The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-03-21
The Late Naval Engagement.

lars OF the late Naval Victory in Hainp
ton Roads. They are copied from tn
Norfolk Day Book, of the 10th:
THE ATTACK UPON THE CUMBERLAND.
The Virginia on approaching her ant
getting within point blank range, fire,
her bow gun several times, and ran int,
her, striking her fairly with her ram
which made her reel to and fro and sen
her speedily TO the bottom; but while 20
ing down, we understand, the after gun
Of the Cumberland was discharged at, Ia,
Virginia, with what injury we know not
The object in first getting rid of th,
Cumberland was probably to destroy tn,
very heavy armament which that frigat,
carried, it being the heaviest in the Yam
kee Navy. The officers and crew of tn,
Cumberland made their escape as bes
they could, many of them being captur
ed by our gunboats. The wounded OF
board it is believed went down with tn,
vessel.
THE FRIGATE CONGRESS.
The Virginia next turned her attention
to the Congress, which vessel, it is said
CALAMITY resisted her inevitable fate foi
nearly an hour; but finally finding the
ship rapidly sinking, she hauled down
her colors and made for the beach, where
she was run as high aground as possible
Her officers and crew were taken off by
our gunboats, and while she had her flag
of truce hoisted, and was being relieved
of her killed and wounded by our boats
the Yankees on shore at Newport News
disregarding the flag of truce, with Min.
ME muskets, fired into her and killed Sc.
veral of their own men and slightly
wounded in the arm Mr.. John Hopkins
one Of our pilots, attached to the Beau.
fort.
While the Virginia was engaged with
the Congress, with her bow-gun, she pour.
ed broadside after broadside into the
shore batteries of the enemy at Newport
News. One discharge from the bow-gun
of the Virginia, says one of the prisoners
capsized two of the guns of the Congress-
killing l6 of her crew and taxing off the
head OF Lieut.. Smith, and literally tore
the ship to pieces.
THE MINNESOTA AND ST. LAWRENCE CONE UP
While the engagement was going on be.
tween the, two frigates and the Virginia,
theenemyls steam frigate Minnesota put
out from Old Point to their assistance
She laid we p over towards Newport News,
but not entirely out of the range of our
batteries on jSewelPs Point, which opened
on her, WITH what effect we are unable to
say, but she1 replied to them without any
damagf whatever The Minnesota got
sarouh fhen witiIinra mile OF two ot
INewJrt Sfews Point, Tharo size stuck.
unable todaet of, while The Confederate
steamers Patrick Henry and jamestown
peppered 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 also got aground, and a steam frigate.
supposed to be the Roanoke, put off
from Old Point with the same intention,
it is supposed; but seeing the sad havoc
which the Virginia was playing with the
Federal vessels, she put back to Old
Point.
CASUALTIES.
The Virginia had two men killed and
some tive or six wounded. A shot enter
ed the port-hole and struck the gun on
the muzzle, knocking off piece nine
inches long. This disabled the gun, which
was Immediately replaced by another of
the same calibre.
Captain Buchan and Lieut.. Minor, of
the Virginia, are said to be wounded
the former slightly, the latter severely.
On board the Patrick Henry, shot en-
tered one OF her ports, we understand
and passed through one of her boilers,
disabling 1t. She was compelled to haul
off temporarily for repairs. There were
four men killed and three wounded ON
board OF her. Other damages not mate.
rial.
On board the gunboat Raleigh, Mid.
shipman Hutter was killed.
PRIZES.
Several small prizes were said to have
been taken by our gunboats from the
Yankees, one of which, the schooner
Reindeer, was brought up, to the Navy.
Yard on Saturday night. Two other.
were said to have been carried over to Pic
Point on Saturday.
THE BATTLE ON SUNDAY.
Some detention occurred on board the
Virginia on Sunday morning, we learn
or she would have commenced the en-
gagement much earlier than 81 o'clock
at which time she, together with the Pat
rick Henry and jamestown, and our 9th
! er gunboats, opened fire on the Mime
sofa, which still lies hard aground. The
tide being at the ebb, the Virginia did
not take the channel where the Mime
sofa lay, probably for fear of grounding
but getting within good range of her
she opened fire with terrible effect, com
pletely riddling her, and rendering con
slant exertion at the pump necessary to
prevent her filling.
Early in the morning, the Ericsson Bat
terry, now called the Monitor, was discov
cred off Newport News Point, she havint
gore up there during the night. A sharrI
encounter soon took place between hel
and the Virginia, during which time the,
were frequently not more than 80 or 4l
yards apart. Unfortunately, the Virginis
ran aground, and the Ericsson, using hel
advantage, poured shot after shot into
her, but without doing any serious dam.
age In short while, however, the Vir
ginia succeeded in getting of, and put.
ting on full head OF steam, ran her bow
into the Ericsson, doing, as it is thought,
great damage.
We are rejoiced TO say that, notwith.
standing the firing was much heavier than
on Saturday, there were no casualties on
either Of olr vessels-not a man being in
the least injured by shots from the enc
my or otherwise.
Several Of the enemy's gunboats being
within range. they were favored with a
shell or two from the Virginia with tel
ling effect and in every case disabling or
sinking them. One Of these laying along
side the Minnesota had a shell thrown
aboard Of her, which on bursting tore
her asunder and can't har to tba ko.,oy,