New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-10
FIVE HOURS COMBAT SIDE BY SIDE.
THE MONITOR VICTORIOUS
THE WHOLE FLEET WHIPPED.
The Merrimac lowed of in a Sinking
Condition.
81 D,spssch to The N. Y. Tribune.

FoKrRE,s MONROE Saturday, March Q, 1896, J
Wa BALTIMORE, March 9. 1862
About noon to-day, the Rebel steamship
Merrimac and two gunbOats were seen coming
around Craney Island. headed for Newport
News Halt an hour after, the Naval look out
boat in the Roads signaled the fact to the
Minnesota and Roanoke, the latter, Capt
Msrston, being the flagship. The Minnesota
had steam up; the Roanoke having lain four
months with q broken shaft, measures were
taken to tow her. 1t was some time before
they were under way the Minnesota leading.
The Roanoke, when near the Rip-Raps was
caught by the tide. and half an hour was spent
in getting her head right again.
The gnboat Whitehall also got under way.
Meanwhile, the Merrnlac was making good
time for Newport News, where the sailing
lrigate Congress and the Cumberland were the
only naval vessels. AS the Minnesota passed
within range Of Sewslls Point, that battery
opened on her. Its fire was returned vigor.
ously. The firing being At long range, no
perceptibls effect was produced. In a little
more than one hour from getting under way
the Merrimac was within half mile OF
Newport News, when the firing commenced.
Simultaneously with these movements, the
Yorktown and jamestown (rebel steamers)
came down James River, and joined their fire
with that of the Merrimac upon the Congress
and the Cumberland.
The precise movements that followed i Am
al, ID .uH nf ha
was witnessed from the Fortress, eight miles
distant. The Merrimac seemed to proceed pasl
the Congress and engage the Cumberland
which was also under tho Ere Of tho York
town and Jamestown. Our battery at New.
port News opened vigorously on the iron-clad
enemy. In about half Oh hour, tho ma.ts oil
the Cumberland, which were visible over tho
point of land, were seen to list and finally 90
over proving that she had sunk. About this
time, the Congress, with sails spread, was seer
to come down a short distance and stop on the
Point, apparently aground.
Soon after, the Merrmac reappeared and
engaged her at short range; and, after keeping
up the contest fifteen or twenty minutes, the
white flag of surrender was seen to fOnt over
the Cougress's deck. Meanwhile, a. il the day
was fated to DO QUO Of successive disasters t.
our ships, the Minnesota had grounded about
two miles from Newport News, where she lay
making iruitless sndeayors to get clear. The
Roanoke, by this time, had reached within two
miles Of her; but, seeing the current oi events,
turned back. The gunboat Mystic, which lad
also gone up, being IN disabled condition Oh
account Of her boiler giving out, also turned
back, to@ed by tug.
Having accomplished this much, the Merri.
mac and the two Rebel gun-boats commenced
shtliing our camp at Newport News, with what
effect 1t is, OF course, impossible to say now.
Fire p. m.-1he Cumberland bad crew Of
about 500 men, nearly one half OF whom per-
ished when she went down. As Jet. the Con-
aress has not been boarded, and il is supposed
that Gen. Mansfield Oh shore prevents the
Rebels from doing it.
The Roanoke is also aground half way be-
tween the Fortress and Newport News.
The Cambridge has just come in, towing the
St. Lawrence, and both will 20 to the conflict
Gsn. Wool has dispatched two regiments by
land to Newport News.
HaLt.paa SIT is reported that the York
town is Oh fire up James River.
One Of the guns Of the Merrimac was disa.
bled early in tie action. The Merrimac and
Cumberland were engaged at close quarters
when the latter commenced sinking.
The Merrimac now lies half milo below
Newport News, and the firing between her
and the Minnesota, at about two miles, s
kept up bIisky. The Congress has not been
boarded.
S1 O'oloeL.-Six companies Of Harlan's Cav.
airy and the Mounted Rifles have been dis
patched to support Gen. Mansfield, should be
te attacked BY land. The st. Lawrence has
gone INTO action, aud is engaging the James
town. The Merrimac does not feel disposed 10
come down " The Minnesota, wbe the Mime.
sofa cannot 10 to her. The Roanoke has re-
turned TO her station opposite the fortress.
Ssoen o'otoek.-A negro, jlist IN from New
port News, states that the Merrimac ran square
into the Cumberland, which Immediately went
down. The negro states that sOne OF the
crew, who swan ashore, said the loss on the
Cumberland was about ono hundred.
There 10 some doubt about the burning Of
tho Yorktown.
The firing 10 stu kept up tho Mcrrnao