Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-13
@g 09I1graph.
0ficial Report Of the late Naval IN.
PapemaOf

Oeeu lOFMHEueu 10 tue navy Department.
Lieut.. Peudergrast states that, "Owiug
to the death of the late commanding off,
Ger it becomes my painful duty to report
to yon Of the part the U. s. frigate Con-
gress took in the efforts of our vessels at
Newport News to repel the rebel fotilla on
the 9th inst.
When the Merrimac, with three small
gunboats, were seen steamiug down from
Norfolk, and had approached near enough
to discover her character, the ship was
cleared for action. At ten minutes past
two o'clock the Merrimac opened With her
DOW gun with grape, passing on the star
board side, at a distance of about 400
yards, receiving our broadside, and giving
one III return. After passing the Congress
she ran into and sunk the sloop of war
Cumberland. The smaller vessels then at
tackled us, killing and wounding many of
our crew. Seeing the fate of Cumberland
we set the jib aud top sail, and with the
assistance of the tugboat Zouave ran the
vessel ashore at half-past two. The Merri-
mac took position astern of us, alta dis
lance of about one hundred and fifty yards,
and raked US fore and aft with shell, while
one of the small steamers kept up a fire
on our starbOard qnarter.
In the meantime the Patrick Henry and
Ihos. Jetferson, rebel steamers, approached
US from up the James river, firing with
precision and doing US great damage. Our
two stern guns we're our only means of
defence. These were soon disabled. one
being dismounted and the other having its
muZzle knocked away. The men were
knocked away from them with great rapidi-
ty and slaughter by the terrible fire of the
enemy.
Lieut.. Pendergrast first learned of the
death of Lieut.. Smith ut a o'clock. The
death happened 10 minutes previous. See.
ing that our men were being killed with
out the prospect of any relief from the
Minnesota, which vessel had run ashore in
attempting to get up to US from Hampton
Roads, aud not being able to get u single
gun to bear upon the enemy, and the ship
being on frc in several places, upon COM
sultation with commander VIM. Smith, we
deemed 1t proper to haul down our colors
without any further loss of life on our
part. We were then boarded by an officer
OF the Merrimac, who said he would take
charge of the ship. He left shortly after
wards aud small tug came alongside,
whose captain demanded that we should
surrender aud get out of the ship us he
intended to burn her Immediately.
"A sharp fire with muskets aud artillery
wac ul"luAAlueu 4IOm our troops ashore
upon the tug, having the effect Of driving
her of. The Merrimac again opened on
US, although we had a peak to show that
We were out OF action. Alter having fred
several shells into US, she left us and en-
gagged the Minnesota aud the shore batter
les, after which, Lieut.. Pendergrast states,
the wounded were taken ashore in small
Eoats, the ship having been on FIRE from
the beginning of the action, from the hot
shot fired by the Merrimac. He reports
the death of the following officers Lieut..
Joseph b. Smith, Acting Master Thomas
Moore, and Pilot VIM. Rhodes.
The following extracts from the report
of Commander Purviance, of the o. S.
frigate st. Lawrence, in regard to the &C.
ton with the rebel fotilla at Hampton
Roads, will prove interesting
At half past o'clock, we got under
way, in tow of the Cambridge, and when
abreast of the rebel battery at Sewall's
Point, the battery opened fire. One of the
shells exploded under the forefoot of the
st. Lawrence, doing, however, no material
injury. The fire was returned, and it is
believed with some effect.
The Cumberland had at this time gone
down, having been run into by the Merri.
mac; and the Congress had surrendered
after terrible slaughter of her men, and
when rendered perfectly powerless by the
fire of the rebels. The Minnesota was
aground, and was engaging the enemy,
whose fire consisted of the rebel ram and
four or five sidewhcel gunboats.
When near the Minnesota the St. Law
renee grounded and that time opened Gre,
but her shot done no execution The ar
NOR of the Merrimac proved invulnerable
to her comparatively feeble proiectiles.
Taking advantage of these portentious cir
cumstances, the Merrimac directed her at
tention to firing several projectiles of for
mtdable dimensions, one of which an
| eight pound shell penetrated the starboard
quarter about 4 inches above the water
line, passed through the pantry of the
guard room and into the state room of As
sistant Surgeon on the port side, complete.
ly demolishing the bulk-head and then
struck against strong iron bar, which
secured the bulls eys of the port, it re.
turned into the guard room where'it ex.
pended. 1t fortunately did not explode
and no person injured. The damage done
by this shot proved the power of the pro
jectiles which she employed and rendilJ
explained the quick destruction of oul
wooden and nntiquated frigates
Our position at this time was one Of
some anxiety, being aground. The tug
Young America came alongside and got u
of, after which powerful broadside from
the spar and gun decks of the st. Law
renee, then distant about one mile and
half, thrown into the Merrimac induced
her to withdraw, whether from necessity o
discretion is not known.
The report of Capt. T. Van Brent, il
command of the Minnesota, has been re
ceived at the Military Department. !
states that the Monitor came alongside q
the Minnesota at two o'clock, in the after
noon of the 10th of March, having arrive
the night previous and reported for duty
All on board at her appearance, rejoice
that they had found friend that woul
stand by them in the hour of trial. "A
one o'clock on that day the enemy agai
appeared, when the crews were boat
quarters, but she ran past the Minnesot
and tugs. Atthis time the Minnesota be
ing aground Captain Van Brent ordere
some of the spar deck guns thrown owe,
board and sent halfof the crew on board
) tug to tighten the ship; after which super
human efforts were made to get her nj