Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-11
THE MERRIMAO RETREATS
OUR LOSS THREE HUNDRED
Fight at LangStOn's Station
Especial Dispatches to Cleveland LeaderO
WAsHHsToE, March 10.
THE ENeAsINSET AT NEWPORT NEWS.

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The following is a summary Of the official
account Of the first days fight ct Newport
News:
At ten A. N. on Sunday, the enemy's ves-
sells coming out, Capt. MarstOn, senior officer
on the station, ordered the Minnesota and
the Roanoke under way. Two tugs aided
the Roanoke, whose steam power was injured.
The Roanoke was with difficulty toWed to-
wards the enemy, but her broken shaft made
her progress slow. The Nerrimac immeii.
ately attacked the Cumberland and Con-
gress-parlicularly the former vessel
The Minnesota grounded about seven miles
from Fortress Monroe. The Roanoke press
ed forward. On getting in sight of the Cum.
berland it was evident she was sinking. The
Aerrimac was then Joined BY the jamestown
aud Yorktown, rebel wooden steamers, from
James river. They both attacked the Con.
gress, which surrendered. at ten minutes past
four, being aground and unable to bring her
guns to bear. The Roanoke about the same
time grounded. The tugs pulled her Of and
then went to the Minnesota's aid. Ats
NJ, the frigate St. Lawrence, in tow
of the Cambridge, passed up above
the Roanoke, the Minnesota being then
aground and engaged with tbs Merrimac.-
The st. Lawrence also grounded. The Cam
bridge got her aAOat but being unable to
render the Minnesota any assistance, re-
turned down the harbOr.
The enewy's batteries at Sewall's and
Pig Point opened fire on all our vessels as
they passed up and returned. The range
was too great for our guns, but those of the
battery went far over our ships, and several
shells struck.
At y o'clock It was discovered that the
Congress had been fred by the rebels. She
continued to burn until clock A. Il, when
she blew up.
At o'clock P. NJ the Monitor arrived, and
Captain Aarston instantly ordered her to the
assistance Of the Minnesota
From an eye witness we learn in addition
that the Cumberland was run into twice, and
the Congress once by the Nerrimac, which
struck and delivered broadside alternately.
After the second blow the Cumberland sunk
in Eve minutes. She was fought splsndidly,
delivering her last brOadside as her guns
sunk below water. All officers but the
Chaplain escaped in launches. One hundred
and fifty men were probably drowned, in
cluding the killed and wounded.
The Congress was tnen ordered to surren-
der. She answered with q broadside. The
Nerrimae hauled of and ran into her, but
she did not surrender, until she had sunk so
low that the magazine was flooded. The Of
fcsrs we're taken OF prisoners, The Merri-
mac had not room for the men.
Acting Commander Smith, Commodore
Smiths son, was killed.
Ofeial account of yesterdays fight is very
slight. Eye Witnesses present say 1t was
magnificent. The Merrimae, Yorktown,
jamestown, aud several tugs came down ct
half-psst eight, evidently expecting that the
Minnesota would be easy prey. They
started back at the Monitors first shot. The
, battle ragged till ten minutes past twelve, the
J Pig and SeWalrs Point batteries taking part
. The jamestown and Yorktown threw occa-
sionsl shells, but kept at q distance. The
Minnesota was aground, but kept up con-
! slant broadsides. The whitehall, Union
gunboat, and other small vessels, Joined
but the great hght was between the Merri
mac and Mentor, the laeter nimblJ
: running around the Merrimac, and ham,
mering with her two immense guns
seeking to get at the stern, her weakes
point. She didn't succeed In hitting that
She fred eighty or ninety shots, of whlcl
Lieut.. WOrden thinks three went through
! anyhow. After firing two hundred shOtp
& the Msrrimac went back, apparently sinking
deeper at the stern, in tow of two tugs, ant
= according to some, with men on tep of tn
roof as If afraid of sinking with her.
= The Monitor was unhurt the only mai
I injured being Lieut.. WOrden, her com
!, mander. Flame and q particle of . shel
= = through an aperture in the iron pilot house
struck his face and eyes. BE was prisone
at Pensacola. BE is now here, and was Wis
tied by the President to day. 1t is believe
. that the total loss on our side Is three hun
d dred. Five were killed BY Ons shell on th
Minnesota