New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-21
rHE MERRIMAC's FIRsr RArp IN
HAMPTON ROADS. viasr'
Anaeresstns Narrative Of Rer Crew-Thc
engagement With the Cumberland and
congress he Inquiries Indicted by tie
sAo"i'~-Thc Preparations for n Eccon6
ENCOUNTER with the N,uisor

honroe, tncN we're permitted pioce ed 70 Bs,more
m lie Ee"lse'n'' and arrived in his city Lar, night
Cne OF iae iug'Y's is from Pisa,aqnis County.
Maine, TIE Other fo'o louisville. Kentucky.
>r,TEMGNT
At'er ltaviug the IA -docl "a Norfolk the Merri-
nae J. niiie days u der the suears AZ III, Navy |
faTc. tsic- ste let sAe elushcc all over vii
gr'9tei th.- U:s done every time a;teryyarl when.
eves she expected o 90 into AN engagement When
the Nesse' LETT lie Navy ard al Norfolk preyious
!" We hg'" " 10 me Monnor, Commodore Buchanan |
rast Tie q loving elCeca 20 tue men tie crew be. |
IL led 80 qU4rie.s: Sailors ami soldiers, the |
SECRETARY 81 tie Navy has placed me in command of
ale squadron Oh Niieluls al eyes turned upon
yon ic-joy; 'he itoplo Of The South expect every
ndn o 60 as a.ti aud more than hIs d,Ity.' Call
ing ihe attention OF Ihe men TO the Federal vessels
boSAaoing the river, he said: Tose two vessels
tne Cnmherand and Congress, are worth over a II
M ION doiiars alIeee We aIe going down to destoy
OF capiufc theul.
" Many OF you have families and FIR sides at home;
there may lie others who have not these induce
ments; but, Iecolect, whether sink capture
those vessels, your prize money viii be the same.
No matter whether you capture or destroy them,
your COMPENSATION from the Government will he
rut6cient TO mantsin you comfortably Tor life. Every
man 20 his post. 10 u lew minutes more You VIII
lie IN action" Decks were then cleared for action
and the guns haul, d in and loaded. She then pro-
ceeded down the stream the decks in perfect silence
and every man in his place As she passed on TO The
Cumberland, tie shore battery opened on her with
much yigor, but elected no reply from the Merrimac
Soon after her bow gnu discharged al the Cum
berlsnd. when within few hundred yards; then
fbe Commodore shouted, " Stand by the star board
battery, and his words were repeated by tie tlrst
Lieutenant, {. c. Jones. The Cumberland returned
the fire. The whole brosdside of the Cumberland
was fred at once, which somewhat staggered the
Merrimac, without doing any material damage
AT this moment the Commodore gave In COM
mand: Fire as soon as your guns are brought TO
bear The First Lieutenant ran along The deck,
lar i'm
line " "Heave the manmast! e. She then contin-
ued 10 fire Ter bow gan as she passed the CuInber-
land and tlen wore round TO port. But three s1ots
were fred By the bow gun up 10 the tine she ran
into the Cumberland. Tie Cumberland was then
sinsing, when the MerirHsc poured her broadside
into Der and left her, The order was then passed TO
"oecse firing" The Commodore then sald: Boys,
we We DESTROYED the hated Cunberand; she is fast
fast settling!' During this tine there was noise
or excitement Oh board the Merimsc but each man
kept bis position the guns being admirably worked.
At he time the MerTlmac backed out, after strlk-
ipg the Cumberland, shell from the latter struck
gun No on the Merrimac, breaking about two feet
off of the muzzls Of the gan, and killed tue fiIst
loader, and wounded two Others. Al tie commence
nent Of the action with The Cumberland The broad.
aide from the latter carried away two beats hauled
up on the side Of tte Merrmac. Directly alter the
loader was killed at gun No. . the fret eponger of
the bow gun was killed by the sharp-ehooers Of the
Cumberland, who were ON the rigging. During this
action she'll from the Cumberland struck the chain
cat lie directly in the hawseppe. cutting II III two,
and dropping the anchor. Pieces Of the chain struck
by this shell wounded two of the the Morri
pac, the shock knocking down and stunning every
man near. Lieut.. Jones remarked, during the
action, Boys, the re giving onr smoke-stoek
hell"
No attempt was made by Commodore Buchanan
to cave any portion OF the crew of the Cumberland.
After leaving the Cumberland the Commodore Of the
Merrimac came down from the spar deck and said,
"Boys, we have finished one Of them, and now
bring your guns 10 bear on the Congress She
then proceeded i'll The direction OF the Congress ana
commenced firing at her. The Congress was then
aground. Lieut.. Jones kept running along the deck
repeating, "Depress your guns! Degrees your
guns :" "a Load with white shell, and passed
the word TO the men having charge OF the hot thot
guns TO load with hot shot for the Congress-
Oniing the firing on either vessel the Commodore
would scold the commanders Of guns that did not
fire 10 suit him. and would come down from his po-
stion and give words OF praise to those who hred
accurately.
The Merrirnac took a position about 100 yards
from the Congress ana continued TO pour in broad
sides on the devoted vessel until fhe struck her col
ore. The Commodore then came down and directed
the men to firing on the Congress, and direct
their guns TO the batteries Oh shore, saying " The
Congress has surrendered; cease firing" At tins
time one Of the men proposed three cheers winch
were about to be given when TIC Commodore stopped
them and the is, lieutenant shouted, ono morse;
stand by your guns" As the Merrimac was hauling
off from the batteries shore, which were playing
on her, the Commodore sad, 1.-The Congress 10 haId
and fast aground. we cannot get ntI on nave
sent Lieut.. Minor, the iag-Oilicer with orders 70
burn her," At this time, the Beaufort, Rebel gun
boat was signaed for 10 go on board and secure tne
prsoneEs.
Az the Beaufort was approaching the Congress,
the ri1emen on shore opened on her, and also on
small boat belonging 10 the MerriInac, containing
che flag officer, tie result Of which was that Lieut.
Minor was badly wounded and another had his eye
shot out. The Commodore then became very much
excited ran down among the men, and said: 1.-The
- scoundrts have surrendered and are firing ON
our boats. Direct Your batteries Gil the Congress
elan." She then steamed ciOse uD to the Congress
nnd fred terrific bfeadEide, a white flag being dis
PLAYED all the time from the Congress and officer
waving white handkerchief from the deck Of the
yessel. The command then given, "ShaIp-
rhooters away" when they ran up the spar-deck
20 return the fire Of the sharp on Shore II
was Just then that Commodore Buchanan got wound
ed 10 the left thigh by rhensD from the shore.
He 80 then carried below, without making any re-
mark. Before being wounded, he is reported To
have ssid 90 have a brother on the Congress, and
would Ike to get him in my power"
AZ this time the Minnesota and 81. Lawrence
were seen approaching and commenced firing on the
Qunboats Patrick Henry and Jamestown. Just
then Lieut.. Jones came on deck and said: Boys, |
am sorry 10 say the brave old Commodore II |
wounded but the Doctor says not MORALLY; and he
Gays continue fighting, ne hopes TO be with you
before the fight is over yet" The Meuimac then
advanced TO meet the approaching vessek, Minnesota
aad ST. Lawrence ana all three vessels opened fire.
=, 'hs time the firing very general aud tsrnhc
ron all directions She received the broadsides OF
nnssses and passed On 10 her destination at
'e css u POINT.
on arriving at sewelPs Point the Commodore ex-
eesre 70 be carried on deck TO see the burn
~, r. S congress, which vessel was then on bre,
-. ~ uoeiof refused By this time night was 1