The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-14
STATEMENT OIL srs wirsyss.

Capt in AID .,enior officer.
STATEMENT OF grs wIrNyss,
Wehsd an interview ;as eve: IL z with one
" this crew CT the ..,,Ougresa' who aped
Being oaptured IN the ac,'or with the IN K l.
mao on Saterd1y last, y jumping Over.
board and sw,mmirg 10 NeWlors News. he
states that abou. one O'Clock on Saturday,
,he s'Merrimr c." followed BY two other gun
boats, was observed approaoa iDg SeVeli's
Poip {, passing close by the shore towards Cra-
ney Island The Grew of the ''Corgress'' did
not exp ct til At she WIS about to attack hem
bat perceiving that such was tnc case, pre-.
uared 10 engage her. The "Nerrina e. at
once came directly batween the "Congress"
and the s'Cumbsrial d." when the latter YES
sci Am m ediately opened fire on her.
The Rebel vessel rent astern Of the Cum-
berIapd and ran her bow into her. and then
poured In q broadside, the Cum berland firing
all the while. The Gum berland commenced
TO sink Immediately On coming Ia collision
with the MerIimac, and went down twenty
minutes Afterwards. The Merrimac then
went towards Richmond, not yet having at
the Yorktown and jamestown. and attacked
the Congress The latter vessel fred six or
eight broadeides into her, bat without f,ct
The Merrimac came astern o. the Congress,
and fred q raking shot. killing nearly all the
men who were At tho guns, On the port side.
The Rebel vessel then came around 10 the
Iorroard side, when the ia plain appeared and
demanded surrender, which was positively
To this ths Merri N &C" replied by firing
broad.tde, which killed Lieut.. Joseph smith,
hs being cut in two by T. bali. The Don
gress'' was then surrendered. Durirg the
action, the two vessels were.at tim.s In con-
tact Our informant judges that aoout three
hundred were killed on board IT, e "CCnRrees;'
capped, being sakeu prisot ers. when he and
some others reached the lore, by sw aiming,
they were shellsd by one OF the rebel vessels,
but escaped.
land" by the sinking Of the vessel, than wers
f,lled: she went down rapidly, and her crew,
hgh ting to the last, were drawn under with
her. he had six boats. The batteries at
but without effect.
About half. past two In the afternoon, the
"Ninneso.a' LEFT her anchorage opposit. For.
trees Monroe, TO assist the "Uongress." She
and ran aerousd. She was within range Of
the Merrimac, but that vessel kept such a
position that she could not be fred at with.
ont the Con ress being endar gered.
The Merrimac and the Mtnnesot were In
action up to O'Clock In the afternoon. The
Minnesota was also engaged with Two other
rebel vessels.
The Ericsson arrived at Fortress Monroe
about II o'clock on Saturday, night, and ie.
c~ived orders TO proceed to the relief Of the
Minnesota.
She anchored all night at a po.st between
the Minnesota ana Newport News, cus of
sight Of the rebel vessels, which were lying
under the guns Of tho Seweli's Point battery
On Sunday morning the attack on the Min.
nesotA was resumed, the rebels not being
aware Of the proximity OF the Ericsson
An en9aSement i'm N ediately took plses bs
! tween the kerrim,c and the Ericsson, the
| latter vessel maxine the attack. The bats
| tertes at ke>Selps Point opsned upon the
| Eries.on. The nre OF the Ericsson was re-.
| piled to steadily by the Merrimac. The lat.
| ter vessel finally retrsatsd up the river 10 .
| point opposite Uraney lei md where she vas
met by two other vessels, and 'o"ed towards
During the sngrEement the parapes at
| Fortress Monroe was DIVIDED vi IN spsctafers
The Union gun Wa wi vice nssd ,s ss the m.r.
doing Der no damage. General Wool and
| his stsH we're On the parapet observing the
| acton, and dispatches ane signals were con .
SANITY being re- eived between General Wool
and General Mansfield at Nswport News
| Al tuxboat, osilsd The uraKon," wis eur b
by the Msrrimac," ball cetng fred
| through her boiler, which exploded. killing
twenty men VINO were On board She also
sunk four schooners At Newport News. Tue
| a h ,srx cea.ed about ave o'clock ON Sonday
| afternoon To-" Minnesota had been re-
| moved from whore she grounded, and waa
| betng towed 70 Fortress honso
IArssr ysoM losFa1ss AosxoB.
Capt In kadford was engaged In Court
| Martial, and not on board the Cumberland
and lie therefore safe. Lieut.. J. b. Smith, SOC
|
Sres. and Was killed The loss In killed
drowned and missing " Supposed 70 Be abou
leo.
The Monitor Was honored with sAlutss and
cheers, beth froD the fort and the deek or. hel
return. Every body was enthusiastic In hsI
praise for the good ser vices ahs rendered yes.
to-day.
gUD 1ArsLB II AaxAHsAs.
II sppsArs BY the following oosiAl dis'
Patch TIA, The YANKEES CLAIM victory ovs1
tAeUon1sdsfats forcss Ia Afkapsas'
~ Nlder- asaersl Ascslles, WsessaSssi
The army Of the ocsss ws.s .ader -:
Ourtis. aftsr three days bard a9euse 49,
/ Sugar CTuek, Arhausae Aas gaaueo 0oel
slofious victory over 80 comeaneo @reoe g,
van. Dora, Nellslioss. YEtcs. ana 1rsnlo =.
i ana voanSei. Tat Of The snAsAy y ettll
49,. aaes, previstons. -, have bssae cap
tnlo6 ID la1oo QnAn0oen.