The following article is transcribed from the New York Times, May 5, 1862:

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BEAUFORT, N.C., Friday, April 25, 1862. My previous letters from this place recited the progressive steps which had been taken in the siege of Fort Macon, and brought down the history of events to the completion of the land batteries. The arrival of Gen. BURNSIDE, with two powerful floating batteries of Parrot and Wiard guns, and the disposition of the land land naval forces for the final attack, closed the preliminary arrangements, and it only remained to summon the fort to surrender, which was done by the commanding General on Wednesday. Asharp engagement to-day, lasting ten hours, chiefly between the fort and our land batteries, has added another brilliant triumph to our arms, with comparatively small loss of life on our side, and has restored to the Union one of the most important forts which protect our extended coast. Beside the fort, with its armament of 42 heavy guns and six mortar carronades, we have captured the entire stock of rebel ammunition, consisting of 22,000 pounds of powder, immense quantities of cannon-shot, a very large supply of musket cartridges and caps, 500 stand of good arms, and all the necessary ordnance, materiel and stores for the effective defence of the post. We have also taken 400 barrels of flour, 500 bushels of corn, and probably a six months' supply of pork, bacon and beef for three hundred men. The fort, under the continuous fire of our batteries, has been badly damaged, and fifteen of the guns were disabled, but the industry and skill which planned and conducted to a favorable issue the capture of the place, will make all right again. The flag of the Union once more waves in its rightful place above the fort; New-England troops, with strong arms and loyal hearts, occupy its lately desecrated casemates, and another disgrace has been wiped from the National escutcheon. No more piratical Nashvilles will sneak unchallenged with their contraband freight into this harbor; the port will soon be open to legitimate commerce for honest, Union men, and the miserable dream of secession, with its entailed anarchy, poverty and ruin, will no longer crush the hopes of this people. The event will be hailed by the country as one of the most complete victories which has waited upon the march of this division of the army, and will add fresh lustre to the great and good genius which directs its movements. The chief labor of this campaign has fallen upon the Rhode Island and Connecticut troops, to whose unwavering energy and patient labor, performed under a harassing fire from the fort, the country is indebted for success. They have been obliged to march for miles through sand, going from and returning to camp, live without tents, and bivouack on the wet earth, eating their cold lunch and working night and day, until wearied nature was no longer capable of exertion. Many of them have been placed on the sick list. As a reward for this intrepidity they will now have an opportunity to recruit their exhausted strength and health within the comfortable inclosure from which the rebels have been expelled. No portion of the army, since the beginning of the war, have earned a better title to repose. The misguided men who have usurped possession of the fort for months past, in pity for their miserable condition, have been dismissed to their homes by Gen. BURNSIDE, under promise of future good behavior, and a portion of them are now on board of the steamer Alice Price, in company with the General and his Aids, bound to Newbern. The remainder, who were scraped together from Beaufort and neighboring places in Cartaret County, have been taken home in boats directly from the fort. They depart hence wiser if not better men, and it will be a long time before they will willingly engage in rebellion against the Government of the United States. Seven of the rebels were killed during the bombardment, and nineteen wounded. On our side only one man was killed, and but one or two severely wounded. EVENTS OF THE SIEGE -- GEN. BURNSIDE'S ARRIVAL WITH TWO FLOATING BATTERIES. Gen. BURNSIDE arrived in the Alice Price, on Wednesday morning, bringing with him two floating batteries -- the [???] in command of Capt. NICHOLS, of the navy, and the Grenada. Lieut. BAXTER. Each of them was supplied with two 20-pound Parrot guns, and Capt. NICHOLS had, besides, a 12-pound Wiard steel rifled cannon. Bales of cotton and bay constituted the breast works for the protection of the gunners, who were marines and sailors, previously trained to the use of these formidable cannon. They came through Coxe Sound. The Alice Price and steamer [???], the latter in command of Capt. FRANKLIN, had cautiously proceeded through the channel way towards the fort and selected a position where the batteries could be anchored, when they were met, at a distance of over two-and-a half miles from the fort, by a shot which fell within fifty yards of them. A second 32-pounder, evidently directed by corrected range, passed above the Ellis smoke-pipe and dropped under her stern, within a few feet of a boat which at the moment was passing toward the Price. It threw the spray over the