Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-13
EXCITING NEWS. :
B IG N AVAIL T IGHT

~ ~ ~ "A Il IL VI III L :.
The Cumberland Sunk-7He Congress
Copfured and Burned Terrible Fight
Bet~een the Monitor and Aerrimac- TIE
Merrinaac Retreats in Damaged Con-
dition- Capture Of Lessburgh and Cock
pit Point IA Big Narol Fight.
FonTREss MoSRoE, March 6. The Mer-
rimac was signalled this morning moving
down the channel from Norfolk in from. Of
Sewelfs Point Battery. All was excite
ment abou. Fort Monroe at this news, aud
he Cumberland. Congress. Minnesota. St.
Lawrence and Roanoke exchanged signals
of danger. The Merrimac had nothing a.
bove water but her flagstaff flying the rebel
flag and smokestack. She moved slowly
AMI steamed directly for the Cumberland
and Congress. lying at the mouth of James
liver The Cumberland opened on her
with heavy guns. bat the balls glanced off.
having no effect, at the same time the reb-
ell iron clad boats Yorktown and James
town came DOM James river and engaged
our frigates on the other side. Our bat
teries at Newport News opened on the gnn-
boats to assist the Cumberland and Con
gress. which Icing sailing vessels were at
the mercy Of the steamers. They both
rained heavy broadsides on the Merrinac.
which was slowly approaching. but all eff
feet visible was to slightly check her pro-
gress. She then ran against the Cnmber-
land striking her about mid ships literally
laying open her side. She then drew off
and fired into the disabled ship. aud again
dashed against her with her iron clad PROV
aud knocked in her side. left her to sink.
and started for the Congress. laying a
quarter Of a mile distant. which was enga.
ging the Yorktown and jamestown. She
having no regular crew aboard, and being
only partly manned by three companies of
the Naval Brigade. seeing the helplessncss
of continuing the fight, struck her colors.
The jamestown then took from her all her
officers as prisoners. Her crew escaped in
boats. The vessel was fred by the rebels
After this the Merrimac opened with shot
and shell on Newport News batteries.
Some accounts say the garrison have been
competed to retreat to the woods. Others
say the gunboats were obliged to retreat.
The Minnesota did not yet have steam up
in time to aid the two frigatcs. She was
followed by the st Lawrence and from ne
cessity engaged the rebel vessels at dis
lance Of a mile. 1t was the impression at
the point that both were considerably dam
aged, but these statements are based on
what could be seen with q glass at a dis
lance of eight miles. The Merrimac was
also believed to be aground. When the
boat left she lay a mile distant from the
Minnesota. making no attempt to modest
her. After the last gun was fred from the
Minnesota, persons declare they saw dense
volumes of yapvr rise from the Merrimac,
indicating an explosion of some sort. 1t
is not known. if this is so. but il is believ.
ed she was aground. 1t was the intention
of the Minnesota to run to close quarters
and avoid the iron prov of the Merrimac.
and carry her by boarding. To this the
Merrimac didn't seem inclined to give op.
portunity. As the Baltimore boat left
Old Point at s o'clock. she met the Erics-
son and steamer Monitor going in. o.
faa LATER.
FoRrREss MoSRoE. March 9.-The Mon.
itor arrived at 10 o'clock last night and
Immediately went to the protection of the
Minnesota. aground below Newport News.
Att o'clock to-day the Merrimac. James
town. Yorktown. and several tugs, went
towards the Minnesota and opened fire.
The Monitor met them and opened fire,
when the enemy's vessels retired, excepting
the Merrimac. These two iron clad yes
sells then fought from eight O'Clock till
noon. part of the time touching each other.
when the Merrimac retreaied. The Moni-
tor was commanded by Lieut.. Worden
and was handled with great skill. assisted
by Chief Engineer Steincrs. The Mineso-
ia was somewhat injured. but kept mp a
continuous fire. The Monitor is uninjur-
ed and ready for another attack.
WAsHrSeToN. March 9.-Gen. McClel-
Ian received dispatch from Gen. Wool,
dated this evening. confirming the above;
also stating that the Minnesota had got
of, and the Merrimac was driven off in a
sinking condition. towed by the James
town, Yorktown and other boats towards
Norfolk. probably to get her in dry dock.
a dispatch was also received by the Sec
rotary of the Navy from Assistant Secre-
iary Fox. saying in addition to the above,
that the Merrimac retreated. but it is i'm
possible to say whether injured or not
I.ieut. Worden. Commander of the Mcni-
tor was injured by cement from the pilot
house bei:sg driven into his eye. but prob
ably not seriously.
NEW York March 9.-The 7ri5une's
Fort Monroe Special, states that the frig-
ate Cumberland had crew Of 500 and
nearly half were lost. A negro who swan
ashore reports the loss about one hundred.
os OFFICIAL REPORT.
WASHINGTON. March 81 p. M.-TBy
Telegraph from Fortress Monroe The
Ericsson arrived last night or early this
morning. She was attacked by the Merri-
mac. jamestown and Yorktown. After
an hours contest. they were beaten of, the
Merrimac in sinking condition. This
is official t..