The weekly sun., 1862-03-15
Burnside Approach
ing Norfolk.
TERRIBLE EXCITEMENT THERE.
German Turner's for the Union.
BATTLE IN NEW MEXICO.
Great Less on Both Sides,
Tho Mtrrimnc nj Work

Fortress Monroe, March 8, ria Baltimore,
March 9.-Ab)ui noon to-day, the rebel steamship
. Merrimao and two gunboAts were coming
around Craney Island, heided for Newport News
Hag an hour afser, the wal loyk-ou, boa in the
Roads signalzed the fact TO the Minnesota and
R,auoke, the latter, Capt. harston, being the AZ
/ tehip. Tie Minnesota had steam up, tie Roanoke
having lain four months With . br, ken shan, mea-
sllres were taken 10 tow her. i WAS some time be-
fore they were under way, the Minnesota leading.
The K ,anoke when near ths Ri p-R' 'ps, was caught
Il " the tide, and half hour wAs spent In getting
her head right again.
The guubcai whitehall al,o got under wayl
Meanwhile, the MerrimAc was m,ling good time
|or Newport News. where the s,'l'ng figate Con-
rress and tho Cumberland were the only naval ves-
ais. As the Minn6slta passed within range at
evall'1 Point, that battery opened her. It's are
Tas returned vigorously Tna lrlg beiug n long
|Ange, no percepnble elect pr duoel. In a
tile more than one hour from getting under way,
he her1imac was within half a mia OF Newport
News, when the firing commenced. simultAn,o ousy
ith these movements, the Yorktown and James,
own trebel sstsmersl came down james River,
d iolned their Gre with that OF the Merrlmac upon
be Congress ami the Cumberland.
TIE precise movements that fol Owed Tam not at
resent fully advised Of, as the was witnessed
om ,he Fortress, eight miles distant. The Mar
mac seemed 70 proceed pa the Congress and en-
age the Cumberland, which was also under the
re q the Yorktown and jamestown. Our bat
ry II Newport News opened vigorously on the
H-:lAd enemy. III about half an hour the u,asts
tie Cumberland, which we're visible over the
pint OF land, were seen 10 list and finally 60 over,
owing that she had sunk About this time the
bnsrssa, With sails spread, wss seen 10 come down
fhort distance and stop on the Point, apparently
tround.
Boon Ater, the Merrimac reIppeared and en-
sed her at short range; and, after keeping up the
ntes' fifteen or twenty minutes, the white .g OF
render was seen 70 float over the Congress's
OK Meanwhile, As tthe day was fated 70 be one
~ successive disasters 70 our ships, the Minnesota
C&uhatd about two miles from Newport News
Psre she lay mSking fruitless endeayors 10 Re,
Mar Tie Roanoke, by this time, hal reached
\ff4n two miles Of her but seeing the ourren,
4bntS, turned lack. The gunboai Mystic, which
lSo gone up, being in a di,Ab'ed condition ON
tnt OF her toier giving out, also turned back,
N A byAtug.
Bking accomplished IAis much, the Merrims1
lhe two rebsl gunboats commenced shelliug
camp at Newport News, with what effect, IL is,
0urse, impossible to say now.
1GfP. M.-The Cumberland had a crew OF
M pi 800 men, neSrly one half OF whom periAhed
III she vent down. As yea, the Congress has
been board'd' and II is supposed that Gen.
1the,d on shore prevents tbs rebels from doing
4 e Ranoke Is also aground hSf way between
- rtrtss and Newport News.
X le Cambridge has just come 10, towing the 81
renee, and both will go 70 the conflict
|u. Wool has dispatched two regiments by and
fwpoit News.
"PJ.past -. II is reported that the Yorktown is
be up James River.
e Of the guns OF the Merrimac was disabled
In the action. The MerIimsc and Cumber-
were engaged at close quarters, when the
commsnced sinking.
o MerrimAc now lies lli a mile below New
News, and the airing between her and the
ssosa' AZ about miles, is kept up brisky.
Congress has not been boarded.
O'clock Six companies Of Harlsn's Cavalry
Mounted Rifles have been dispatched 20
~ Gen. hAnAheld, should he be attacked by
Al The 81 Lawrence has gone into action, aud
sins the jamestown. The MerrimAc does
dnPo'ed 70 come down 10 the Minnesota
Ia s Minnesota cannot 60 70 her. The Roanoke
M y rned TO her station opposite the fortress.
Nv 0e'ook'-A negro. just In from Newport
ssates 'haa 'he AsrTimac ran square into the
lAnd' which immediately went down. rhs
states that some Of the crew, who svam
said the loss on the Cumberland WAS abou,
is some d'ubt abou, the burning Of ,he