The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-05-10

49, szszls-d saidaatzFoag AoNRoE, May s.
This has been a most exciting day at Oh
Point and all arc anticipating the early fal
/ of Norfolk. Sc s,'st s-fsasz- 1ss-
At11 o'clock thesteamer Naugatuck wa
observed raising steam. About l O'Clock
she moved out on the side of. the Monitor
which vessel also cleared her deck for ac-
ton, taking down her awning, and stood
forth in full fighting trim.
At 1880 the gunboat Dacotah Moved up
in line of battle, together with the sloops OF
war, Seminole and San Jacinto The flag
ship Minnesota was also under steam.
at IL o'clock the Naugatuck moved up
| toward the Elizabeth river followed by the
Monitor and Dacotah in line of battle. The
San Jacinto followed slowly. Heavy firing
could still be heard in the direction of James
River, where you have already been in
formed by telegraph, the Galena and other
| gunboats have gone The SusquehanI q
has Just gone up. In the meantime the
Dacotah, Monitor and Naugatuck had
reached the channel and taken position off
SewalPs Point, and the Dacotah fired shot
towards Craney Island. second shot
from the Dacotsh struck the beech at Sew
alrs Point. Hos TVT
-12:20.-The Sueq johanna moves up and
bdhcS VIC Aedl % TUG Dan J6CEHt0 anu OSH@
mole. No answer from either of The rebel
forts and the Dacotah and Seminole are
stesming up Elizabeth river. The Nauga-
tuck is lying off towards the mouth of
James river Presently the Dacotah and
Monitor approached Craney Island and
SeWal2s Point. The Dacetah fred every
few minutes. alternately at SeBalls Point
and Craney Island. The enemy make no
reply, although the balls reached their in
tended destination. The Monitor is now
taking the lead. In the meantime the Sem
mole and Susquehauns open on Sewalrs
Point and two shots are fred from the
Point-the latter falling short ofthe Monitor
which issnow a mile above the other YES
sells. zl
1240.-The rebels are firing Jsrapidly
from Sewalrs Point principally at the
Monitor, while a succession of shells are
being poured on the enemy from the Sus-
quehanna, Dacotah, Seminole, and San ia
clnto, broad side after broad side. The Rip
Raps also throw shells occasionally into
Sewall's Point.
l2:5O-The Susquehanna, Dacotah, San
Jacinto and Seminole are pouring shells
and the Monitor threw her first two she'll
full mile and half from the Point
The Monitor is now within a mile of
Sewalrs Point moving slowly forward and
firing. The enemy are also firing briskly
from SewalPs Point at the Monitor, and
shells are falling thicl1Iy around her. Cra-
ney Island is also joining in the fight, and
has Just thrown several shells at the Mont
tor, one of which exploded directly over
her The Monitor moves steadily forward,
occasionally firing, and receiving shells and
shot from the. rebel batteries with perfect
indifference. @ F 4
oclock-Tbe Monitor has fallen back,
and lays alongside the siusquehanna, prob
ably for the purpose of communicating
with her. The Naugatuek, in the mean
time, has been throwing shells into Pig
Point, and the feet is also throwing shells |
in the same direction. !
2I5 P. M.-The Monitor AMI Dacotah are
moving along again slowly up the mouth of
the Elizabeth river. A dense black smoke
has commenced to arise from SewalIs Poiut, |
indicating that our incendiary shells thrown
there have fred the barracks. The Daeo-
tab continues to throw shells directly into
the Point. The vessels by constantly
their position, destroy the range
of the rebel gunners. They are however,
making quitea determined fight from their
works, giving us almost shell for shell and
shot for shot. The Monitor has laid out of
action nearly an hour, probably cooling her
guns. s@ 30
The Rip Raps battery has the range of
Sewalls Point perfectly. =.a
245 p. M-The Merrimac now makes
her appearance on the scene. She has Just
come out from behind SewaIps Point, and
is slowly running down towards the fed
eral feet. simultaneously with the ap-
of the Merrimac the Monitor
started from behind the wooden vessels and |
moved up to meet the enemy. The larger
vessels have drawn aside and left the
Monitor and Naugatuek. They are now
in the approaching path of the Merrimac.
The vessels of the feet have been lying
quietly at anchor for the last half hour,
when the flagship ordered them all to re-
turn. The Susquehanha leads the way, !
by the San Jacinto, Seminole and
the Monitor bringing up the rear, all ap- |
parently using the greatest speed towards |
this post. To the spectators this scene was
rather Notifying, but as they move down |
the line the Monitor was seen to halt, and |
the San Jacinto and Dacotah also followed |
her example, leaving the Susquehanna and |
Seminole moving ahead. The four steam
ers and the Monitor having taken their po-
sition, the Merrimac also halted, and the
five vessels stood thus nos more than
mile and a half apart, the Merrimac ap-
parently unwilling TO come further down
and the Monitor unwilling to go furthet
up. EaoE.stssa - sHrI
The Minnesota also steamed up in front
of the fortress wharf, followed slowly by
the Vanderbilt, when both stopped. After
laying in this position, the Minnesota
turned around and steamed back, and the
Vanderbilt, without turning, slowly backed |
water down the river. While this maneuVe,- -
ing was going on, firing had entirely ceased
from all points. -
3:30P M.-The Merrimac now turns
around and stesms back towards Norfolk
with her rebel flag flying. The Dacotah
again proceeds up towards the Merrimac,
and the Monitor starts towards the mouth
of Elizabeth river. The Dacotah is now
wilhin easy range Of Sewall's Point but
the batteries there do not engage her She
and the Monitor have both stopped, and the
Merrimac is lying stationary about mile
from the Craney Island batteries. .z.-s i
The Vanderbilt and Arago have now
steamed up in front of the wharf, and the |
Merrimac has run back under the guns of |