The New York herald., 1862-03-12
lRON-CLAD SHIPS.
Their Great Value as
Vessels-0eW
The Great Trial Battle Between
the Monitor and Merrimac.
-,~>~~e~o-~@-~-Ss,~>>~~~
The New Iron Ships Building in the
United States.
WHAT ENGLAND AND FRANCE ARE DOING.
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FACTS FOR CONGRESS,
&e, Ac., &C.
THE GREAT TRIAL BATTLE.

THE GREAT TRIAL BATTLE.
additional Particulars II tho Operations Of the
Merrimas and Monitor.
STATEMENT OF THE PILOT OF THE CUM
BERLAND.
The CsmSsrsand Congress were a. anchor at SOM,
distance from sach other at Nswport's Ne~s-abou
three handred yards apart This Saturday last
AT about hAapaet eleven A. H. the rebel steamer Meri
in sight, and wereali the alert Watching
her movements. There not very much surprise ex
pressed she had been expected for some days The
mon were beat 70 quarters simost Immediately and
every preparation made for active resistance
The Captain Of tho frigate, Commander Rsdford
was not On board. being then occupied on
Court Of Inquiry board the Roanoke. In his 40
wenCe the command assumed by First Lieut. ant
George u Morris, Executive Officer As soon as tn
Acrrtnac got within mile OF the Cumberland We
opensd hre upon her from en-nch pivot guns and
Our ridsd cannon Some Of the shots struck her. and
others passed and fell short She paid NO attention what
TO aring until she GOT up the Congress
when she fred into her The Congress immediately re-
sarnsd the compliment BY dschargng whole bosdsde
followed BY another She continued on her course, still
nsng a tho Congress- but seeming 10 care much FOR
direct FOX the Cumberland under full head OF steern
On approaching sucentiy she nred one Shot at Us
which killed hve men and cut away our main rigging
hammock netting. &c The Cumberland at once replied
by nrns Into her most vigorously. The Merr!mac then
drew odtog short distance rounded 10 aaA sun into Us
striking us on the port bow, backing of again and
ortag into rapidly. We continued oil the
whiis pouring shot ana shell against her from
our nnsinch guns and ten.inch pivoss, without pro-
AxE<kn 49,
now began % sink Tns iron monster had only into
rs oscs, aud st know that there was no chance 4,
si sf saving the vsseel Although In thi dsngsoas and
notnsusiy sinking condition. the aa and officers molly
stood their ground; The Merrinac continued all .his
whis 6sing occasional shots into u. killing four or
Ave Asa ~ every shot, The cockpit wss 5000
Alicd with wounded men and poor fellows na,mcd
for life were scattered over the uppsr. gun and
berth dsexs. SIN oar men continued. working
ead asdstns tass guns in the gallant manner Our
forwasd magazine soon nsd with the water which
was rsshing into the ship 80 that it became onrely
ussess The best erder uader the pre-.
vailed, bas the cries Of ths wounded were dreade AT
Que time shell burst through tde sick bar or hospital
ktas four men who the sick list and unable 70
reos fcf duty Al last the water rushed into the gun
dsek ports. and it was seen thai the sAip would
Dos noe, mach longer. She was now all down by the
head. aod going fast to the bottom The boats were
therefore ordered ous and with dficuIiy brought
aSnsssds wss. however, almost impossible for the
men 70 got from the deck the spar deck some
OF them climbed into the rigging and sprang over
board ae the ship was settling out Of sight Everybody
wees naturally sndsavoring 10 reach the boats soms
MY o. sxty men were seen floating and swimming
about, catching at spars The rule every QUE
for himself Quite number were crushed BY the sftsF
pivot gun. Which rolled about in dangerous manner
The hcerinso, seeing that she had finished ap the
Camseraad. then drew o6 6nsly and returned TO
he Congress. arins a. her q shs approached.
The two ethsF rebel stesmsfs--,hs jamestown and
Ycksows-were now coming down lhs James river,
and after opened nrs the and on the shipe
The Congress had been lighting CALAMITY all the while
bat nov having had about hundred killed and
eeias ~ the same time riddled with shot
that she was rapidly sinking. taken ,ow by the
Sunscat zoaavs bat the driag st cohnalDg she hoiss
cd the white dss aud surrendered. A CsR.eds-
rate steamer then went alongside and took OF
the officers 1 prisoners, allowing the men 70
tssvs ia their boats. Lieutenant Smith, who
commanded the Congress. killed, with number Of
other osnccrs and Only olfcsss were made pri-
sons~s.
The 0Bcers OF the CambesaDd suffered considerably.
Asesg those Killed the Chaplain, j. L. Lsnhars who
used 10 reside 6tatsa Island. He not heard Of
alter the hgt and 10 ths1esovs supposed have been
drovpes
Masters Nsse John ~ harrington Of eo.,oa, had bis
bead shot on.
with tbs ship they totally unable 10 sep them.
selves.
rhs ash between the Monitor or Ericsson battery sud
ihs Cumberland very srsitins. The former vessel
wm In no ways Injured but there doubt that the
Nsrrmsc had two three holes pus her port
The The Cumberland (at lssst those who we're
unable 10 help themselves from their terrible wooads
oil sank before any sdort could be made gss them OF
B'a> good cd frSats ,r des 'vvh ne linton FAC Sy.
sNg, soayd would hasi down, eoesrs nsn
sssgs~e ey sooud 90 before re1der
% the night the nag nailed 10 her foretop
mssi which remained above water after she sunk BY
lsns ssi'efs who Ies specially to DO %, ana Is sii
postins there, In defiance Of the rebels
During ths whole engagement between the Cumberland
and tbs Merrinao there wss but man seen on the
latter vessel He came out Of her hstch aad a. soon ~
he vss sssn shot was srod ~ him, which eus him
ccnpas,s.y In two, sending hh head Tying
In Ope direction, and hh leg and pert Of
bs sody n another. when the cumosrlanS wa
going down the mon board chssred ius
tiiy ss they also did when The rebel Gag and nssstsG
we're shot swsy from board the Msrrimao. There
we're 90 cheers shouts board the Msrrmac which
q may bs stated, h . screw steamer, comr'stsiy
covered Ths other two ssessh steamers had French
rsrs ayins, which could BE- plainly seen al . great
distance; bss nsbcdy give any for this Ts
su appearances shsrs we're ten guns board
sbs Herr,nss. four % sach side, and each
~ hsr boo abd stern. Thsy seemed to BE- u.ns
ssd zen och suns. although s ,vo might
have been larger. shs bsGss 70 Gre ~ sbsas
half cast one oioot bst could oay occasionally sss
the men who we're working tho guns Thsy were behind
,s.s ports and ws eoas esiy gsts glimpse M them
the reeoa q their pieces. Several attempts we're made
20 pcs stss ~ With rss shots. but with wha,
rsssc' Nc ,yrse,usd. Es.ry shss orsd by the Asri
mack s.ai hiouss ~ shlp, sus We could mako no I'M
sse-sioa al all spos bss>-sthoush We gave her over
sss,y brcsdsices % solid shot and shell IRON cn'
ead too ,nch guns