Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-03-20

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of these prisoners died Rl.ilS'
on his way to the city. He and
another one wounded, were slot i,y
their own forces while being saved
from the sinking frigate Congress.
The wounded prisoners were car
ried to the hospital.
On the arrival of the Virginia az
the Yard her men were mustered
ard addressed by the {, mmanGing
officer in terms ,f praise fer their
noble bearing during tie treacc-
ment. They rtspcnd.d with Lear
ty cheers ard expressed u desire
oagain Ie-eI act thesccnes through
which they had just passed when
ever opportunity presented:
The injury sustained by tie
Patrick Henry was not as great as
at first supposct-teing 80 trifing
that a few hours repairs were sui-
ficient to place her III readiness fer
action. s,r
The officers Of the Virginia are
represented as having acted with
the utmost courage and bravery
during the contest. It is related
of Capt. Buchanan that duling the
thickest of the fight be renamed
on the deck of the Virginia, and
that he discharged mrsket after
muskct at the enemy as they were
handed up to him. Ii was while
thus exposed that he received the
wound Of which mention is made
above.
1t said that all the batteries en-
Newport News were silenced ex-
eept one, and that our shot and
shell were thrown with such ur,-
erring atm and precision amorg
the enemy that great numbers OF
them were killed and wounded.
The Virginia is the hull CT the
Merrimack, which was sunk when
the Lincoln forces evacuated Nor
folk, aud was 40gun steamer OF
$500 tons measurement. She was
raised under the direction of cur
government; and has since under
gone such changes as to assimilate
her to the Ram Manassas at New
Orleans. Her construction is such
that bulls cannot penetrate her
unless they enter the pcrt-hcles,
which are only opened when it is
desired to discharge Il gun-being
prott cted by shutters OF thick ilom.
At Ter piow is long sharp iron,
which tie momentum of her
weight drives into and hclds fast
any craft she engages. Under this
and under wafer, is a knife orsSw,
which is worked BY steam, which
cuts hole through the bottom OF
the craft engaged.
The Virginia was armed with
ten guns, l44-pounders, We are H.
formed, two each fore and aft, end
three Cn each side. The number
and armament of the gunboats,
we have been unable toleain.
The Minnesota is familiar to our
readers as having been in SoutEern
waters more than any other vessel
of the Lincoln navy. She was y
40-gun steamer of 5000 tons meas
urement. The Congress was a So
gun frieate, of 1867 tors meas
urement, the largest of her class.
The Cumberland was a 23-gun
sloop of war, OF 1926 tens meas
also enc Of the largest
Of her class. The Congress was
built IN 1871, the Cumberland ii
1872, ard the Minnesota in 1856.
The Virginia (Merrimack) was al
so originally built in 1853. Thus
it will be perceived that the vessels
engaged were among tie newost
and most powerful in the cid ia
w.
CEETREuLLE, March 4.-Late
Noftl.ern papers have Leon re-
ceiyed here. From them we OBJ
Tain the following intelligence frtm
the North;
The Federal General, Lander, is
dead. Gen. Shields will succeed
him.
The evacuation Of Columbus,
Ky, by the Coniedcrates, has beeu
announced at Washing
ton: The report from Com. Foote
that the stores and equipments
ttere, and perhaps the town, had
been burned, is contradic,ed.