boat's crew. The two steamer left that plane and anchored out of range in North River. NEGOTIATIONS UNDER FLAG TRUCE. About 4 o'clock Capt. PELL landed with a message for Gen. PARKE, and the Ellis shortly afterwards started again toward the fort, bearing a flag of truce from Gen. BURNSIDE, with a demand for its surrender. Quartermaster BIGGS, who was a classmate of Col. WHITE, now the rebel commander of the fort, was sent with the message. As soon as the boat approached within distinguishing distance of the fort, a boat was sent out to meeting in which was Capt. POOLE and one or two other officers. The boats met about a mile from the Ellis; two minutes were occupied in coversation between Capt. BIGGS and the rebel officer; a communication was handed to them, and they returned to the fort. Capt. BIGG's boat landed an Shackleford's beach to await the return of the boat. Meantime, the Chippewa, which was passing to the westward outside, received several shots from the fort -- a circumstance which seemed not exactly in keeping with the proprieties of the occasion. It was not until after sunset that the boat left the fort to carry in answer. It was an engagement on the part of Col. WHITE to meet Gen. BURNSIDE the next morning. Contrary to the the night, but hopes were excited among the people in town, based upon these negotiations, that the place would be given up without a fight. Meantime, Gen. PARKE granted [???] until the following morning. THE INTERVIEW [???] BURNSIDE AND [???] At an early hour on Thursday morning, the citizens were out in numbers, expecting to witness the surrender of the garrison, or the beginning of the fight. A the fort beach, which showed that negotiation were still pending. About the same time the Alice Price was noticed steaming down the Sound, and shortly after a boat, containing Gen. BURNSIDE and Quartermaster BIGGS, met the rebel Colonel on the beach. The meeting was dignified, but perfectly cordial. Anxious to repossess the fort without bloodshed, Gen. BURNSIDE offered Col. WHITE the privilege of going out with all their private effects, and to give the officers and men a parole of honor, and [???] them toreturn to their homes. The terms were as generous as they were characteristically frank and business-like on the part of the General Commanding. They were evidently more liberal terms than were expected, and better than they knew they deserved. The desire to bring the contest to an early close, and to make use of the port and its railway terminus for the purposes of the army in the interior, induced the General to offer them the full release stipulated. A brief mental struggle in the mind of the rebel commander now took place, in which, no doubt, the dictates of humanity and honor contended with false pride and a naturally stubborn will. His evil genius, however, prevailed, and he replied that he felt he could not surrender the fort without some show of resistance. It would not look well in the Southern Confederacy. They parted as friendly as they met, and, on the part of the commander of the fort, probably with better ideas of the men who had come to claim the property so infamously wrested from the Government. During the interview Gen. BURNSIDE obtained a pledge from Col. WHITE that he would not fire upon the Cities of Beaufort or Morehead, and permission was given for the officers and soldiers in the fort to write letters to their friends, and the hour of 10 o'clock on Friday morning was fixed upon for them to receive replies. Gen. PARKE fully acquiesced in this arrangement; in short, every disposition was manifested on our part to accommodate. If such a thing were possible, no better illustration could have been afforded of carrying on war on Christian principles, the only objection to the proceedings being the possible violation of the command about casting pearls before swine. So far as Col. WHITE was concerned, Gen. BURNSIDE gave him the credit of acting "very handsomely throughout the proceedings." ORDER TO OPEN FIRE ON THE FORT. As soon as the General returned to the steamer, he sent a signal message to Gen. PARKE to open fire on the fort at once. The citizens awaited in breathless suspense the first booming of the guns which were to decide the contest. At 4 1/2 o'clock P.M. a sailboat with a white flag left the fort and proceeded toward Beaufort, when Major ALLEN dispatched a boat to meet it. Capt. NEILL, Chief of Gen. RENO's Staff; Lieut. HILL, attached to Gen. PARKE's Staff, and Lieut. FRICKER, Chief of the Signal Corps, went in the boat, the latter holding in his hand a white flag. On meeting the rebel boat a bag of letters was handed to Capt. NEILL, with a note from Col. WHITE to Major ALLEN, requesting that they might be forwarded to their destination. After the boat returned, Col. WHITE repaid the civilities just extended to his officers and men by shelling our men until sundown. They made no reply. THE BOMBARDMENT. Friday morning -- a day whose evil augury has been so signally reversed in the history of this campaign --dawned pleasantly, but a fresh breeze sprang up from the South at daybreak. At precisely 5:40 o'clock a Parrot gun from Capt. MORRIS' Battery startled the town from its slumbers. Its thunder shook the