Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-03-15
Go( ar Il { IL S .
FROM FORTRESS MoNRoE.
The Rebel Steamer Merrimac and the
Gunboats Yorktown and Jamestown.
ATTACK ON OUR FLEET.
lEPORTED SINKING OF TnE L. s. FRI
GATE CUMBERLAND.

GATE CUMBERLAND.
The u. S. Ftigate Congress Captured on'
Bvrmd.-The L. S. Frigate Mnnesott
Aground.-7k Particulars Of tie Engage
ntnf.
FORTRESS MONROE, March 8.
The dsllness Of Old Point was startled o.
10 o'clock to-day by the announcement thai
mysterious vessel, supposed to be the Mer.
.imac looking like q submerged house will
he roof only above the water, was moving
Town from Norfolk by the chuuuei 10 front o.
Sewalls Point batteries. Signal guns were
also fred by the Cumberland and Congress
% notify the Minnesota st. Lawrence and
Roanoke Of approaching danger, and oil was
excitement 10 aud about Fortress Monroe.
There was nothing protrudng above the
water but flagstaff, flying the rebel flag, and
.short smoke stack She moved along slowly
and turning into the channel tending to New.
,ert News, steomed direct for the frigates
cumberland aud Congress, which were lying
II the mouth Of James river. AS sooa as she
,.me within the range Of the Cumberland she
opened on her with her heavy guns but the
,als struck and glanced of having no more
,fect on her than peas from pop guE. Her
ports were all closed, and che moved on 10
silence, but with full head OF steam. 1n .he
mean time, as the Merritnac was approaching
he two frigates on one side, the rebel IRON
:lad steamers, Yorktown AND jamestown,
,ams down James river, and engaged our
rigates, On the other side, the batteries at
Newport News also opened on the james
own and Yorktown, and done everything in
heir power to assist the Cumberland and
Congress, which, seeing the sailing vessels
we're at the mercy OF the approaching steam
,rs. The Merrimac 10 the meantime kept
tesdi'y on her course, and slowly approached
be Cumberland, when she and the Congress
1t the distance Of one hundred yards rained
'ul broadside on the iron clad monster. The
shot took no effect, glaueiog upward and
Hyipg of, having only the effect of checking
her for the moment. After receiving the
Grst broadside OF two frgates, she run on to
the Cumberland striking her about midships
and literally laying upon her sides. She then
drew of, fired broadside into the disabled
ship, and again dashed against her with her
iron clad boy and knocking in her side, and
left her to sink while she engaged the Con-
yress, which laid about quarter OF mile
distant. The crew on board o: her seeing
tho hopelessness Of resisting the iron clad
steamer, at once struck her colors. Her
crew had been discharged several days since,
aud three companies OF the Navy brigade had
been put on board temporarily until she would
be relieved by tie St. Lawrence, which was
to have tfns up op Monday, to take her
position US our bockadng vessel on the
james river. On the Congress striking her
colors, tie Jamestown approached and took
from on board her, all the officers as prisoners,
bat allowed the crew 10 escape in the boats.
The vessel thus cleared was fred by the
Ill ~, n,l L..
clad companions opened with shell aud shot
on the Newport News batteries. The firing
WAS briskly returned.
Various reports have been received, princi.
paily from the frightened suffers and clerks.
Some of them represented that the garrison
had been compelled to retreat from the bat.
teres to the woods. Another was that two
smaller rebel steamers haG Seen compelled to
retreat from their guns.
10 the meantime the steam frigate Mime.
sofa having partially got up steam, was being
towed up TO the relief Of the two frgates, but
did not get up till too late to assist them.
She was also followed up by the frieste St.
Lawrence, which was taken in tow by several
OF the small harbor steamers. 1t is however
rumored that neither OF these vessels had
pilots 90 board them. After q short engage.
ment both of them seemed to be- in the opin
ion Of the pilots on the point. aground. The
Minnesota either intentionally or from neces.
sity, angaged three steamers at about q mile
distance with only her two bow guns. The
st. Lawrence also poured iD shot from oil the
guns she could bring to bear, and it was the
impression Of the most experienced nays
officers on the point that bo,h had beer
considerably damaged. These statements il
must he borne in uind are all based on wbat
could be seen by the glass OF distance o
nearly eight miles, aud by few panic strleke'
conbotants who fled at almost the frs
gun from Newport News.
In the meantime darkness approached
though the moon shone out brightly. ont
nothing but occasional flashing Of guns coulI
be seen. The Merrimac was also believed t
be aground, as she remained stationary at {
distance Of d mile from the Minnesota, making
DO attempt to attack or modest her.
Previous TO the departure Of the steame
for Baltimore no guns had been fred for hal
an hour-the last one being fired from tb'
Minnesota. Some persons declared tha
immediately after this last gun was fired,
dense volume Of yspor was seen to rise fror
the Merrimac, indicating the explosion Of
boiler, whether this is so or not, cannot b
known, but it was the universal opinion tba
the rebel monster was hard aground.
EeaFs were OF course entertained IOI III
safety Of the Minnesota and the st. I.awrenc
in such an unequal contest, but if the Merr
mac was really ashore, she could do no furthe
harm to them.
1t was the Intention Of the Minnesota wit
her picked gallant crew. 10 have run int
close quarters with the Merrmac, avoid he
iron PROV and board her This the Merrims
seemed not inclined TO give her an opportnuit
TO do, being afraid of the crew spprosehin
her al close quarters when aground.
At eight o'clock when the Baltimore boa
left, feet Of steam tugs were being sent u
TO the relief OF the Minnesota and st. Law
renee, and ao endeavor was to be made I
draw them of from the bar on which they bs
grounded. 10 the meantime the firing ba
been suspended, whether FROM mutual consen
or necessity could not be ascertained.
The Rebel battery at Pigs Poing was sls
enabled TO join 10 the combined attack on Ii
Minnesota, and several guns were fred at b,
from Sewell's Point as she went up, none
them. bowever, struck her, but one or tw
passed over her.
The Baltimore boat left Old Point at eigl
O'Clock last night About half an hour aft,
she left the wharf, the iron clad Errcsc
steamer and Moniteur passed her going
towed by the large steamer Moniteur, aI
undoubtedly reached Fortress Monroe by
o'clock and may have Immediately gone 10
catviea If mt ehp xnuld ha raadu n la