The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-27 00:00:00

r
~ ~~

2R.E M.ERRMIAC AND 2HE MONITOR.

' The following is from an officer of the Cum-
berland :

"The Cumberland and the Congress were at
anchor at some distance from each other at New-
port's News—about 300 yards apart. This was on
Saturday. At about half-part 11 a.m. the rebel
steamer Merrimac came in sight, and we were all
on the alert, watching her movements. There was
not very much surprise expressed, as she had been
expected for some days. The men were beat to
quarters almost immediately, and every prepara-
tion made for active resistance. The captain of
the frigate, Coin. Radford, was not on board, being
then, occupied on a court of inquiry on board the
R,Janoke. In his absence the command was essurned
by First-Lieut. George U. Morris, executive officer.
-As soon as the Merrimac got within a mile of the
Cumberland we opened fire upon her from our 10-
inch pivot guns and our rifled cannon. Some of the
shots struck her, and others passed or fell short.
'She paid no attention whatever to our firing until
she got near the Congress, when she fired into her.
The Congress immediately returned the compliment
by discharging a whole broadside, followed by an-
other. She continued on her course, still firing at
the Congress, but seeming not to care much for her,
and on coming much nearer passed her, and made
direct for the Cumberland under a full head of
steam. On approaching sufficiently near she fired
one shot at us, which killed five men, and cut away
our main. rigging, hammock netting, &c. The Cum-
berland at once replied by firing into her most
vigorously. The Merrimac then drew off for a short
distance, rounded to, and ran into us, striking us on
the port bow, backing off again, and firing into us.
-We continued all the while pouring shot and shell
against her from our 9-inch guns and 10-inch pivots
without producing any effect on her whatever. The
Cumberland now began to sink. The iron monster
had only run into us once, and still we knew that
there was no chance at all of saving the vessel. Al-
though in. this dangerous and momently sinking
conditima, the men and officers nobly stood their
grour.d., The Merrimac continued all this while fir-
ing occasional shots into us, killing four or five men
at every shot. The cockpit was soon filled with
wounded men, and poor fellows maimed for life
were scattered over the upper gun and berth decks.
Still our men continued working and fighting their
guns in the most gallant manner. Our forward
magazine was soon filled with the water which
was rushing into the ship, so that it became en-
tirely useless. The best order, under the circum-
stances, prevailed, but the cries of the wounded
-were dreadful. At one time a shell burst
through the sick bay or hospital, killing four men
who were on the sick list and unable to report for
duty. At last the water rushed into the gun deck
ports, and it was seen that the ship would not float
much longer. She was now all down by the head
and going fast to the bottom. The boats were there-
lore ordered oat, and with difficulty brought along-
side. It was, however, almost impossible for the
men to get from the gun deck to the spar deck, but
some of them climbed into the rigging, and others
sprang overboard As the ship was settling out of
sight. Everybody was naturally endeavouring to
reach the boats ; some N or 60 men were seen float-
ing and swimming about, catching at spars. The
rule now was every one for himself. Quite a number
were crushed by the after pivot gun, which rolled
about in a dangerous manner.
" The Merrimac, seeing she had finished np the
Cumberland, than drew off finally, and returned to
the Congress, firing at her as she approached. The
two other rebel steamers, the Jamestown and York-
town, were now seen coming down the James river,
and soon after opened fire on the fort and on the
ships. The Congress had been fighting gallantly all
the while, but now having had about 100 men killed,
and being at the same time so riddled with shot
that she was rapidly sinking, was taken in tow by
the gunboat Zouave, but the firing still continuing
she hoisted the white flag and surrendered. A Con-
federate steamer then went alongside and took off
the officers as prisoners, allowing the men to leave
in their boats. Lieut. Smith, who commanded the
Congress, was killed, with a number of other officers
and. men. Only officers were made prisoners.
" The officers of the Cumberland suffered consi-
derably. Among those killed was the chaplain, J.
L. Lenhart, who used to reside on Staten Island.
He was not heard of after the fight, and is therefore
supposed to have been drowned. Master's Mate 1
John M. Harrington, of Boston, had his head shot
off. All the poor fellows who were wounded went
down with the ship, as they were totally unable to
help themselves.

" The fight between the Monitor, or Ericsson bat-
tery, and the Merrimac was very exciting. The
former vessel was in no way injured, but there is no
doubt that the Merrimac had two or three holes put
into her port side.
" The men on the Cumberland (all who were un-
able to help themselves owing to their terrible
wounds) sank before any effort could be made to
get them off. But the good old frigate went down
with the Union flag flying, as no man on board
would haul it down, officers and men declaring that
they would go down before they would surrender.
On the same night the flag was nailed to the fore-
topmast, which remained above water after she
sank, by some sailors who left specially to do so, and
is still floating there in defiance of the rebels.
" During the whole engagement between the
Cumberland Rnd the Merrimac there was but one
man seen on the latter vessel. He came out of her
hatch, and as soon as he was seen a shot was fired

at him, which cut him completely in two, sending
his head flying in one direction and his legs andl
part of his body in another. When the Cumberland I
was going down the men on board cheered lustily,
as they also did when the rebel flag and flagstaff
were shot away from on board the Merrimac. There
were no cheers or shouts on board the Merrimac,
'which it may be stated is a screw steamer, com-
pletely covered. The other two secesh steamers
had rench flags flying, which could be plainly seen
at a great distance ; but nobody could give any rea-
son for this. To all appearance there were 10 guEs
on board the Merrimac, four on each side, and one
each at her bow and stern. They seemed to be 9-
inch or 10 .inch guns, although one or two might
have been larger. She began to fire at about half-
past 1 o'clock, but we could only occasionally see
the men who wore working the guns. They were
behind their ports, and we could only get a glimpse
at them on the recoil of their pieces. Several attempts
were made to pick them off with rifle shots, but
with what success cannot now be ascertained. Every
shot fired by the Merrimac went through our ship,
but we could make no impression at all upon her,
although we gave her over 20 broadsides of solid
shot and shell from our 9-inch and 10-inch guns.
" Our officers behaved very bravely all through
the
action, losing everything they had, end escap•
ng 'alY with their lives and the clothing they had
on at the time.
" The euraileri,
The steam", .4nd sank in water about 54ft deep.
Whilden saved a great number of
those who
fellealoeinto the water and were clinging to
bits of spar
ae wood. The engagement lasted
for about two heuis
her until the Cumberland finally
went down with
" It must be mentioned
that the Congress was not
destroyed by tho rebels, bat by two Union sailors
who were sent on board for that
aa
Purpose—it is sup-
posed by order of General
ananela.,,
Ono of the crew of the Cumberland
makes the
following statement :
" Camp Butler,
Newport'_
last
s Newt', March 9.
" At last I have news to write to pm.
letter from on board the Cumberland, as
welly
that have preceded it from this point, must
as all
been devoid of interest entirely, for since the eq.
tare of Hatteras, with the e7eaption of the little
escapade of the rebel steamer Patrick Iff nry some
time since, the old chip has seen notilleg in the
way of semee.
" Yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock, a sudden
excitement was observable on board our
gallant
good
vessel. For myself I was not keeping a very
look-our, as 1 was not at the time detailed for that
service, and sailors do not usually attend to morn
than is required of them. Soon came the booming
of aignitl-guns, and in a remarkably short space of
time the crew were called to quarters and 'prepared
for action; Then I had time to look around me and