The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-04-17
Clad Steamer Merrimac and other War
Vessels.---Three small Union Vessels
Captured.

The Re.appearance of the Rebel from
Clad Steamer Merrimac and other War
VesSels..--Three small Union Vessels
Captured.
FoRT MONROE, April 1I-2 P. M.
The return of pleasant weather to.
day brought the Merrimac, as was gen
orally anticipated. She had been seen
three days ago under steam at Craney
Island, and as the evening of yester.
day promised that the storm had ex.
hausted itself, few were surprised this
morning at the announcement that she
was in sight, coming down. The
alarm gun was fired at twenty minutes
past 7 o'clock, and as soon as the ap.
pearance of the Melrimac was general.
ly known the docks, beach, ramparts
of the Fortress and other points com
handing a view were crowded with
spectators. The Merrimac, after show.
ing herself beyond SewalI's Point, ap.
peared to be heading this way. She
did not long continue on this course
but turned towards James river, follow.
ed by six gunboats, which had come
round the Point in her company. Oh
the latter, the jamestown and York.
town were recognized. The others
were supposed to be the Raleiah and
Teaser. Arriving at a point midway
between Sewell's Point and Newport
News Point, and near the place where
the French war vessels Cassinet and
Catiment, and the English steamer Ri.
naldo had placed themselves.
Early in the morning the whole fleet
came to stop, while the jamestown,
followed at some distance by the York
town and small tug, continued on her
course. The intention Of the James.
town was lot at first perceived. AS
she came around, leaving Newport
News on her left, it was seen that her
object was to capture two briggs and a
schooner, which were anchored near
the shore, about two miles from the
Point. This without the slightest diff
Guilty, and the assistance of the small
tug being rendered, the three prizes
were taken off under the rebel flag.
The whole affair was concluded in less
than half an hour, and the jamestown
having reioined the fleet, was ordered
to tow the prizes, to Craney Island.
Taking one brig in tow astern, and one
on each side, she moved slowly away.
Slightly alarmed at their bold dash,
quite a large number of schooners in
the upper harbor availed themselves of
a favorable wind and sailed. Up to
this time the rebel fleet has renamed
inthe position in which they first placed
themselves, and nothing more has
been done.
The tide is now out, and probably
no new movement will be made for
some hours. If the Merrimac should
then see fit to pay us visit, she will
be appropriately welcomed.
The names of the two briggs cap.
tured are the "Sabao," of Providence,
r. l., and the "Marcus," of Stockton.
The former was loaded with hay on
private account, and the latter was
chartered by government, but had been
unloaded. The name of the schooner
has not been ascertained. The cap
tains of the two briggs escaped ashore
in small boat with four of the crew of
the Marcus. Two men were left on
board the Marcus and six on board the
Sabao. They made no efforts to lower
a boat to escape. They were all taken
prisoners, together with the crew of
the schooner. i4 5fus zea
1t is said that the captured vessels
were ordered last night to move down
the harbor for safety. sis
LATER.-The jamestown returned
from Craney Island at o'clock. Not
a shot was fired until four o'clock,
when the Merrimac fred three shots in
the direction of Hampton Greek.
The TAX BILL.-The tax bill has
passed the House, and is now before