Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-05-15

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TO arise from SswelI's Point, indicating
that our incendiary shells thrown there
have fred the barracks.
The Decotah continues TO throw her
shells directly into the point. The YES
sells by constantly changing position
destroy the range Of the rebel gunners,
They are, however. making quite q
determined fght from their works. CIV
ing shell for shell snd shet for shot,
The Monitor has laid out of action for
! nearly an hour, and is probably cooling
her guns. The Rip Rap battery has
the range of Sewelps Point perfectly.
] s.45 p. M.-Tbe Merrimac now
makes her appearance on the scene
She has inst passed from behind Sew
elI's Point, and is slowly running down
toward the Federal feet. Simulta-
neously with the appearance of the
Merrirnac the Monitor started from be-
hind the wooden vessels. and moved up
to meet the enemy. The larger yes
sells have drawn aside and left. The
Monitor and Naugatuck are now in the
approaching path of the Merrimac.
The most of the fleet had been lying
quietly at anchor for the last half hour,
when the signal from the flagship, or
dered them all to return. The Susque-
hanna leads the way, followed BY the
San Jacinto, Seminole, Decotah and the
Monitor bringing up the rear-all ap-
parently using the greatest speed to-
ward 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
Deeotah also followed her example,
lerving the Susquehanna and Seminole
moving ahead.
The four steamers and the Monitor
having taken their position, the Mer-
rimac also halted, and the five vessels
stood thus, not more than mile and
half apart; the Merrimsc apparently
unwilling to come further down, and
the Monitor unwilling to go furtherlup.
The Minnesota also steamed up in
front of the Fortress wharf, followed
slowly by the Vanderbilt, down the
river.
After laying in this position, the Min
nesota turned round and steamed back;
and the Vanderbilt, without turning,
slowly backed water down the river.
Whilst this maBeuvering was going
on. firing had entirely ceased from all
points.
3:3O.-The Merrimac now turns
round and steams back toward Norfolk,
with her rebel flag flying. The Deco
tab again proceeds up toward the Mer-
rimac, and the Monitor starts toward
the mouth of the Elizabeth river. The
Dacotah is now within easy range Of
Sewell's Point, but the batteries there
do not open on her. She and the
Monitor have both stopped, and the
Merrimac is lying stationary about
mile from the Craney Island batteries.
Here commenced an important move !
ment, which can't be made public just
yet.
The Vanderbilt and Arsgo have now
steamed up in front Of the wharf. The
Merrimac has run back under the guns
of Craney Island. and the Monitor is
steaming off toward her at full speed.
The Minnesota is also coming up
again at full speed. the effort being to
draw the rebels out again.
For the past two hours the fleet has
been moving back and forward, but the
Merrimac still lies under the guns Of
Craney Island. The Minnesota, Ara.
go and Vanderbilt have gone back to
their anchorage. and there is no pros
pect of fight tonight. The troops
are going on board the transports, and
the war vessels, including the Monitor,
have all returned to their anchorage.