houses in Beaufort to their foundations, and while the echoes of its shrill, bursting shell, were still rolling along the opposite shores, eager gazers, with half-finished toilets, filled the windows, or stood awe-struck upon the streets and balconies. Another and another followed in quick succession, and then came an earthquake shock from FLAGLER's 10-inch mortars, which made the windows rattle, and weak-kneed mortals stand aghast! Before the smoke had cleared sufficiently to mark the spot from which this belching volcano had issued, puffs of white smoke rose from the right, and in advance of the rest. It was Lieut. PROUTY putting in the exclamation points to this new oration from his 8-inch mortar battery. Thus opened the bombardment of Fort Macon, giving abundant proof that retributive justice, though long delayed, is sure to overtake the traitors to their country. Each gun seemed endowed with a voice which said "Take!" "Hold! possess the forts and places of the Government!" For twenty minutes not a sign of life was to be seen upon the fort. The sentinel, suspended in his usual eyrie upon the flag-staff, had dropped from the cross-trees as if the halyards that held him up had been shot away, and he disappeared no more to return. Still the firing continued. At last heads of moving objects were seen cautiously stealing in the direction of the barbette guns on the lower parapet, and in another moment the fort gave out its first answering shot. Taking courage from this infantile effort, and [???] they still lived, others crawled out from their coverts, and another gun was manned. They had already guessed at the location of the Parrot battery, and directed their fire upon, it, but their practice at first was unsteady and faltering. Their [???] 32-pound shot generally struck short, throwing up clouds of sand, while an occasional shot passed over their heads, and went bowling in among the sand-bills half a mile beyond our lines. A three weeks' practice had taught our boys to dodge these missiles with comparative ease. Many the shells from the heavy mortar battery, during the first part of the firing, went over the fort, exploding on the beach at the eastward or in the water -- the same was true of the 8-inch shells -- but it was not long before they obtained the range, when their firing was made with greater precision. Lieut. FLAGLER stood at the fight of his battery, in a position so as to enable him to see the effect of each shell, and directed the [???] of every fuse and the training of the guns. At eight o'clock the firing from the fort became very sharp and well sustained, one gun after another being manned, until apparently half a dozen were at work at once. The Parrot battery kept up a continuous discharge, their shells exploding over the parapets, and their [???] bolts ploughing up the works in all directions. When one of these shots struck the parapets, the fort, for an instant, would be [???] in heavy clouds of black [???] which were heaven almost to the top of the flagstaff, while fragments of [???], stone and lumber from the wooden covering of the [???] filled the [???], hiding the enemy's gunthers from slew. It was now apparent that the rebels were doing theirutmost to dismount Capt. MORRIS' battery, whose open [???] afforded the only visible point of attack. Lieut. FLAGLER's battery being nearly in a direct line with the Parrot guns, the shots which were aimed at it would generally richochet and expend their force near that beyond. Lieut. PROUTY, whose position was at the extreme right, near the south beach, continued his fire for a considerable time before attracting much attention from the enemy's guns. Later in the action he received a good share of the rebel shot in return for his well-directed fire. The spectators upon the houses and wharves in front of the town watched the progress of the fight with great interest. Women whose friends were in the fort, hastened nervously from one house to another, or watched with tearful eyes the awful pageant from the balconies of the public house, and from their own window. The smoke at the belching guns constantly enveloped the fort, and settled like a blue veil upon the surface of the water. A strong south gale brought to our ears each, report, and the sound of the bursting shells with terrible [???]. NAVAL -- THE GUNBOATS OPEN FIRE. Up to 9 o'clock A.M., the fire from our batteries and from the fort was kept up with nearly equal [???] and determination, the advantages, if any, being on the side of the fort, which outnumbered us in guns. The rebel gunners won much admiration from many sympathizing spectators in Beaufort and Morehead, for their reckless daring and bravery. About 9 o'clock A.M., the United States gunboats came into position, one after the other, and opened fire, their shots enflading those from our batteries on the beach. Their long range guns sent their shot and shell in some cases clear over the fort, which burst within half a mile of the town. The majority of them, however, raked the east and west parapets with effect, and did great execution upon the south face of the fort. Added to the continuous fire from the mortar and Parrot batteries, they sent a perfect storm of exploding projectiles