The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-03-13

berland commenced sinking, when the
Merrimac, backing short distance.
ran into her,a second time making an
other hole in her, causing the water to
run in at a furious rate.
The Cumberland continued firing till
the water entered her portfolios, when
she careened over slowly, and finally
sunk about three o'clock.
| The Newport News battery and the
guns of the Cumberland fired continu-
ously upon the Merrimac, but no ap-
parent effect was produced upon. her.
The Minnesota got aground on the
way ND. and could afford but-little as
distance.
Shortly before 8 o'clock The, York
town and Jamestown arrived from up
the James River. The former was dis
abled early in the afternoon, and put in
shore for repairs.
After sinking the Cumberland, tho
Merrimac turned her attention to the
Congress, and in less than an hour af--
forwards a white flag was hoisted on
the Congress. A rebel gunboat i'm
mediately went alongside and took the
officers and marines prisoners. The
seamen were allowed to escape to-
shore. 80
The frigate st. Lawrence arrived
during the afternoon, and without
dropping her anchor proceeded mp
the river, and followed the example of
the Minnesota and Roanoke in firing on
the battery at Sewall's Point, but, like
the rest, her shots fell short.
The gunboat Mystic was also towed
up in the afternoon, but at snndown the
Roanoke, st. Lawrence, and Mystic, all
returned.
After o'clock the Merrimac. con-
tinued TO throw shells in the camp at
Newport News, while the Jamestown
and other rebel gun-boats commenced
firing on the Minnesota. The latter re-
piled as vigorously as possible, and the
conflict was continued without any ap-
parent effect until dark. r.
During the evening the Congress
was set on fire, and at midnight she
was blown up, making aterrible explo-
sion. ,f.'ECHT
During the evening the Monitor ar
rived, and at once proceeded to take
part in the action. During the night
only an occasional gun was fired.
Reinforcements of men and ammu-
milton were sent to Newport News
early in the afternoon.
But little serious damage was done,
and no one was killed.
This morning the conflict was re-
newed until the presence of the Mon-
itor was known to the Merrimac.
The latter was engaged with the
Minnesota, and but for the fortunate ar
rival of the Monitor, the Minnesota
might have been lost.
The Monitor and Merrimac engaged
each other for two or three hours at
length, and shot savagely without per-
ceptible effect upon either. They went
alongside of each other once or twice,
and seemed almost to run each other
down, but they soon appeared again to
renew the action.
The Ericsson battery finally succeed
ed in forcing long hole i'm the port
side of the Merrimac, and she retired
with the whole rebel fleet to Norfolk.
AT about one o'clock the u. s. gun
boat Oregon was struck by the Merri-
mac in her boiler and blown up.
The U. S. gunboat Zouave was also
seriously damaged and was obliged to
return.
The principal loss of life was on
board the Cumberland, where it was;
thought as many as one hundred and
fifty men must have been killed or
drowned.
But six lives were lost on board the.
Minnesota, according to the report of
one Of her officers.
A rebel gunboat was cut in two yes
terday by the Cumberland.
The Merrimac is understood to have
been under the command of Com. Bu-
chanan, late of the Navy Yard.