Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-11
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
From TT. Monroe.

uO lUu7 1pcCtCu StoAueI McII.iDHC UhUe ucI
appearance, and yesterday +. NJ, with the assist
ance Of two gun-bosts which came out with her
from Norfolk, made an attack upon Newport News,
and the naval vessels stationed ut that place.
The MeErimac was first seen from the rampatts
OF Fortress Monroe, on her way to Newport News.
Atabout a quarter before one O'Clock two rebel
gun-boats followed her. They all carried q rebel
fag at the stern, and had French 1ag at ths
mast head.
The Merrimac had A.g at hcr bows which wa,
described by some as q com modious tlue hsS, and
by others a black dag. The sides, bows and
stern OF the Merrimac wore covered with siopipg
iron plates extending abou. two feet below the
water line. and meeting above like the roof Of
house on her bows. On the water line are two
sharp iron points resembling plow., about six Or
seven feet apart.
The number Of guns is atcd at twelve, bat she
night not have had so many. At her bows were
soon two guns projecting from long eliptica port
holes
Tho design Of the enemy did not become ap-
parent till between ono and two o'clock, and by
that time the Minnesota had 60; under way 10
the scene of action.
fhe Roanoke, the Rag ship being disabled By
the breaking Of her shstt some time since, was ia
ken in tow BY two gun-boats. About the Same
time tho alarm gun Was fired at Fort Monroe, and
The whole garrison promptly turned out.
Tho rebel boats steadily pursued their way TO
Newport News, and tho Merrimac soen turned the
point and was In view from the fortress.
The first shot was fred from the frigate Cum
bsrand at . little past two o'clock.
The Sewal's Point battery then opened on the
Minnesota, which was passing. and the Sawyer
gun, from the Rip Rsps, replied with few shots
1T Sswell's Point. thick smoke was soon seen
to rise above Newport News. indicating that the
battery there, as we'll as tho Cumberland and
Congress, were engaged.
The details Of tho action could not Le seen from
the Fort, but . telegraph dispatch was received
mai hat Nho( nhnpl nd 4
mac were in close quarters.
After firing two guns at the Cumberland, the
Merrimao struck her, her sharp bows maxim. .
hole in her At the water line feet in extent.
Tae Cumberland commenced sinking, when the
Merrma;, backing o short distance, run into her
. second time, making another terrible hole in
her, causing the Wates to run in at furious rate
The Cumberland continued firing till the water
entered her port holes, whom she careened over
slowly and finally sunk, about o'clock. The
Newport News battery and the guns Of the Cum
berand fred continuously upon the Mcnimac but
no appat ent effect was produced upon her. The
Ninnesota got aground, on the way up, and could
afford but little assistance. Shortly before ; o.
clock, the Yorktown and jamestown arrived from
up the James river-the former was disabled ear
ly in the Z. II and pu, in shore for repairs.
After sinking the Cumberland, tho herrimac
turned heT attention to tho Congress, and in less
than an hour afterwards white flag was hoisted
on the Congress. A rebel gun-bo Immediately
went along side and took the officers and marines
prisoners. The sesmen were allowed to escape 80
shore.
The frigats st. Lawrence arrived here during
the p. NJ, and without dropping her anchor, pro-
ceeded up tho river and followed the example Of
the Minnesota and Roanoke in firing on the bat
terry at Sewals Point, but, like the rest, her shot
fell short. The gun-boat Mystic Was alss towed
up in the p. NJ, but at sundown the Roanoke, st.
Lawrence and Mystic all returned.
After fouP o'clock tho M0rrimac cont;nued u
throw shells into tho camp 1T Newport News,
while the jamestown and other rebel gun boats
commenced firing on the Minnesota. Tho latter
replied % vigorously - possible, and the conflict
was continued without any apparent effect, until
dark. During tho evening the Congress was set
on Ere; at midnight ehe was blown up, Masking .
terrible explosion. During tho evening tho Mon
itor arrived and at once proceeded to take part in
the action. During the night only occasional
guns we're fred. keinforcements Of men and anu
p. IN. But little serieus damage was done, and
no one was killed. 1hia morning the conflict WAS
renewed, until the presence Of tho Monitor was
known to tho Asrrimac. The latter was engaged
with tho Minnesota, and but for the fortunate
rival Ct the Monitor, the Minnesota might have
been lost.
The Monitor and Merrimac engaged each other
for two or three hours, 1t long AID short range,
without perceptible effect upon either. Tbey
vent sonx side Of each other once or twice snt
seemed almost to run each other down, bu. they
soon appeared again to renew the action. The
Ericsson battery finally succeeded in forcing .
long hole in the port side Of tho Nerrimsc, and
ehe retired with the whole rebel feet to Norfolk
At about ono o'clock, tho U. S. gun.boat Oregon
Vas struck by the Merr;mac in her boiler and was
blown up. This morning. tho U. 8. gun-boa
Zouave was also seriously Damaged aud MAS
The principal loss Of life was ON board of the
Cumberland, where it is thought ~ many ~ $50
men must have been klle d or drowned. But six
lives were lost on board OF the Minnesota, accord
ing to the report Of one Of her officers rcbel
euI boat was cut in two yesterday BY the Cum
berland. The Merrimac il understood TO have
been under command Of Com. Buchan, late oi the
Navy Yard.