The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-03-13

sem DlnS ploWs, ABOUT Six OF seven Iee'
apart. TIE number of guns is stated at
twelve, but she might not have had SO
many. At her bows were seen two guns
projecting from long elliplical port-holes.
The design of the enemy did not be-
come apparent till between one and two
O'Clock, and by that time the Minnesota
had got under way to the scene of action.
The Roanoke. the flag ship, being disabled
by the breaking of her shaft some time
since. was taken in tow by NO gunboats.
About the same time The alarm was fired
at Fort Monroe, and its whole garrison
promptly turned out. The rebel boats
steadily pursued their way to Newport
News, and the Merrimac soon turned the
point and was lost to view from the For
tress. The first shot was fired from the
frigste Cumberland at little past two
O'Clock. The Sewell's Point battery then
opened on the Minnesota, which was pas
sing, and the Sawyer gun from the Rip
Raps replied with few shots at Sewells
Point. A thick smoke was soon seen to
rise above Newport News Point, indica-
ting that the batteries there, as we'll AS the
Cumberland and Congress, were engaged
The details of the action could not be
seen fro i the fort, but telegraph dis
patch was received announcing that the
Cumberland and Merrirnac were in close
quarters. Alter firing two guns at the
Cumberland, the Merrimac struck her,
her sharp bows making hole in her at
water line. seven feet in extent. The Cum
berand commenced sinking. wien the
Merrimac, backing short distance. ran
into her second time. making another
terrible hole in her, causing the water 10
run in at furious rate. The Cumber-
land continued firing till the water entered
her port holes, when she careened over
slowly and finally sunk at about three
clock.
The Newport News battery and the
guns of the Cumberland fred continuously
upon the Merrimac. but no apparent effect
was produced upon her. The Minnesota
got aground on her way up. and could
afford but little assistance. Shortly before
3 o'clock the Yorktown and jamestown
arrived from up the James River. The
former was disabled early in the afternoon,
and put in shore for repairs.
After sinking the Cumberland, the
Merrimac turned her attention to the Con-
gress, and in less than one hour after
wards white flag was hois,ed on the
Congress. A rebel gunboat i'm med lately
went alongside and took the officers and
marines prisoners. The seamen were al
lowed to escape TO shore.
The friga:e ST. Lawrence arrived here
during the afternoon, and, without drop
ping her anchor, proceeded up the river
and followed the example Of the Mlnneso-
Ia and Roanoke in firing on the battery at
Sewalrs Point, like the rest, her shot fell
short. The gunboat Mystic was also
lowed up in the afternoon, but at shutdown
the Roanoke, ST. Lawrence, and Mystic
all returned.
After o'clock the Merrmac continued
to throw shells into the camp at Newport
News, while the jamestown and other
rebel guboats commenced firing on the
Minnesota. The latter replied as vigor.
ously as possible. and the conflict was
continued without any apparent effect
until dark. At midnight she was blown
up. making a terrible explosion.
During the evening the Monitor arrived
and at once proceeded to take part in the
action. During the night only an occa-
sional gun was fired. Reinforcements Of
men and ammunition were sent TO New
little serious damage was done, and no
one was killed.
Yesterday Sunday morning the con-
tlict was renewed until the presence Of the
Monitor was made known TO the Merrimac
The latter WAS engaged with the Min
neso:a. and, but for the fortunate arrival
of the Monitor, the Minnesota might have
been lost. The Monitor and Merrimac
engaged each other for two or three hours
at long and short range without any 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 sue
ceede1 in forcing large hole in the port
side of the Merrimac. and she retired with
the whole rebel fleet 20 Norfolk.
At about one O'Clock the United States
gunboat Oregon was struck by the Mer
rmac in Der boiler and was blown up.
Yesterday morning the United States gun
boat Zouave was also seriously damaged.
and was obliged TO return.
The principal loss of life was on board
the Cumberland. where it is thought that
as many as one hundred and fifty mus;
have been killed or drowned But six
lives were lost on board the Minnesota
According to the report of one Of her
officers. rebel gunboat was cut into
yesterday by the Cumberland.
The Merrimac is understood TO have
been under command of Commander
Buchanan, late Of the Navy Yard.