Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-03-15
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
Details Of ile Battle.

ForRssss NoSFos March 3.
The long expected Rebel steamer Msrrimgc has a.
las, made her appearance, and yesterday nfteruoon,
with he assistance of two gunboats which came out
with her from Norfolk, and the jamestown and iork
town which came down from hl James River. made an
attack upon Newport News aud the naval vessels ste
toned 6t that p AGO.
Fortress Monroe on hlr way to Newport News. at
about quarter b" rr1 o'clock Inc r,b0l gun boats
ioowedhetl m 'y'si carried the Confederate flag at
the stern.
Her sides bov aud stern were covered with siopins
iron plates ext m ng ten feet below The waterae, and
meeting above like the .Oof OF house AZ her bows
on the water ,ia4, wr No sharp iron points resent
bling pows about six or seven feet apart
The, Roanoke flag ship having been disabled by the
breaking her shaft time since was aken IN Tow
by the ,ilgnats Dragon aud Young America, AT ahout
the me the alarm gun Of the Fortress was hfsd
and the whole garrison was turned o, under arms
The iehe boats steadily pursued their way 10 New New
and lost 10 view from the Fortress The fret shot
was fred from the fisate u Cumberland, NJ a LITTLE
opened upon the Minnesota which was pa si.g, ana
the Sawyer gun al the Rip Raps replied with few
thick smoke was soon seen TO arise above Newport
News Point indicating that the battery there as well
as the Cumberland aud Congress, was engaged.
AS the Merrimac approached the Cumberane she did
attention to the Congress, but, aier hring
two guns, struck her the cumberland0 with net 'narp
bows, making jagged hole in her SIDE at the water
line, seven feet in extent.
The Cumberland Immediately commenced to sink,
when the Merrmac backing short distance, run into
her a seco,d time, Isakng snotcf terrb, aoe, which
admitted the water at fu}ons rate. ehe continued
firing until the water began to enter her port holes, ard
after She cnreened over and hnaiy sunk at about
three o'clock o."
The Newpor. News battery and The guna Of tie Cum
berlan fired ca ntinuously upon tb Nesrimat' but nc
apparent effect was produced.
The Minnesota unfortunately got aground on The way
! up, aud could offer but iuc assstanoo
After sinking the Cumberland, the Merrimac turned
afterwards, white flag was hoistcd on boord the lat
hner four o'clock the Mcrrmac continued 10 throw
shc into nj Nav whi tha Ian
town and ohci rebel gunboas commenced firing upon
the Minnesota q l'.
fire by the rebels aud presented brilliant spec
tace. At midnight she WAS blown up, causing tre-
| DAriHg the evening th U. s. Ericsson steamer Mon.
ior arrived gery oppOruneiy and al once proceeded
the river although she was not prepared for action
! TO take her part.
Dunng the night, only an occasional gun was fres.
| This morning tha conflict renewed until the
pre- scnce Of the Monitor known to the Merrmac
the latter was engaged with the Minnesota and but foT
might have been lost The two iron.elad Yosse,s en-.
gagged eac other for two OF three Aours at long and at
short range
No pcr4cptibe effect was produced upon either
They wont alongside once or twice and seemed almost
to run each other down, but they soon reappeared.
The Ericsson battery succeeded finally in forcing
large hole III the port side of the Merrmac, and the lat
ter in company with the whole rebel feet, retired to
Norfolk at about one o'clock.
Tho L. s gunboat Oregon was struck by The Mcrr!maS
in her boiler, aud was blown up this mining.
the gunboat Houays wasa!so seriously damaged, and
The principal loss oflife vas on board the Cnmbor
where it is thought as many as $50 must have beer
But six lives lost op he Mime sota according t.
the statement made by one other officers
Rebel gnnboat was cut in two yesterday atteIaoor
by the Cumberland
:, The crew of the Minnesota were brought on shor
this afternoon and with the assistance Of the steame
spaulding she has been got and is on or wa
here. She received numerous shots but no seriou
damage.
The Congress is supposed tohave lost over one hur
dred; including an officer. The escaped crews of III