Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-20
THE NAVAL BATTLE.
OFFICIAL nrPoAs OF LIEUT.. ,EsprsaAsr.

WAsHIxoros, March i2.-The on.
cial report Of Lieut.. Pendergast Of the
Congress. addressed to Commander
Marston. has been forwarded to the
Navy Department. Lieut.. Pendsr-
gsst states that owing to the death Of
the late commanding officer. Jas. b.
Smith, It becomes his painful duty to
make report to you of the part which
the U. 8. frigate Congress took in Ihe
efforts Of our vessels at Newport News
to repel the attack Of the rebel fotills.
on the 9th inst. The report says that
when the Merrimsc, with three gum
boals.. were seen sieaning down from
Norfolk, aud bad approached nsaf
enough to discover her character, the
ship was cleared for action.
At ten minutes past two the Merri-
mac opened with her bow gun with
grape. passing us on the starboard side
at a distance Of. about 500 yards, re-
ceiving our brosdside and giving one
in 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 fate of the Cumbers
land, we set the jib and topssil. and
with the assistance Of the gunboat
Zousve ran the vessel ashore.
At half-past two the Merrimac took
a position astern Of US, at distance Of
about 50 yards, and raked US fore aud
aft with shells, while one Of the smaller
steamers kept up a fire on our starhoard
quarter. In the meantime the Patrick,
Henry and the Thomas Jefferson. rebel
steamers. approached from up the James,
River, firing with precision and doing
US great damage. Our stern guns
were our only means Of defense
These were soon disabled-one being
and the other had its mug
zle knocked away. The men were
knocked away from them with great ra-
pidity and slaughter BY the terrible FIRE
Of the enemy.
Lieut.. Pendergast first learned Of
the death Of Lieut.. Smith at half past
4. The death happened 10 minutes
previous
Seeing that our men were being
killed without the prospect of any re-
lief from the Minnesota, which vessel
had run ashore in attempting to get up
to US from Hampton Roads, not being
able to get single gun to bear upon
the enemy, and the ship being on Ere
in several places, upon consultation
with Commander Wm. Smith, we
deemed it proper to haul down our COL
ors without any further loss of life on
our part. We were soon boarded by
an officer of the Merrimsc, who said be
would take charge Of the ship. He
left shortly afterward, and a small tow
came alongside, whose Captain deman-
ded that we should surrender and get
out Of the ship, as he intended to burn
her Immediately. A sharp fire with
musketry and artillery was maintained
from our troops ashore upon the tug,
having the effect Of driving her off.
The Merrimac again opened upon u.s.
although we had a flag apeak to show
that we were out Of action. After
having fred several shells into US, she
left us and engaged the Minnesota and
shore batteries, after which Lieut.. PEN
dergast states the wounded were taken
ashore in small boats, the ship having
been on FIRE from the beginning Of the
action, from the hot shot fred by the
Merrimac. He reports the death Of
the following officers: Lieut.. James B.
Smith. acting master, Thomas Moore
and VIM. Rhodes.