into the fort, and for a time the rebel gunners stood appalled. They fled from the lower parapets and most exposed positions, taking shelter behind the breastworks or in the casemates. While this timely contribution was being added to the common stock of Union arguments, our land batteries took a moment's breathing spell, and prepared to renew the firing with vigor. The rough sea which prevailed outside, however, rendered all attempt at accurate range impossible, and after firing for about two hours, they hauled off. During this time, a large number of good shots were thrown at the ships. One of these, a 32-pounder, struck the United States gunboat Daylight near the gangway, passing through the engine-room, the Captain's room, and lodging in the ceiling on the port side. It carried away a portion ofthe iron stairway, which struck the Engineer, Mr. EUGENNE J. WADN, breaking his left arm. Another hot shot passed through the ensign of the State Georgie, but did no other damage. The Albatross and Chippewa had some of their rigging carried away. The bark Gemsbok also did some effective firing, and all demonstrated what they would have done had the weather been smooth. In the afternoon our batteries obtained the exact range, and poured a continuous hail-storm of bursting shell into the fort. The rebel guns were gradually deserted, and at 2 o'clock only two or three guns were fired at intervals of five minutes. On our side the fire continued with little abatement, every shell telling with terrible effect. At 3 o'clock, the gun in the water battery, which had kept up a constant discharge, was silenced by the bursting shells, and only an occasional discharge was made from the 10-inch columbiad on the south parapet. Shortly after 4 o'clock the firing, which had been constantly growing weaker, ceased, and a white flag was displayed on the west front of the fort. Our batteries immediately ceased firing, and the fact was announced to Gen. PARKE, and was also signaled to Gen. BURNSIDE. Major ALLEN, military commander at Beaufort, seized the occasion to go over and learn what was the matter, and at the same time, convey a mail-bag containing letters to the fort The reporters of the New-York, Philadelphia and Boston Press accompanied the flag of truce, during which they approached near enough to observe the damage done to the fort Meantime, Capt. POOLE and two other officers went out toward our batteries with a flag of truce, and was met by the commander of our forces on the beach. He asked to see Gen. PANEE and learn on what terms a capitulation would be granted. The message was signaled to Gen. PARKE, who returned answer that he could accept only an unconditional surrender. Meantime Gen. PARKE communicated with Gen. BURNSIDE, who sent word that he would accept the surrender of the fort on the original terms. An armistice was accordingly granted, and Fort Macon was virtually ours. To make sure of being among the first to enter the fort in the morning, your correspondent, in company with two other reporters, crossed on to the beach, and spent the night in the trenches. We had a good opportunity to inspect the batteries by twilight, and to ascertain the effect of the firing upon them. Our first inquiry was to know who were killed and wounded. To our great surprise we learned that only one man on our side had been killed and two wounded -- the latter only receiving contused wounds from spent cannon balls. The name of the unfortunate man killed was WILLIAM DART, belonging to Company I, Third New-York Artillery. He was struck by a round shot, while driving a pointing stake, which carried away his breast. His lifeless body fell over against Lieut. FLAGLER, who stood near him at the time. Two privates were also hit, one of them being knocked out of the embrasure of Capt. MORRIS' Battery by a cannon-shot. The other received a severe but not dangerous wound in the thigh by spent balls. THE BATTERIES. The battery of three 30-pound Parrot guns was commanded by Capt. L.O. MORRIS, of the First Artillery, U.S.A., regulars. It was worked by Company C, of the First Artillery, and detachments of the same company acted as gunners at both the mortar-batteries. The second, which was two hundred yards in rear of this was a four 10-inch mortar-battery. It was commanded by Lieut. FLAGLER, Chief of Ordnance on Gen. BURNSIDE's staff, who also superintended the erection of this and the other mortar-battery. The third was a four 8-inch mortar-battery, a little to the right of and in advance of MORRIS' Battery. Lieut. PROUTY commanded and worked this battery. Lieuts. THOMAS and KELSEY, of Battery I, Third New-York Artillery, with a detachment from that Company, also assisted in working it. Capt. AMMEN, of Battery I, Third New-York Artillery, with a portion of his Company, was in FLAGLER's Battery, and had command of the company. He rendered must essential service both in the construction and working of the battery. Lieut. GOWAN, of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, war attached to MORRIS' Battery, and acted as First Lieutenant. We spent the night on the sands of Bogue Beach, and had the satisfaction of seeing the rebel commander as he proceeded to the steamer Alice Price to