Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-03-15
from the Daily Nonpareil.l
Great Naval Battle ! !
The Rebel Steamer Merrimac
Attacks Federal Fleet.
She Sfnks the Frigate Cum Osrland d,
and Burns the k'rigAte Congress.
The Rebels 'Vamoosing' from
the Potomac.
COCKPIT POINT AND LEEDSBURG
TAKEN, &c, &c.

TAKEN, &c, &c.
--
CHICAGO, Mach 10.
Leesburg is now occupied by the federal
! troops. Cockpit Point has been taken by
federsls. This raises the quasi blockade
New YoRX, March 10.
Brunswick, Georgia, and F%ernandina,
Florida, have been captured.
The rebels have vacated Winchester
and Manassas.
WASHINGTON, March 10.
The President has ordered the Army Of
the Potomac to be divided into five Corps
de Armee,' under Generals Mcdowell,
Sumner, HeiLzleman, -, and Banks
FORT MONROE, March 9.
The Merrimac made her appearance
yesterday. with the assistance of two gun
boats from Norfolk, and made an attack
IN Neport News and the navel vessels sta.
toned at that place.
The Merrimac was first seen from the
ramparts Of Fortress Monroe a, | o'clock.
Her bows and stern are covered with slop.
ing iron plates, extending two feet below
the water lines, and meeting above like
the roof Of n house. On her bows at the
water lire are two sharp iron points, re.
sembling plows. On her bows were seen
two guns, projecting from long elliptical
port holes.
The design Of the enemy did not be-
come apparent until after one o'clock, by
which time the Minnesota got under way
for the scene Of action.
The Roanoke flag ship being disabled
was taken IN tow, by two gun boats.
The first shot was fred q, 2 o'clock
from the trigale Cumberland. The Sew.
ellis Point batteries then opened FIRE on
the Minnesota, which after passing the
Sawyer Gun a. Rip Raps replied.
The engagement now became general.
After firing TWO guns, the Cumberland was
struck twice by the Merrimac's sharp bows
making terrible holes in her water lines.
The Cumberland continued Gcing until
the water entered her port holes, when she
careened slowly and finally sunk.
No apparent effect was produced on the
Merrimac by the continuous firing from
our batteries aud vessels.
The Minnesota having got aground way
up, could afford but little assistance.
Shortly after 3 o'clock, the rebel gun
boats Yorktown and jamestown arrived.
The former was disabled early in the az
~teruoon, aud put ashore for repairs.
After sinking the Cumberland, the Mer.
rimac, turned her attention to the frigate
Congress, and in less than an hour al,er-
wards she surrendered to the officers Of
the Merrirnac, and were taken prisoners.
Her seamen we're allowed 10 escape.
The trigate st. Lawrence arrived here
during the afternoon, aud Immediately
proceeded up the river, following the ex.
ample OF the Minnesota and Roanoke, fir.
lug GA the battery at Seweil Point, but
like all the rest, her shots tell short. The
gun boat Mystic was also towed up, but at
sundown Roanoke, Mystic and St. Law.
renee retrrned. The conflict between the
Minneso'a +ud rebel gun boats continued
without apparent effect till dark.
At midnight the Congress was burned
by the rebels. During the evening the
iron clad steamer Monitor arrived here
and proceeded TO take part in the action.
Reinforcements aud ammunition were sent
early mex morning from Newpor, News.
During the night only occasional guns
were fired.
This morning the conflict was renewed
until the presence Of the Monitor became
known 10 the Merrimac the latter being
engaged with the Minnesota, which but
for the timely arrival Of the Monitor, might
have been lost. The Monitor and Merri,
mac engaged each other two or three
hours, both at long and short range, with.
out perciptiblo effect on either; they
seemed Almost to run each other down
once or twice. The Monitors batteries
finally succeeded in forcing a long hole in
the port side of the Merrimac. when the
latter retired to Norfolk about | o'clock.
One United States gun boat was struck
in the boiler by q shot from the Merrimac.
The gun boat Roanoke was also seriously
damaged, and obliged to retire.
The principal LOIS Of lie was on board
the Cumberland, where, it is thought, $50
must have been killed or drowned. Ac-
cording to the report of the officers Of the
Minnesota six were lost On her. One re.
bel gun boa: was cut III two, yesterday, by
the CUMBERLAND.
LOUISVILLE, March 10.
Reliable information from Memphis IN
to Wednesday says that the citizens are
greatly alarmed, and relying on Fort Pill
low for defence. There are but cew O
at Memphis. Tho Legislature had scat
tered, after several Intellectual attempts to
transact business. Gov. Harris is hyiny
about from one Southern point to another
with little prospect of succeeding in his
efforts 10 rally the people to his aid.
CHARLEsTowN. Va, March 8.
The occupation of Leesburg has been
officially confirmed. The enemy evacua.
ted the Town on Friday morning, taking
ing all their supplies and baggage to Mid.
dlebury.
JprIsvtrYr A...I O