Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-03-15

| o'pe' " tW0 or tnree n0urS, AZ long en0 q
sbor, t.snge. No perccptible effect was pre-
dr9ced upou either. They vent along sid
once or twice, snj seemed almost 10 run esc
other down, but they soon reappesred. Tn
Ercson battery succeeded finally in forcinl
large hole 10 the port side Of the Merrmac
and with the whole Confederate feet, sh
then retired to Norfolk.
At about one o'clock the y. S. gunboa
Oregon was struck by the Merriuac in he
b,iler and was blown up.
A rebel gunboat was cut 10 two yesterds,
Afternoon by the Cumberland. The crew o
the Minnesota we're brought on shore thi'
afternoon, aud With the assistance OF The
| Spoulding she has been got of, and is now OF
her way here. She received numerous shots
bnt no serious damage.
The Congress is supposed to have lost ovel
one hundred, including but one officer. The
escaped crews OF the Congress and Cumber
land have arrived here.
The NJ oDiteur has come up to the expecta
tions that were entertained OF her, and has
proved herself impreguable to the heaviest
shot at close quarters. She behaved remark
ably well on her passage from New York
and although the sea covered her decks
completely at times, her speed did not seem
to be at ell diminished. To her presence
here may be attributed the safety of the
Minnesota and other vessels 10 port, md the
final disabling Of the Merrimac, which had
previously been proof against everything
Captain Worden, of the Moniteu-, was
wounded in the head while looking out OF the
wheel house. No other accident Of any kind
occurred to the Battery or crew.
We have not yet nny list Of the killed and
wounded.
Naval men here are generally Of opinion
that, considering everything the rebels had
the worst time oft. Without the Moniteur,
the damage might have Been much more
serious.
STILL LATER.
WAsHIxsroS, March 9-7o'clock, p. M.-The
telegraph lines to Fortress Monroe has been
completed, and the following despatch has been
received direct from that point:--
"The Ericsson iron.cIad steamer Monitor, ar.
rived at Fortress Monroc las night, and early this
morning she was attacked by the three Rebel
steamers, the Mcrrimac, jamestown and York.
town. After contest Of i've hours they were
driven off, the Merrimac in q sinking condition.
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES PROM FORTRESS MONROE.
WA,niScroS. March s.-The following des-
patch was 10 night received by Major General
Mcclellan from uenera Wool -
FORTRESS MONROE, March 9---6 o'clock p. NJ.
Two hours after my telegraphc despatch to the
Secretary Of War last evening, the steamer Mon
tor arrived. She Immediately went to the assis.
ta0nce Of the Minnesota, which was aground, and
continued SO until a few minuets since. Early
this morning she was attacked hy the Merrlmac,
Jamestown aud Ytrktowp.
After five hours contest, they were driven of,
and the Merrmac in a sinking condition. She
was towed by the jamestown, Yorktown, and
several smaller boats, towards Norfolk, no doubt
for the purpose if possible TO get her in the dry
dock for repairs
The Minnesota is ailoat and being towed to.
ward Fortress Monroe.
DISPATCH TO THE SECRETARY OF THE sAvr.
FoRTREss MoSRot, March 9-e.45 p. NJ
TO q. Welles, Secretary of the Navy The
steamer Monitor arrived at 10 o'clock last night
and went Immediately to the protection of the
Minnesota, lying aground just below Newport
News At seven o'clock A. NJ, the Merrimac,
accompanied by two wooden steamers and sever.
al tugs, stood out towards the Minnesota and
opened fire.
The Monitor met them at once, and opened
her fire, when nll the enenvs vessels retired ex.
cepting the M,rrimac. These two iron clad
vessels fought par, of the tine touching each
other, from eight o'clock A NJ. ill noon when
the Merrimac retired. Whether she is injured or
not it is impossible to say. Lieutenant J. S.
Worden, who Commanded the Monitor handled
her with great skill assisted by Chief Engineer
Stemers. Lieutenant Worden was injured BY
the cement from the pio,house beiEg driven into
his eyes. but trust not seriously. rhe Mime.
sofa kept up a continuous fire, and is hersel
somewhat injured She was moved considerably
to-day. and will probably be off to night. The
Mentor is injured, and ready q, any moment tc
repel another attack.
(SigneO G.. V. Fox.
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy.