The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-18
THE GREAT NAVAL BATTLE.
THE CONFEDERATEs VICTORIOUS

Last week We published a short account OF the
great naval battle at the mouth OF james river,
pear Norfolk The following are further and 1ul
particulars In reading it remember that the
Virgins. (heretoiore called the Merrimac,) the
Beaufort, the Raleigh, the Patrick Henry, the
Teaser. and the jamestown are Confederate ves-
sells, while the Cum berlard, Congress, Minnesota
St. Lawrence, Monitor or Ericsson, Federal
ships. The Virginia sank the Cumberland burnt
the Congress, disabled the others, aud destroyed
some of the enemys gun-boats.
Ata quarter past eleven o'clock Saturday,
March Sth, the ron-clad steamer Virginia, Com
Buchanan, cast loose from her mooring at the
Navy Yard, and made her way down to Hampton
Roads towards the blockading feet lying off New
port News, attended by the stean-tugs Beaufort,
Lieut-Conmanding Parker and the Raleigh, Lieut.
Com n1anding Alexander. The Virginia reached
the neighborhood of the Federal vessels, after
some detention at the distractions below, at two
O'Clock Here she fonnd the two frst-cla sailing
irigates Cumberland aud Congress. With de-
termination pay her respects to the Cumberland
first the Virginia bore down for that vessel, and
while passing the Congress she gave her broad
side by way Of a salute. Her operations the
Cumberland were performed in the short space of
Is minutes times at the end of which the Cum
berlanG sunk just where she had been lying.
The aitack ppon the CumJeylnnd The Vir-
einia on approaching her and getting within point
blank range, fired her bow gun several times and
ran into her, striking her fairly with her ram,
which made her reel to and fro and sent her
speedily to the bottom The object in first getting
rid of the Cumberland was probably to destroy
the very heavy armament which that frigatc
carried, it being the heaviest in the Yankee Navy
The officers aud crew of the Cumberland made
their escape as best they could, many Of them
being captured by cuuboats. The wounded
on board, it Is believed, went down with the
vessel
Tie Jrigafc Congrcss--The Virginia next
turned her attention to the Con -rcSs which vessel,
it is said CALAMITY resisted her inevitable fate for
nearly hour; bur finally finding the ship rapidly
sinking, she hauc1 down her conrs and made for
the beach, where shs was run as high aground as
possible Her uffc RS anl crew We're taken off BY
our gurfbcats, and while she hll her flag of truce
Eosted and was being relieved uf her killed and
wounded by our boats, the Yankees on shore at
Newport News, dioregarling the fag Of truce
with Minnie muskcts, fired into her. aud killed
several of their men aud slightly wounded in
the arm Mr.. John Hopkins, one of our pilots, at
tached to the Beaufort.
While ;he Virginia engaged with the Con
grcss with her bow-.uu, she poured Ia siGe after
broadsdc into the shore batteries Of the enemy at
Newport News. One discharge from the bow
gun Of the Virginia. says Of the prisoners,
cnpsized two Of The guns Of the Congress, killing
IS of her and taking off the head OF Lieut.
Smith. and literally tore the ship to pieces
The Minnesota ana s. Lotcrencc come up
While the engagement was going on between the
two frigates and tie Virginia, the cncu.y's steam
frigate Minnesota PIT ont from Old Point to their
assistance. She lai we'll over towards Newport
News, but not entirely out Of The range Of our
batteries Oh SeweII's Point, which opened on her
with what effect unable to say, but she
piled to them without any damage whatever.
The Minnesota got aground when within a mile or
two of Newport News Point. There she stuck
unable to get off, while the Confederate steamers
!, Patrick Henry and jamestown pcppcred her with
/, their batteries while the Virginia was attending
to the shore batteries at Newport News
\ The frigate ST Lawrence then came up to the
\ assistance of the Minnesota, and she slso got
\ aground, and steam iris.atc supposed to be the
4 Roanoke, put off from Old Point with tho same
I intention, it is supposed but seeing the sad havoc
\ which the Virginia was playing with the Federal
\ vessels she put back to Old Point
Casuaties-The Virginia had two men killed
\ and some FIVE or six wounded. 4 shot entered
Il the port-ho and struck the gun on the muzzle
II knocking of piece nine inches long. This dis
\ nbled the gun, which was immediately replaced
Il by another of the same calibre.
H On board the Patrick Henry, shot entered one
n OF nef ports, we Understand, ana passed through
one of her boilers, disabling it She was com
\ PEELED to draw Of temporarily for repairs There
4 were four men Killed aud three wounded on board
Of her. Other damage not material
On board the Raleigh, Mdshipman Hutter was
/ killed.
II PriSes.-Several small prizes were taken by our
4 gunboats from the Yankees, one Of which, the
! schooner Reindeer, was brought up to tie Navy
H Yard on Sunday night.
II .f SECOND DAT--BATTLE OF SUNDAY.
II Snme detention occurred on board the Virginia
Il on Sunday morning she did not get into action
a until 81 O'Clock, which time she, together with
the Patrick Henry and ,Jamestown and our other
n sunboais, opened fire the Minnesota, which
II was hard and fast aground and leaking rendering
constant exertiun at the pump necessary to pre-
II vent her from filling.
n Early in the morning, tho Ericsson Battery
Ii now called the Monitor, discovered off New
u port News Point, she having gone up there during
III henght. n sharp encounter soan took place
II between her and the Virginia, during which time
II they were not more than 30 or 40 yards APART
III Unfortunately the Erginia ran aground aud the
III Erccsun using her advantage, poured shot after
II shot into her, but without doing any serious
II damage In a short while however, the Virginia
succeeded in getting off, and putting on full head
OF steam, ran her bow into the Ericsson, dung
as il is thought, great damage ii
ili We rejoiced to say that notw thstandnc the