The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-14

In the meantime darkness approached,
though the moon shone brightly. and moth
ing but the occasional flashing of the guns
could be seen. The Merrimac was also be-
lieved to be aground, as she remained Sta
tionary at the distance of a mile from the
Minnesota, making no attempt to attack or
modest her.
1t was the intention of the Minnesota,
with her picked and gallant crew, to run into
close quarters with the Merrimac, avert her
iron PROV and board her. This the Merrl-
mac seemed not inclined to give her an op-
portunity to do, being afraid to have the
Minnesota crew approach her at close Quar-
tiers when aground.
At s o'clock, when the Baltimore boat left,
a fleet OF steam tugs were sent up to the re-
lief of the Minnesota and st Lawrence, and
an endeavor was to be made to draw them of
from the bar on which they had grounded.
In the meantime the firing had been sus-
pended. whether from mutual consent or ne
cessity could not be ascertained.
The rebel battery at Pigs Point was also
enabled to join the combined attack on the
Minnesota and several guns were fired at her
of them, however, struck her, but one or two
of them passed over her.
BALTIMORE, March 8.
The boat left Old Point at S o'clock last
night. About half an hour after she left the
wharf the iro1-clad Ericsson steamer Monl-
tor passed her going in, towed by large
steamer. The Monitor undoubtedly reached
Fortress Monroe by Q o'clock, and immedi-
ately went into service. If not, she would
be ready to take a hand early on Sunday
morning.
The foregoing are all the facts as far as
can be ascertaineG, and are probably the
worst possible version of the affair.
-4nofher Dispatch. The Monitor arrived
at ten p. vi. last night, and went immediate
ly to the protection of the Minnesota, lying
aground just below Newport News.
AT \. VI. to-day the Merrimac, accom-
panied by two wooden steamers, the York
town and jamestown, and several tugs, stood
out toward the Minnesota and opened fire.
The Monitor met them at once and returned
the fire, when the enemy's vessels retired ex-
cept the Merrimac. The two iron-clad yes
seis fought, part of the time touching each
other. from y. NJ. until noon, when the
Nerrimac reireatcd. Whether she is injur-
ed or not it is impossible to say.
Lieut. J. NJ. Worden, who commanded the
Monitor. handled her with great skill, assist
ed by Chief Engineer Stuners
The Monitor is uninjured and ready at
any moment to repel another attack.
WASHINGTON. March o. NJ.
BY telegraph from Fortress Monroe. l.
The Ericsson arrived at Fortress Monroe last
night. Early this morning she was attacked
by the three vessels, the Merrimac. the
jamestown and The Yorktown. After five
hours contest they were driven off, the Mer-
rimac in sinking condition.
New YORK, March 9.
\ special dispatch to the Tribune, from
Fortress Monroe. states that the Cumberland
had a crew Of five hundred men. nearly half
of whom went down with the frisate. bnt a
negro states that some of the crew who
,w@Il ashore gives the number lost 1t one
hundred. The guns of the Congress after
her capture were turned on our batteries at
Newport News General Wool sent two
regiments OF infantry. six companies of cav
airy. and the Mounted Rifles bv land to
Newport News to support General Mansfield
in case of an attack
The Mcrrimac is understood to have been
under the command of Commandant Buchan-
an, late OF The navy yard.