Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-13

rGntly to recruit itself, and then return to
complete the destruction she had SO au-
spiciously commenced, having the. floating
vessels here at her mercy. While despon!
dency settled on many brows, and coniec-
lures were rife as to where the Merrimac
would direct her attention the next Glay. a
CLEAN OF hope arose. At eight o'clock in
the evening q bright, movable light was
discovered seaWard coming from the di-
tection of Cape Charles light. 1t being
known that the Ericsson Battery bad left
New y ork few days previous, surmises
were rife that the light might proceed from
the deck. The best night telescopes were
brought into requisitiOn, and in less than
half AN hour after it first hove in sight the
TACT was circulated that the Ericsson Rat
terry was coming up the Roads. The news
spreak like Wild6re; the ramparts in the
Tort Was soonllined with troops. At nine
O'Clock the Monitor anchored off Fortress
Monroe Lieutenant Commanding Worden
Immediately reported to flag officer Mars-
ton, and subsequently, to General Wool
II was at once determined by those officers
to send the battery to NewPort's News, to
protect that port, also to defend the Min.
nssotai which was still on shore. Before
she started on her mission an additional
supply OF ammunition was placed on board,
and at half past eleven O'clock the Moni:-
tor went on her mission, TO await the an
nearancel of things the following day.
The arrival of the Monitor was, indeed,
prOvidential.
AT early dawn this morning, the Mcrri-
mnc, jamestown, Yorktown and "a number
of other Rebel crafts were seen drawn np
off Sewall's Point, apparently waiting for
the smoke and haze to lift before resum.
ing the contest. The Monitor had taken
her stationt to the loft and in advance of the
Minnesota, and our other gHnboats were in
the neigh6orhoOd of the frigate. Shortly
after o'clock the Merrimac began TO move
up toward the Minuesota, about three miles
distant. Her path lay across the bowSof.
tue Monitor, whose presence or real char
acter 1t is probable sho was not then aware
of. When within about mile, the ball
was opeDed by the Monitor firing shot.
which struck the side of the iron-hided
monster, the Merrimac at the same time
,6lackeuing her speed Her intention eyi!
IDENTIFY was to make directly for the Min
nesota and serve her as she had served Tho
Cumberland and Congress. But suddenly
she found lion in her path Tho Firi1-
was kept up for some time at the distance
Of about one mile, when the Monitor began
to move toward her antagonist, DELIVERING,
Tho MerrimaC, six times her size, and with
an armament equally out of proportion,
awaited her at rest. At a distance of
quarter of a mile or loss, both opened their
terrible batteries-the Merrimac firing
much tho oftenest of course!
1t was the first trial of an experiment in
fearful ordeal. The scene was witnessed
by those who crowded the ramparts md
lined the docks with almost breathless in
terest. 1t would not have disappointed
nnny at that moment had it become appn-
rout that the Unpreten1iug Monitor was
unequal to the contest BY this time the
two iron-clad mbatants seem ed to touch.
fighting Mt close quarters, delivering their
shots seemingly into the muzzles of each
others guns. But so far from being une
quail to her adversary, the Monitor moved
around her, planting her shots where she
would. The contest was SO hot that for a
time the smoke obscured both the Monitor
and the Merrimac. Asif realizing that she
had found at least her match, if not her
superior, the Merrimac drew off towards
Craney Island, the Monitor pursuing, plan
ting her shot with the same deliberation
which had characterized her movements
from the outset. After keeping up the
pursuit for half an hour, the Monitor re-
turned toward the Minnesota. ! should
have mentioned that shortly after this en-
gagemeDt commenced, one of the Rebel
guuboats, apparently tho Yorktowu, steam
ed out, aud boldly engaged tho Monitor.-I
A shot through her, which must have done
serious injury, sent her back agaiu, and
she did not venture within range Of the
gunsof the new comerwtthiu the day.
AS if having rested from the first round,
and recovered from the beWilderment re-
sulting from finding such a terrible antag-
onist in so small one, the Merrimac re-
turned to the contest, aud, as before, was
met tearlessly by the Monitor. The Mer-
rinac being now within range, the Min
uesota. a.delivered several of her thunderiup
broadsides, and showers of solid shot went
crashing against the side of the iron mou-
ster. The gunboNts also went into the
fight CALAMITY. Though the Monitor again 4
sought close quarter, the Merrimac, haV-
ing already taste of that sort of thing,
kept ata prudent distance. For more than
an hour the battle was kept up without
either side showing damage, when, at
about IL A. NJ, the Monitor retired beyond
the Minnesota to allow her guns to COOL
The contest now ragged between the Mer-
rimac and Minnesota and the gunboats.-
The terrible broadsides of the frigate,
chained to the bottom rs it were, shook
the earth, and THO solid shot glanced in
every direction from the sides Of the Mer-
| rimac. ia i. slsa - sa
Having given her guns an hour to cool,
the Monitor returned to the contest, and
the Merrimac was apparently ready for her,
for she did not retreat, but stood her
ground. Nothing could exceed the accnr.
acy of the firing on both Sides After
keeping up the contest for half an hour at
a range of half or three quarters of mile,
10 'taNyy
tagouist, who awaited her with apparent
contideuce. Delivering her Ere with de-
liberation and unerring precision, the Mon
itor went straight ahead and at full speed
for the Morrimac, till the men on both
boats, if they had not been hidden by the
iron covering, might have engaged in a
hnnd-to.hnn fight. Now followed one Of
the most remarkable and exciting scenes
ever witnessed in naval warfare. The