surrender the fort. During the night the batteries were all repaired, and in the morning everything was in readiness to begin afresh, if occasion required. Gen. BURNSIDE received Col. WHITE with the same cordiality as on the former occasion, and both retired to the cabin of the steamer, where the General, having just sat down to breakfast, invited Col. WHITE to partake with him. At its conclusion, the terms of surrender were drawn up and signed, and the rebel commander retired. Having reached the fort, the garrison was drawn up in line and the terms of capitulation read to them. Col. WHITE thanked his officer, and men for having stood by him through the fight; told them he had held the fort as long as it was possible to do so, and now surrendered it to save further sacrifice of life. His course was applauded by the entire garrison. Meantime, Gen. BURNSIDE, Gen. PARKE and Capts. BIGGS and KING appeared upon the beach, having landed from the Alice Price, and sent forward Lieut. DOUGLASS with an order for the Fifth Rhode Island to fall in and march into Fort Macon. Major WRIGHT, after saluting the General, followed his battalion. The General, after a brief survey of the battery and trenches, again appeared, and taking the new colors just received as a present from the State of Rhode Island, [???] them for the first time at the head of the Fifth Battalion. The scene at this [???] was most inspiring. The surf of old Ocean laved the feet of the troops, as if in homage of the brave men who had so nobly won this new victory for the Union. They awaited in proud silence the order to move forward. The General walked at the head of the column, the beautiful new color, bearing the coat of arms of their State and the American flag fluttering in the morning breeze above their heads, and reflecting the glories of the rising sun. Before the advancing troops flaunted the rebel standard, which in a few moments was to be hauled down by patriot bands and give place to the glorious banner of the Union. The representatives of the Press, among whom was your correspondent, made one platoon of four, who kept time to the music of the Union in rear of the troops. We filed along the sandy road, passing, at almost every step, the evidences of the destructive effects of our shells. Deep holes were everywhere visible, excavated in the earth, and long, wide furrows, which had been ploughed in the glaols by the Parrot shells. The rebels stood in squads upon the ramparts, watching in silence the advancing column. Having arrived at the sallyport, we were halted for a moment, to permit the prisoners, who had just stacked their arms outside, to return into the fort. They then marched around the fort, and retruned to the place of starting. Gen. PARKS, with four men, entered, and in another moment we saw the hated flag descend, and the stars and stripes slowly and majestically rise in its place. As the prisoners were still inside, our troops, under direction of the General, retrained from any demonstrations which might be misinterpreted by them. The cheers for the old flag, however, rose in a grand chorus from the opposite shore, and came distinct and clear accross the water. The United States steamer State of Georges fired a National salute. About this time the flags of the Fifth Battalion were unfurled; the form of a venerable man in uniform appeared upon the ramparts, and placing a silver bugle to his [???] forth the "Star-Spangled Banner." Never did these notes possess a holler inspiration, or meet with a heartier greeting. The figure of the good old man seemed like the Genius of Freedom summoning to new life the buried spirit of the Union. Shortly after, the Fourth Rhode Island arrived, and with their band playing "Yankee Doodle," marched around upon the east terraplane of the fort. The prisoners were now permitted to take their baggage and march out. Not a derisive word was uttered, and the new and rightful occupants took possession of the place. EFFECTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT. The inner walls and parade ground of the fort bore witness to the terrific force of the shells which had exploded within. Deep holes indented in the brickwork; the stone steps torn from their foundations; the water-tank stove in, and rendered useless; casemate window shattered to fragments; and even the ends of upright bars of railroad iron set up to protect the entrance to the casemates, broken off, and the solid shot buried to their heel in the brick walls -- were some of the visible effects of the iron storm. Thousandsof fragments of [???] lay scattered over the ground. The ramparts were breached and plowed upon all sides; the wooden coping scattered in fragments along the parapets, chimneys knocked flat, and gun-carriages split and broken to pieces. Fifteen out of eighteen guns pointing up the Spit were disabled, and several dismounted. Over four hundred shot and shell fell in the fort, and about one hundred shells burst in the inner fort. THE KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE FORT. Seven persons were killed at the guns and in the fort, and eighteen wounded, one mortally. One man had his leg cut off by the fragment of a shell while sitting on his bunk in the