The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-05-10
Usnssss DSsvvssn o.aI1ass.
Fort Monroe, May 81 p. M.

Sswall's Point, moving slowly forward.
and firing. The enemy ara also firing
briskly from Sewsif Point Ut the Monitor,
and shells are falling thickly around her.
Craney Island is also joining in the fight,
and has thrown shells at the Monitor, one
Of which exploded directly over her. The
Monitor moved steadily forward, occa-
sionally firing and receiving shells and
shot from the rebel battery with perfect
indifference.
2P. M.-The Monitor has fallen back
and lays along side the susquehannah,
probably for the purpose Of communion
ting With her. The Naugatuck, in the
meantime, has been throwing shells into
Pigs Point, and the feet has also thrown
i number OF shells in the same direction.
2:l5 p. M.--The Monitor mad Dacotah
are moving along again slowly up the
mouth of Elizabeth river. A dense black
smoke has commenced to arise from Sc
walls Point, indicating that our shells
thrown there hare fred the barracks.-
The Dacotah continues to throw her
shells directly into the Point. The YES
sells. by constantly changing positions,
destroy the range Of the rebel gunners.
They are, however, making quite deter
mined fight from their works, giving US
almost shell for shell and shot for shot.
The Monitor has laid out Of action for
nearly m hour, and is probably cooling
her guns. The Rip Raps battery has the
range Of Sewall's Point perfectly.
2:45 .. m.-The Merrimac now makes
her appearance in the scene. She has
just passed from behind SexalIs Point,
and is slowly rounding down towards the
Federal heet simultaneously with the
appearance of the Merrimac, the Monitor
started from behind the wooden vessels
and moved mp to meet the enemy; the
larger vessels have drawn aside and left,
The Monitor and Kaugatuck are now in
the approaching path Of the Merrimac.
The vessels OF the feet had been lying
quietly Ut anchor for the last hour, when
the signal from the flag ship ordered them
oil to return. The Susquehanna leads the
way, followed by the San Jaeinto, Semi
mole, Dacotah and Monitor, all apparently
using the greatest speed, towards the
fort To the spectators this seemed rather
mortifying, but as they moved down in
line, the Monitor was seen to halt, and
the San Jacinto and Dacotah also follow
ed her example, leaving tho Susquehansa
and Semisole moving ahead. The four
steamers and the Monitor having taken
their position, the Merrimac also halted,
and the vessels stood thus not more than
mile and half apart, the Merrimac ap-
parently unwilling to come further down.
and the Monitor unwilling to 60 further
up. The Minnesota also steamed up in
front of the Fortress wharf, followed
slowly by the Vanderbilt, where both
stopped. After lying in this position,
the Minnesota turned round and steamed
back, and the Vanderbilt, without turn
ing. slowly backed water down the river.
Whilst this maneuvering was going on,
firing had entirely ceased from al ports.
3:30-The Merrimac now turns round
and steams back towards Norfolk with
her rebel flag flying. The Dacotah pro-
ceeds up towards the Merrimac, and the
Monitor starts towards the mouth of the
Elizabeth river. The Uscotah ia now
within easy range Of Sewall's Point, but
the batteries there do not open upon her.
She and the Monitor have both stopped,
aud the Aerrimac is lying stationary
about mile from the Cransy Island bat.
terry. They have commenced an impor-
tant movement which cannot be made
public just Jet.
The Vanderbilt and Arago have nov
steamed 10 front Of the wharf The Mer
rimac mas run back under the guns oil
Craney Island and the Monitor il steam.
t Ing Ing cd towards her ct full speed. The
Minnesota il also coming up again At full
speed, the effort being to draw the rebel.
again. For the past two hours the aeel
has been moving back and forward, but
the Nerrimac still lies under the guns Of
Craney Island. The Minnesota, Aragt
and Vanderbilt have gone back to theil
anchorage. aud there is no prospect Of I
fight tonight.
The troops are going on board tn.
transports and the war vessels, includine
the Monitor. have all returned 70 their
: anchorage.
4 The President viewed the action from
ting boat lying shout mile in the real
Of the dset. He has just returned, and y
he passed up the wharf, was vosiferousI,
cheered BY the troops.
The feet having retired the Merrima,
is again steaming out. The Monitor
Dacotah, and Naugatuck, however, ar,
still in position Of Sewall's Point.
An officer OF the Seminole states tina
; the rebel Staff on Sewall's Point VA
, twice shot away during the bombardmsnt
The frs. time il fell il was picked up an,
: rebel in red shirt jumped on the ram
parts with : stump Of the staff and fial