Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-03-13
THE MINNESOTA AND OTHEB
VESSELS AGROUND. ...
Five Hours Engagement between the
Monitor and the Merrimac.
IMPORTANT FROM NEW MEXICO
CAPTURE OF COCKPIT POINT,
Burnside Advancing on Suffolk

.... ....... FORTRESS MONROE, March S, 1867
The dullnesS of Old Point Was startled to.
day by the announcement that a suspicious
looking vessel, supposed TO be the Merrimac,
looking like submerged house with the roof
only above water, was moving down from n or.
folk, by the channel in front of the Sewalls
Point batteries Signal gus were also fred
by the Cumberland and Congress to notify the
Minnesota, St Lawrence, and Roanoke of the
approaching danger, and all was excitement
in aud about Fortress Monroe
There was nothing prorudiug above the
water but flag, staff flying the Rebel flag, and
q short smoke-stack She moved along slowly,
and turned into the ehannel leading in to New
port News, and steamed direct for the frigates
Cumberland and Congress, which were lying
at the mouth of James River.
As soon as she came within range of the
Cumberland, the latter opened on her with her
heavy guns but the balls struck and glanced
of, having no more effect than peas from a
gun. Her ports we're all closed, and she
moved on in silence, but with a full head Of
steam. In the mean time, as the Merrimac
vas approaching the two frigates on one side.
the rebel iron-clad steamers yorktown and
jamestown came down James River and en,
gagged our frigates on the other side, The bat
teries at Newport News also opened on the
Yorktown and jamestown, and did all in their
power to assist the Cumberland and Congress-
which, being sailing vessels, were at the mercy
of the approaching steamers. The Merrimac
in the meantime kept steadily on her course,
and slowly approached the Cumberland, when
she and the Congress, at distance of one hun
dred yards rained full broadsides on the iron.
clad monster, that took no effect, glancing
apward and flying off, having only the effect
of checking her progress for moment.
After receiving the first broadside Of the two
frigateS, she ran on to the Cumberland, strik
ing her about midships, and literally laying
open her sides She then drew off and fred
q broadside into the disabled ship, and again
dashed against her with her iron-clad prov, and
knocking in her side, left her to sink, while
abe engaged the Congress, which lay about a
quarter of mile distant. The Congress had,
meantime, kept upa sharp engagement with
the Yorktown and jamestown, and having no
regular crew on board Of her, seeing the hope
lessness of resisting the iron-clad steamer, at
ence struck her col0rS Her crew had been
discharged several days since, and three com
panies of the Naval Brigade had been put on
board temporarily, until she could be relieved
By the st. Lawrence, which was to have gone
up on Monday to take her position as one of
the blockading vessels of the James River
. On the Congress striking her eolors, the
jamestown approached and took from on board
of her all her officers as prisoners, but allowed
the crew to escape in boats The vessel, be-
ing thus cleared, was fred 0y the rebels, when
the Merrimac and her two iron-clad compan-
ions opened with shell and shot on the New
port News batteries The firing was briskly
returned. Various reports have been received
principally from frightened suffers clerks
Some of them represent that the garrison had
been compelled to retreat from the batteries to
the woods. Another was that the two small
er rebel steamers had been compelled to re-
treat from their guns
In the meantime the steam frigate Mime
sofa having partly got up steam, was being
towed up to the relief of the two frigateS but
did not get up until it was too late to assist
them. She was also followed up by the frig.
Rte ST. Lawrence, which was taken in tow by
several of the small harbor steamers. 1t is,
however, rumored that neither of these vessels
had pilots on board them, and after short
engagement both of them seemed to be- in the
opinion of the pilots on the Point, aground.
The Minnesota, either Intentionally or from
necessity, engaged the three steamers at about
mile distant, with oaly her two bow guns
The st. Lawrence also poured in shot from all
the guns she could bring to BEAR and it was
the impression OF the most experienced naval
officers on the Point that both had been con-
siderably damaged. These statements, it mast
be borne IN mind, are all based on what could
be seen by glass at distance of nearly eight
miles, and few panic stricken non-combatants,
who fed at almost the first gun from Newport
News.
In the meantime darkness approached,
though the moon shone out brightly, aud moth
ing but the occasional flashing of guns could
be seen. The Merrimac was also believed to
be aground, as she remained stationary at q
distance of mile from the Minnesota, making
no attempt to attack or molest her
Previous to the departure of the steamer
for Baltimore. no guns had been fred for half
an hour, the last Que being fired from the Min
nesota. Some persons declared that, immedi
ately after this last gun vas fired, dense vol
ume of vapor was seen to rise from the Mer
rimac, indicating the explosion of her boiler
Whether this is SO or not cannot be known
but it was the universal opinion that the rebe
monster was hard aground -
Fears were of course entertained for tht
safety Of the Minnesota and st. Lawrence in