The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-26 00:00:00

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, MAncit 12, MORNING.
(Per Arabia, via Queenstown.)
The news of the naval engagement at Fort
Monroe, full details of which will be found below,
caused intense excitement in New York on the
night of Sunday last. The opportune arrival at
Fort Monroe of the Federal steamer Monitor not
being known when the news of the damage done
by the Merrimie was first received, several influen-
tial citizens waited upon the Mayor of New York
to take into consideration the propriety of sinking
ballast-laden ships in the channel inside of Sandy
Hook, to prevent the passage of the Merrimac,
should she attempt it. Later news of the arrival of
the Monitor appeared to quiet the fears entertained.
Nearly all accounts agree that the Merrimac, when
she retreated to Norfolk, was disabled. Some
statements, however, different from this, have been
published.
The New York World gives an account of the
pilot on board the Cumberland, an.. a
says :
To epitomise the statement of Captain Smith, it
seems :

1. That there is no certainty of any serious da-
mage having been done the Merrimac. Lieut. Wor-
den is of opinion that three of his shot took serious
effect upon her, but he, of course, is unaware of the
precise amount of damage she sustained. Her being
taken off by the Jamestown and Yorktown is no
proof that she was injured, as it may have been
done to save coal or to trap the Monitor into Nor-
folk harbour, where she might perhaps be grappled
and captured.
2. If uninjured, there is really nothing to pre-
vent the Merrimac getting to sea, as she is a swifter
vessel by three miles per hour than the Monitor.
The guns of Fortress Monroe would fall short, and
there is not one chance in fifty that the big Union
gun at the Rip Raps would hit her ; if it did, of
course, the 4501 b. ball it carries might stave her
sides in ; but it is not safe to calculate upon any
such fortunate accident.

3. It is demonstrated by the result of Sunday's
fight, that it is of little use to fire balls of less
weight than 2001bs. at this naval monster. The
Monitor's 1801 b. balls were of but little more effect
than the 100 lb. shot of the Cumberland. Neither
the Monitor nor the Merrimac can be boarded.
Hence the difficulty of providing against the attack,
or of attempting to capture these vessels.
The Tribune says that Lieut. Worden, of the
Monitor, was certain he put three shots into the
Merrimac ; and the general opinion at Fort Monroe
was that she was disabled, but Mr. Fox, Assistant-
Secretary of the Federal navy, was of a contrary
opinion.

The following is the general account of the en-
gagement : _ _ _

FORTRESS MONROE, MARCH 9.
(Via Baltimore, March 10.)
The long-expected steamer Merrimac has at last
made her appearance, and yesterday afternoon,
assisted by two gunboats, made an attack upon
Newport News and the naval vessels stationed at
that place.
The sides, bows, and stem of the Merrimac were
covered with sloping iron plates, extending about
two feet below the water line, and meeting above
them like the roof of a house. At her bows, on the
water line, are two sharp iron points, resembling
ploughs, about 6 or 7 feet apart. Her number of
guns is stated at 12, but she might not have had so
many. At her bows were seen two guns, projecting
from long elliptical portholes. The design of the
enemy did not become apparent until between 1 and
2 o'clock, when the Minnesota had got under way
for the scene of action. The alarm gun of Fortress
Monroe being fired, the whole garrison promptly
turned out under arms. Col. Bendix briefly ad-
dressed the 10th regiment of New York, and all tes-
tified the greatest delight at the prospect of action.
After being under orders for some time, the garrison
was dismissed until they should be wanted. The
rebel boats steadily pursued their way to Newport
News. The first shot was fired by the frigate Cum-
berland, at a little past 2 o'clock. The Sewall's
Point Battery then opened on the Minnesota, which
was passing, and the Sawyer gun from the Rip
Raps replied with a few shots at Sewall's Point. A
thick smoke was soon seen to rise above Newport
News Point, indicating that the battery there, as
well as the Cumberland and Congress, were en-
gaged. The details of the action could not be seen
from the fort, but a telegram was received announc-
ing that the Cumberland and Merrimac were in
close quarters. As the latter approached the Cum-
berland she did not pay any attention to the Con-
gress. After firing two guns at the Cumberland the
sharp bows, making
Merrimaca jagged h
olestruckia herher a
twithh
eher
waterSh line seven feet in
extent. The Cumberland immediately commenced
to sink,
ran in
k,
when
trhe MQlrimac backed a short dis-
tance, a second time, making another
terriblp hole in her,
which caused the water to run
into her at a furious rate. The Cumberland con-
tinued firing until the water began to enter her
finallyportholes,
s a n
kwhen
aboutsheh
over slowly, and
The Newport News battery and the guns of the
t careened e:aela d k
Cumberland fired continually at the Merrimac, but
without apparent effect.
waTyheu, and couldMpinnesotaunf afford but
unfortunately
got aground on the
Jamestown little assistance.
Shortly before three o'clock the Yorktown and
arrived from up James River. The
former was disabled early in the afternoon, and put
ashore for repairs. After sinking
white flag was hoisted
the Merrimac turned to the Congress, and in less
the Cumberland,
at than
board
aaa nr hourd th e afterwards
Congress. a A
rebel gunboat immedi-
ately went alongside, and the officers and marines
being taken prisoners, the seamen were allowed to
escape to the shore.
The United. States frigate St. Lawrence arrived
' at Fortress Monroe during the afternoon, and with.