Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-15
From the Baltimore American Of Tuesday
The Great Naval Engagement.


A Graphic Descripfion-The Sinking Of The Cum
berlaHd-Bmning Of the COngress-7Hree
Hundred Lires Lost-Anack on the Minnesota
-AppearaHce Of the Montor-The Fight BE
treen the Monitor and the Merrimac- Retreat
Of the Merrimae-!Sofety of the Minnesota
Flight offhe Rebels.
FIGHT sATUEDAY-DEsTRUCTION OF THE
CUMBERLAND AND CONGRESS.
The Merrimac made her appearance coming
out from Elizabeth river about noon on Saturday.
She stood directly across the roads toward New
port News. As soon she made and
her direction aseerta;ned, the crews were beat 10
quarters on beth the Cumberland and Congress,
and preparations made for what felt To he
almost hopeless fight but the determination to
make it as desperate possible. The Merrmac
kept straight on, making. according 10 the best
estimates. about eight miles hour. As she
passed the mouth OF Nansemond river the Con
gress threw the first shot her. which was i'm
mediatey answered The Merrmac passed the
Congress- dischargng a broadsde at her. Zone
shell from which killed and disabled every man
except one at gun No 49, and kept on toward
the Cumberland, which laid further up in the
mouth Of James river.
She approached the Cumberland at full speed,
stem knocking port No and the bride port in.
to one. whilst her ram cut into the Cumberland
under water. Almost ut the moment of collision
the Merrimac discharged from her forward gun
elev en- inch she'll This shell raked the whole
gun-deck, killing ten men at gun No. |, among
whom was master mate John Harrington. and
cutting of both arms and both legs of quarter
gunner Wood. The water rushed in from the
hole made below. and i'm five minutes the ship
Ia nv nc hpil an
from the Cumberland were rained on the Merri-
mac she passed ahead. but the most glanced
harmleSsly from the incline of her iron plated
bomb proof though some shots which struck her
at more favorable range caused splinters of iron
To tly.
As the Merrimac rounded to and came up she
again raked the Cumberland with heavy fire AT
this fire sixteen men at gun No. I'D were killed
or wounded. and were all subsequently carried
down in the sinking ship
Advancing with increased, speed the Merrrimac
struck the Cumberland on the starboard side,
smashing her upper works and cutting another
hole below the water line.
The ship now began to rapidly settle. and the
sOene became most horrible. The cockpit
filled with the wounded, whom il was impossible
10 bring up. The former magazine under
water, but powder still supplied from the af
ter magazine. and the firing kept steadily up by
men who knew that the ship was sinking under
them. They worked desperately and unremlt-
tinsly and amid the din and horror of the conflict
gave cheers for their flag and the Union. which
were joined in BY the wounded. The decks were
slippery with blood. arms and legs and "chunks"
of flesh were strewed about The Merrimac laid
off at easy point blank range, discharging her
broadsideS alternately at the Cumberland and the
Congress. The water by this time had reached
the after magazine of the Cumberland The
men. however. kept at work, and several cases of
powder passed up and the guns kept in play.
Several men in the after shell room fingered there
too long in their eagerueSs TO pass up shell. and
were drowned. The reader must bear in mind
that these incidents of the fight which we briefly
detail. occupied some time in Transporting. Il be
Ing about one hour and half from the time of
the first attack upon the Cumberland until she
finally sank.
I he water had at this time reached the berth
or main gun deck and il was felt hopeless and
useless to continue the fight longer. The word
was given for each man to save himself, but AT
ter tn order gun No was fired when the ad-
joining gun No. 8, was actually under water.
This last shot was fred by active Little fellow
named Matthew Teney. whose courage had been
conspicuous throughout the action As his port
Was lett open by the recoil of the gun, he jumped
To scramble out. but the water rushed in with 50
much force that he was washed back and drown
Ell
When the order given to firing and
20 look out Tor their safety IN the best way posi-
be. numbers scampered through the port holes
whilst others reached tbs spar-deck by the com
paniOn ways. Some were incapable to get out
by either OF these means. and were carried down
by the rapidly sinking ship Otthose who reach
Ell the upper deck some swan oil 10 the tugs
that came out from Newport News. some kept
aAoat by SEEING floating fragments eli the wreck
Others escaped in the rigging and masts. and still
Others sank never - rise agUin.
The Cumberland sank in water nearly 20 her
cross trees. and lies with heavy list to port
She went down With her flag still flying, and it
sul flies from her mast. above the waters that
overw ne med her.a memento of the most daring,
and vet most hopeless defense that has ever been
made by any vessel belonging 10 any navy in the
world.
THE ATTACK ON THE CONGRESS
The Cumberland being thoroughly demolished
the Merrimac ieft her--nOt. 10 the creilt of the
rebels " ought 70 be stated, either firing at the
men clinging the rigging or at the small boats
on the propeller hildln. which were busily en-
poyed rescuing the survivors of her crew-and
proceeded To attack the Congress. The officers
OF the Congress seeing the tate OF the Cumber-
land. and aware that she also would be sunk II
she remained within reach of the iron beak OF the
Mernmac. had got sail on the ship with the in
tention OF running her ashore The tug boat
Louave also gslanty came out and made fast To
the Cumberland. and assisted in towing her
ashore.
The MeTrmae :hen sarged up. gave the Con
greSs broadside, receiving one in return and
getting astern raked the ship fore and aft This
hire Was terribly destructive, a shell killing every
man al one OF the guns except one Coming
again broadsde TO the Congress. the Merrimac
ranged slowly backward and forward, at less
taan one hundred yards distance. aud fired broad
side alter brosdside into the Congress. The lat
ter vessel replied maniully and obstinately. every
gun that could be brought 10 bear being discharg