casemate. Another had his knee badly crushed. Two of the killed, viz.: J.P. WILLIS and JAMES STANTON, belonged in Beaufort. The dead were carried out in rough boxes as the Union troops entered the fort. The rebel garrison consisted, by the last morning report, of 450 men, 250 being effective. ORDNANCE STORES. The magazine contained 20,000 pounds of powder, and there was also a considerable quantity of other ordnance stores. The rebels left 500 effective arms, with Roman swords, stacked in the glaces. The prisoners belonging in Newbern and vicinity were taken on board the Alice Price, and boats from various places took large numbers directly from the fort to their homes. They were rather poorly clad, but compared favorably with other North Carolina troops found at Newbern and Roanoke. They all seemed very much pleased at the idea of getting home. TERMS OF CAPITULATION. The terms of capitulation agreed upon for the surrender to the forces of the United States of Fort Macon, Bogue Banks, N.C.: ARTICLE 1. The fort, armanent and garrison to be surrendered to the forces of the United States. ART. 2. The officers and men of the garrison to be released on their parole of honor not to take up arms against the United States of America until properly exchanged, and to return to their homes, taking with them all their private effects, such as clothing, bedding, books, &c. M.J. WHITE, Colonel C.S.A., Commanding Fort Macon. SAMUEL LOCKWOOD, Com. U.S.N., and senior officer. JOHN G. PARKE, Brig.-Gen. Vol., Commanding Third Division, Department of North Carolina. FORT MACON, April 26, 1862. PRESENTATION OF A FLAG TO GEN. BURNSIDE. The following correspondence explains itself: UNITED STATES STEAMER STATE OF GEORGIA, OFF FORT MACON, April 27, 1862. DEAR GENERAL: The officers and crew of this vessel desire to tender you the flag borne by us in the action of April 25, 1862. You will see that it bears the mark of the well-directed fire of the enemy, making it a souvenir of the day marked by so signal a success to our arms. May God give you many years. JAMES F. ARMSTRONG, Commander, Commanding United States steam gunboat State of Georgia. Major-Gen. BURNSIDE, Fort Macon, N.C. NOTE -- I with pleasure concur in the above disposition of the honored flag bearing the marks of honored success. SAMUEL LOCKWOOD, Commander and senior officer. REPLY OF GEN. BURNSIDE. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA, STEAMER ALICE PRICE, NEAR FORT MACON, April 27, 1862. Capt. James F. Armstrong, United States steamer State of Georgia: DEAR CAPTAIN -- I beg to thank you, your officers and crew, for the kind feeling which dictated the presentation to me of the flag borne so gallantly by your ship in the action of April 25, 1862, in front of Fort Macon. It bears the evidence of close action; and will be kept by me as on emblem of the gallantry which has always characterized the Navy in their country's service. Please thank Commodore LOCKWOOD for his kind acquiescence in this gift. Very sincerely, your friend, A.E. BURNSIDE, Maj.-Gen. Commanding Dept. of North Carolina. GEN. BURNSIDE'S ADDRESS TO THE TROOPS OF THE THIRD DIVISION. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or NORTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT HARBOR, April 26, 1862. GENERAL ORDER, No. --.-- The General commanding takes peculiar pleasure in thanking Gen. PARKE and his brave command for the patient labor, fortitude and courage displayed in the investment and reduction of Fort Macon. Every patriot heart will be filled with gratitude to God for having given to our beloved country such soldiers. The regiments and artillery companies engaged have earned the right to wear upon their colors and guidons "Fort Macon, April 26, 1862." By command of MAJOR-GEN. BURNSIDE. LOUIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General. RECEPTION OF GEN. BURNSIDE IN NEWBERN. The arrival of Gen. BURNSIDE from the conquest of Fort Macon was one of the most gratifying events of the week. At 4 1/2 o'clock P.M., the screaming of the steam whistles of the steamers, and the rush of crowds toward the river front, announced the approach of the Alice Price, with Gen. BURNSIDE on board. The news of the taking of Fort Macon, which was received in town on Sunday, had electrified the Union people and the troops. As the steamer approached the fleet lying at anchor in the Neuse River, the gunboats, one after the other, dipped their engine; the crews on board the men-of-war voluntarily manned the rigging and gave three hearty cheers, while the enthusiasm was caught up by the crowds now lining the wharves, and the harbor was made vocal with cheers for BURNSIDE and the Union. The General appeared on the hurricane deck, and bowed his acknowledgments for the unexpected compliment thus tendered to him, and through him to the brave men who have done such signal service for the Union, in the restoration of Fort Macon. He was met at [???] headquarters by all his Generals, the gallant Gen. PARKE excepted, who is detained at Fort Macon by his duties, and by a crowd of officers, who tendered to him their congratulations. He never appeared in better or more [???] for the country. E.S.

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