The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-10
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
,.-.l 4 The duiiness Of Old Point was
.t'nd At 10 o'clock to day, Ivy The announce
'' that Il mysterious vessel, SUPPOSED to be
.., ilqyrimac, .oo.n,, Ike a Submerged house
.;5 ;ae rool ouiy above water, was moving
"ro from Norfolk by the channel IN front of
,sr,u'. Poat batteries, Signal guns were
fred by the Cumberland and Congress to
~,.jfc the Minnesota. st. lawrence, and Roam
Ike Of approaching danger, and all was excite
men; in and about Fortress Monroe.
There Was nothing protrudlng above the wa
-, nut Il flagstaff flying the rebel colors, and
.r, siloke-stuck. Sac moved along slowly
.sl .aynns into The channel leading to New
or, News, steamed directly Tor the trigates
'ap5er.anu and Congress which were lying at
go mouth Of james river. AS soon rs she
,.,., WITHIN range OF the Cumberland, the lat
.,o,eneI Oh her with her heavy guns, but the
.,Iss,ruck and giance1 OIL having no more Ell
re-. On he: than peas from pop-gun. ller
| ..r. were ali closed, and she moved on IN 81
| .r,c4 but with u tlIi head vi steam. In the
u.au;iino, as the MeryImac WAS appro aching
;Eo lrlgates ON one side, the ron lad steam
| .>. Yorktown and jamestown came down the
-;.. ana engaged our lrigates GA the other
sue.
I1.o4uercs at Newport News also opened
| ane jamestown and OrkrUWn, and did all
cir power 70 assist the Cumberland and
u0s:ess, waich being sailing vessels, were at
tue mercy OF thc approaching stcnners. The
l.!rnaU IN the meantime kept steadily On her
..,.:a and slowly alptoIcbed the Cumberland,
y.ea W aHd the Con 5ress, Ut Il distance oi 100
,a.!s, laMeu " full. Dloadsi1e" on the iron-clad
lvastyy The shot 'ook no effect, siauclng up
YARD aud flying of, having the only effect 10
..ecN her progress for the moment.
| Alter receiving the .irst DrUiuslde Jt the two
..4:es, size ran mo the Cumberland, striking
c: about mil-sbps, and literally laying open
..r ,lp, she then drew off, fired !. DrOadside
A;o The disabled ship, and again dashed against
Ii: "ltA her lrou-claJ prov, and Enocklng In
II. side lel her 10 sink, while she engaged the
lgnsrtSS, which lay about Il quarter VI II mile
ls:ani.
Tie Congress in the meantime kept up II sharp
engagement with the Yorktown and jamestown,
'Qt having 10 regular crew on board OF her, and
:.sug The hopeleosness OF resisting the iron clad
| :.eaMer, at once struck her colOrs. Her crew
ut been discharged several days since, and
;aEee companies OF the naval brigade had been
EG: On board temporarily until the she could be
relieved by the ST. Lawrence, which was to have
gone up On Monday to take her place as one OF
n. DVckadng vessels Of James river On the
Congress striking her colors, tho Jamestown ap-
}lOac!ed and took from on board her all her
Ulcers as prisoners, but allowed the crew to es-
ape in boats. The vessel being thus cleared was
-rei by the rebels.
The Merrimac and her two iron, clad compau
~ tf,.,n .i.h sh,t md hnl a
!ott News batteries, which triskly returned the
lie. Various reports have been received, prln-
A!4iy from frightened suffers and clerks, some
d! "hom represented t!iat the garrison had been
c:apeed 70 retreat from the batteries to the
E0.ls IL was also reported thai the TWO small
e: Fs1a steamers had been Compelled TO retreat
..'l! he guns OF the batteries. In the mean
w: t!y steam irgate Minnesota WAS being
'.'el 10 ;he re,!ei OF The two trixates. but DID
ct up ui.ui too late 10 assist them She
'.'Iiso followed by the irigate ST. Lawrence
''.oa VAS AIKEN Ia tJw 10y severaI ot The slnai
..isJF ie,seis
lis, however, rumored tina. neither Of these
"N,1s had pilots OH board them, and alter Il
''aFt engagement, bo:h OF them seemed to be
d" AV opinion OF pliois on Sewaii ) Point
's.'Nhd. The Minnesoya either intentionally
= ''oA necessity, engaged the three steamers "a
'''"' d mile distance with only her two bow
,""'. Inc St. Lawrence also poured III shot
''"m al the guns she c.uid bong to bear, ant
- Vas the Impression Of the most expcrl,n cet
'''" officers On the Point that both had beef
''..''dcraby damaged.
ANtH' statements, IL must be borne IN mind
-'e al Based on what could be seen with gas
-" distance OF nearly eight miles, aud by lev
t1"c sV!cken non. ombatants, vino He'd al tn
WHY Of almost ting first gun from Ncwpor
w We meantlme darkness approached, thoue
'.' AGO" shone fightIy, ana nothing bd' TIL
I''S 81 ma. lmshhS oi Tue guns could be seen =
'4V'lImac @its also believed To be aground
."' I'maihSd Stationary at the distance oi
''''' ''1n the NInncs1t. making 10 attempt t
.'"' hgr' PREVIOUS TO the departure OF tn
.,,'N ior baltimore, no guns had been fire
''Q~ The MiEncso,a.
'A' leFons declared that Immediately ate
'a>t sEn was fired dense column OF ,ap1
' seen 70 rise from the Merrinac indlcatIn
y, ,@F'oflon OF her boiler Whether this wa
vs. I 1pt cannot be known, hut it was the,un
an,' " Ypinlon that the rebel monster was lar
u1fa' Fears were Of course entertained ft
T"'y Ut the MibnesUsa and ST. Lawrence