Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-13
RROm WAsarNarnn.
W4s5Hs1Ou, Aarch Il.

II
Special 70 New York Post:
Ths Naval OOmmittss Of the Senate IA
morning agreed 70 report . bill e oucs a.
the appropriation Of el5,Ooo, 900 for iron
clad vessels Of war
Senator Grimes has Just received q AZ.
patch from Assistant Secy Of War Fox, at
Fortress Monroe, declaring bis confident b.
lief that the Monitor, IN her next engage
ment, viii sink the Nerrimac. Mr.FsT eou-
firms the report that the Merrimsc vas IN
/ jured In the 6ght He expresses the ooirion
that another 6ght between the two vessels 4
certain, and thar the conflict wiz BE- tsrribls.
The official report Of Lieut. Psndsr0rast
OF the Congress, addressed 70 CommSndsr
/ MsrstOn, has been forwarded 10 tie Nsvv
Department. he states that owing 70 tie
death Of the late commanding Oficsr, James
B. Smith, it becomes his painful duty b
make q report 70 you Of the part the fri9sts
Congress took in the efforts Of our vs-Ssis as
Newport News to repel the attack Of the rsbsl
aotilla 90 the 9th inst
The report says that When the Msrfimae.
with three gunboats, were seen stsamiar
down from Norfolk, and had approached nssr
enough 70 discover Der character. tie ship
was cleared for action. At ten minutes ps5t
two the Msrrimac opened with her bow qua
with grape, passing rs on the starboard sid8
at distance Of about 900 yards. rscsivins
our brosdside and giving rs one Ia return
After passing the Congress she ran into and
sunk the Cumberland The smaller vessel
then attacked Us, killing and Wounding many
OF our crew. Seeing the tate Of the CunbsF-
land, We set the jib and topssii, snd win the
assistance Of the gunGoat Z9uaYe run tie
vessel ashors.
At half past o'clock the Herrinae toot
position astern Of us, at 8 distance Of about
one hundred and fifty yards, and raksd rs
fore and aft with shells, while one of he
smaller steamers kept up a Ere on our slsr-
board Quarter. In the meantime, the PstrisF
Henry and the Thomas Jefferson. rshef
steamers, approached from 10 ths Jsmsa
River, firing with precision. snd doing u4
great damage. Our two stern guns were
our only means Of defence. These were sooa
disabled, one being disnountsd and the osbee
its mnzEle knocked away. TIE men vsra
knocked away trom them with great slaaeh-
ter by the terrible FIRE Of the enemy
Lieutenant Pendergrass frst learned of
the death Of Lieutenant Smith at half nas.
4 o'clock. The death happened ten minutes
previous,
Seeing that our men were being killed .of
without prospect Of any relief from the
Minnesota which vessel had run ashore in
attempting 70 get up to rs from Hampton
Roads, not being able to get a sinzie gun
to bear upon the enemy, and the ship being
On IRE n several PLACES, upon cons1ltatio1
With copmaRder W. Smith, We deemed 4
proper q haul down our colors witaont snY
iurtheT loss Of life. We we're soon boarded
By an osioer Of the &eFrimac, who said hs
would take ehargs OF the slip &c lsft
shortly afterwards, and q zEasll TOW boascame
along side, whose Captain demanded that We
should surrender and get out Of the shin, as
be intenGsd to burn her Immediately.
A sharp IRE with mnskets and arsiIsrT
vas maintained By our troops ashore upon
the tug, having the effect Of driving ner 5oH.
The MerrimAe again opened upon rs, although
Es had dag a-peak, to show thas We Rsre
out Of action. Alter ha7iBg fred several
shells into rs, she LEFT % and e8eaeed he
Minnesota and shore batteries, after which,
Lient Pendegrast states, the wounded wsrs
taken ashore in small boats, the ship hayiuz
been Oh Ere from the beginning Of aetna
from hot shot fred By the Aerrimac. Hers.
pctts the death OF he following officers -
Lieut.. jos B. Smith, Acting Msstar, and
Thomas Moore aud Wm. RaOde4