Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-03-20

them on Sunday morning. She
lis between them and all assistance
from Old Point.
Tugs and steamers were sent to
the assistance of the Minnesota
and ST. Lawrence from Old Point
after they grounded, but their eff
forts to haul them eff were un-
awaiting.
The first gun fred in. the en-
gagenent is said to have been
fired by the Confederate gunbcat
Beaufort at the irlgate Congress.
All of eur steamers and gunseats
are SAID to have been managed
with the utmost skill and dextcri-
ty, rendering great assistance to
the Virginia in this magnificent
and successful engagement,
We are without means of get
ting at the loss of the enemy in
killed and wounded, though it is
believed to have been very great.
Cur total loss in killed and woun-
ded, as far as we can learn, is nine
killed and twelve wounded, most
OF them slightly.
The james River steamers ar
rived at the scene Of action, it is
said, about one hour after the en-
gagement commenced. They east
" passed the Newport News bat
teries, and after joining in the
fight rendered very efficient aid.
By this daring exploit we have
raised the James River blockade,
without foreign assistance, and are.
likely with the assistance Of the
Virginia, &c keep open the COM
munication.
Several small prizes were said
to have been taken by cur gun
boats from the Yankees, one Of
which, the schooner Reindeer, was
brought up to the Navy Yard On
Saturday night. Two others were
said to have been carried ever to
Pig Point ON Saturday.
Another report we. hear says
that but two persons were Killed
Oh board the Virginia.
Andrew j. Dalton, a printer,
who left our office a few days since
to Join the Virginia, and who WAS
at the bomb lrdment of Sumpter,
and participated in several other
enga sements, was one OF the
wounded on board that vessel on
Saturday.
The engagement was rcrewed
again on Sunday morning, about
81 O'Clock, by the jamestown,
and several Of our gunbcats, fir
ing into tie Minnesota and st.
Lawrence.
Since the above was written we
have been enabled to gatl:er some
additional particulars.
Some detention occurred on
board the Virginia on Sunday
morning, or she would have tom
menced the engagement nil h
earlier than 81 o'clocks ut which
time she, together with the Patrick
Henry, Jamestown and our other
gunboats, opened fire ON the Min
nesota, which still lies hard and
! fast agrouhd. The tide being ut
the ebb, the Virginia did not take
the elmlmel where the minnesota
lay, probably for fear Of ground
ing, bit getting within a good
range of her, she opened fire with
terrible effect, completely ridtlling
her, and rendering constant eker-
ton at the pamp necessary TO pre-
vent her from filing.
| Early in the morning, the Er-
ricson Battery, now called the
Monitor, was discovered off New
port News Point, she having gone
up there during the night. A
sharp encounter SOON took place
between her and the Virginia,
during which time they were fire.
quontly not more than thirty or
forty yards apart. Unfortunately
the Virginia ran aground, and the
Ericsson using her advantage,
poured shot after shot into her,
but without doing any serious
damage. In q short while, how
ever, the Virginia succeeded in
getting off, and putting on full
head Of steam, ran her bow into
the Ericsson, doing, as it's thought,
great damage. = Aa0elat -
0 We are rejoiced to say that not
witIlstanding the firing was much
heavier than on Saturday, there
.-f VA ..xtnx, xf o,,,