolk

Arrest of German Turners in Richmond

American flags found

Cotton and tobacco to be destroyed

Murfreesboro occupied by Union forces

The Rebels retreat to Decatur, Alabama

Fortress Monroe, Virginia, Friday, March 7, via Baltimore, March 8, 1862 – The steamtugs Atlantic and Pendulum, from Philadelphia, came into the Roads this morning.

The Pendulum sunk while passing the light-ship. All hands were saved.

The Suwanee, which sailed for Hatteras with stores on Thursday, returned on account of bad weather. She was to sail again on Friday night.

The wind is changing to the north-west.

A flag of truce from Norfolk brought down the commandant of the French steamer. He represents that there is great excitement at Norfolk. The hotels are swarming with officers from the Gulf states. The Virginia troops have all been sent away. The people dread the destruction of the city in case of an attack.

A strong force is concentrating at Suffolk to check General Burnside, who was reported to have occupied Winton, in force, and as moving on to Suffolk.

The reason given by the Rebels for not returning Colonel Corcoran is that maps and drawings have been found concealed on his person.

No further communication has been received as to the release of the Union prisoners at Richmond.

The Richmond papers of Friday contain no military news except the arrest of a number of Union men, principally Germans.

A detective officer broke into the room of the German Turners, and found two American flags, with a painting on the wall of the Goddess of Liberty holding the Union colors and a shield, and with the words underneath, “Hats Off.” The painting and flags were seized and confiscated.

The House of Representatives have passed a resolution by a vote of 71 to 11, recommending and directing military commanders to destroy all cotton and tobacco that is in any danger of falling into the hands of the enemy.

A resolution was also adopted asking the President to inform the House what foreign vessels of war are doing in Hampton Roads.

The Richmond Dispatch says that a vessel drawing sixteen feet of water recently passed out of Charleston Harbor.

Charles Palmer, arrested for disloyalty a few days since at Richmond, has been discharged.

Specie [money in coin] is quoted at Richmond at 40 to 50 percent premium.

A dispatch from Atlanta, Ga., says that the Union troops have posession of Murfreesboro, and that Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston has retreated to Decatur, Ala.

The Rev. David Wilmot, late of Philadelphia, was consecrated on Thursday, at Richmond, as Bishop of Alabama.

Bishop Andrews has postponed indefinitely the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, which was to meet at New Orleans on the 1st of April.

The steamer Merrimac was lying near the Navy Yard yesterday morning with her flags flying and a crew on board. She draws twenty-three feet of water, and was described to me as looking like the roof of a sunken house, with a smoke stack protruding from the water.