Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-05-15
An Exciting Day at Fortress Monroe
THE MERRIMAc TURNS TAIL"

An Exciting Day at Fortress Monroe.
THE MERRlMAc "TURNs TAIL"
The whole of Thursday, the sth
inst, was spent by our war vessels in
Hampton Roads in an Intellectual at
tempt to draw the rebel steamer Merri-
mac into an engagement. The Moni-
tor, Galena, Naugatuck, Susquehan-
nah, San Jacinto, Seminole, Dacotah,
Vanderbilt and the Flag Ship Mime
sofa we're all in the play, while Presi-
dent Lincoln viewed the action from a
tug boat about mile in rear of the
fleet.
Shots were fired at the various reb-
ell Notifications and batteries in order
to pravoke fight. At about noon
the Dacotah and Seminole went up the
Elizabeth river towards Norfolk. The
Dacotah fired every few minutes al
tcrnately at Scwall's Point and Craney
Island-the enemy making no reply,
although the shots reached their desti.
nation.
AT about one o'clock, the rebels
opened rapid fire from Sewall's
Point, principally upon the Monitor,
and succession of shells was poured
upon the enemy from the Susquehan'
nah, Dacotah, Seminole, and San ia
cinto-broadsidc after broadsidc. The
big gun at the Rip-Raps also threw
shells, having the range of Sewa!ps
Point perfectly. A dense black smoke
arose on the Point, indicating that
their barracks had taken fire from our
shells. Our vessels were constantly
changing position, and thus destroyed
the range of the rebel gunners.
Just before three o'clock the Merri-
mac made her appearance behind Sew
alps Point and moved slowly towards
the fleet Simultaneously with the
appearance of the Merrimac the Mon.
itor started to meet her. The smaller
vessels drew aside and left. The
Monitor and Naugatuck are now in
the approaching path of the Merri-
mac. The vessels of the feet had
been lying quietly at anchor for the
last half hour, when the signals for
the flag ship ordered them all to re-
turn. The Susquehannah led the way
followed by the San Jacinto, Seminole,
Decotah and Monitor, all apparently
using the greatest speed toward the
forward. TO the spectators this SEEM
ed Notifying, but as they moved
down in line the Monitor was seen to
halt, and the San Jacinto and Deco
tab also followed her example, leav-
ing the Susquehannah and Seminole
moving ahead. the four steamers and
the Monitor having taken their posi-
ton. The Merrimac also halted, and
the vessels stood there not more than
a mile and half apart, the Merrimac
apparently unwilling to come further
down and the Monitor unwilling to
60 further up. The Minnesota also
steamed up in front of the Fortress
wharf, followed by the Vanderbilt,
when both stopped. After laying in
this position the Minnesota turned
around and steamed back, and the
sharp iron proved Vanderbilt, aritAout
turning slowly backed water down the
river. Whilst this manoeuvering
was going on, firing had entirely
ceased from all points.
At half past three o'clock the Merri-
mac turned around and steamed back
toward Norfolk with her rebel flag
flying. The Decotah again proceeded
up towards the Merrimac and tue
Monitor started toward the mouth of
the Elizabeth river. The Dccotah is
now within easy range of Sewall's
Point, but the batteries there do not
open on her. She and the Monitor
have both stopped, and the Merrimac
is stationary about a mile from the
Craney Island battery. Here COM
menced movement which cannot be
made public just yet. The Wander
bilt and Arago have now steamed in
front Of the wharf The Merrimac
has run back under the guns of Cra-
ncy Island and the Monitor is steam.
ing toward her at full speed
The Minnesota is also coming up
again at full speed, the object being
to draw the rebels out again. For the
past two hours the feet has been mo-
wing back and forward, but the Mer-
rimac still lies under the guns Of era.
ney Island.
The Minnesota, Arago and Wander
bilt have gone back to their anchor
age, and there is no prospect of a
fight tonight. The troops are going
on board the transports, and the war
vessels. including the Monitor, have
all returned to their anchorage.
Of the many shots fired at the feet
by the rebels not one struck any Of
our vessels, some went over their
masts, but most all Of them fell short.
The rebels could be distinctly seen
from the vessels carrying off their
dead and wounded.
In Commodore Goldsboro's despatch
to the President, his plan Of action is
explained as follows
"On the appearance of the Merri.
mac outside Of the works, the Moni.
tors orders were to fall back into
fair channel way, and only to engage
her seriously in such position that
that ship together with the merchant
vessels intended for the purpose.
should run her down il an opportunity
presented itself The other vessels