New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-12
THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT
a v,s,TTo THE MONITOR.
INTERESTING PARTICULARS.
49,, I'm, s,se,al Conesponaen..

Tho failure OF the Mefrimac 10 fealpear l"in inoi"
ine. and the absence Of the slightest movement IN
the peehborhood OF Craney Island amounts to strong
corroborative evidence that enc was dsbIed la 'he
se,ou Yesterday. Indeed there is scarcely an!
doubt that the Monitor too much for her, ID.
officers and crew on the latter are confident '"A' Ia"
,hs Nerr,nac not withdrawn as che did, she WOMB =
have been SINK. The wounding of Lieut.. "o'uo,'
which took place about the time the aeirii". W.
are,y accounts for the failure of the monitor W Pui
sue her. Lieut. Wordens wound, thoheh no' ''i'
.er;ous. 40 much blinded him az for the 'ne W ih'
e.,seitate him for active daty Ii was caused ny
ho, fro,n the Merrimac striking the wheehonse Vso
.o,o,n On the small opening through which Lieut.
D,r5en was looking at the time. Hewent to Bait
mace Loaf evening for few days quiet, which Is
necessary for the poper treatment Of his eyes. IL Is
understood that lst Lieut.. Green assumes command
Of the Monitor.
visited the Monitor to-day. Two shots oil the Ell T.
nv struck her ON the edge above the surface, and
tore 10 few inches Of the deck plating, ana fene-
traug aboui half the diameter ofthe ball aiio nfng
complete Illustration OF her mpregnabilty. As the
worst the enemy, with the mos powerful gnUs aRoat
could do the fact eetles all question on that point.
The shots referred to rs scratches pug
list after his antagonist hsaoue his best Sr four hours
70 knock him down. ON Der tower where the Mer
rimacs shots struck square and with fn force, there
are three or four Indications not exceeding three III
ehes in depth. Her deck is blszed in several places
where shots struck and glanced off. The wheel
house has several s;C rdentstions, though not AZ
deep These are al the marks the Monitor bears as
the result of the action. The officers and men de-
clare that they are perfectly willing to take her any
where for all that the enemys guns can 90, no mat
ter with what skill they may be served.
The Merrinec undertook 10 run the Monitor down,
and ran bows on her PROV projecting over her deck
The shock tdat cut the Cumberland and Congress
down made al indenation scarcely perceptible, and
nroduced TO extraordinary effect. In this attitude
the two ships exchanged Shots the mouths OF their
guns being but few yards distant, and it was here
that the Merrimac was penetrated, though the
Monitor was scarcely scratched. IT was doubtless
the intention of the enemy board her, and some Of
the Merrimscs men actually jumped aboard of her.
But there was no opening OF place Of entrance to be
found nor were there any 10 be seen. Al this
moment the tower began TO revove and the ports 10
open and the men scsmpered back, and the Merri.
mac drew of, probably confounded a. the results Of
her hasty visit
The Merriuac must have fired at leesfive times that
number. l was in error in saying that the Monitor
Withdrew from the action for time TO allow hel
guns TO cool Such was not the fact as 10 inconve
nience war felt from that cause. The temporary
withdrawal was occasoned by a shot getting fact in
one of the guns before twas home, which it required
some time to exirieste.
In the confusion some OF tue circumstances attend
A. Il
not correctly given. From various sources |
gather the following leading particulars. The Mer-
rimac made her appearance At Newport News about
O'Clock. She steamed directly past the Congress,
the two exchanging broadsides as she passed. With
out decreasing her speed, which appeared to be at
from to 10 miles an hour she made direct for the
Cumberland, which lay above. When within abou,
100 yards of her she delivered brosdsde, and with
out slowing, ran into the Cumberlands por
bow, piercing her with her PROV several fee
below water line, and letting flood in
stantly into her hold. Delivering anothe
fire, the Meirirnac drew round TO the Cumberland
bow and planted several ehells in her. causing grea
Loss of life. Indeed, the Cumberland, which wa
sinking now became perfect slaughier-pen. As sh,
careened the that could crawled up her deck
and down the opposite side into the water, and wha
COulu 10 ~ tOOh W bObtr, OlhtIh
taking 70 swim ashore, which wss bur few hun
bred yards distant. In this way good many were
drowned. The tug Whilden, lying at the dock, came
TO the rescue and picked up number. A good many
went down with the ship.
Meantime the Yorktown and jamestown had come
down the James River. and opened fire ON our land
battery, which returned it, The Merrimac having
accomplished this work made for the Congress
which seeing the Cumberiands fate had slipped her
anchor, dropped down, and grounded neal the
points. As the Merrimac approached she opened
Ere, which the Congress returned, but soon raised
the signal to surrender. The Yorktown and James.
town sent officers aboard 10 receive the surrender
and arrange for the trsnsfer Of the prisoners When
some % Of the crew Of the Congress bad
been taken to the Rebel boats, Capt. Howard
Of the 9TH Artillery brought the guns of biz light
battery to bear ON them, and fairly beat them of
and compelled them to draw off and give mp the
transfe- Of he prisoners. One of his shells entered
the steam hest Of the Yorktown Therefore, all
but the twenty-five, 80, that had been previously
taken, the crew and officers Of the Congress not
killed made t,eir escape. Great praise is accorded
On all hands to- Capt. Howard well to the Fire
Zouaves and others who lay down in the sand and
picked off the Rebels with small arms
Out Of 81 on the Cumberland 10 are missing.
All the ofkcers's escaped except John Harrington,
Masters Mae, Whose head was shot off, and John
Lenhart Chs plain, supposed to be drowned
The loss Oh the Congress s not ~ great as was a,
first supposed The number will not probably exceed
fifty: but whether this includes the prisoners am
not informed, aud no seems 10 know at present
All her officers are safe except Lieut. Joseph b.