New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-11
FORTUNATE ARRIVAL OF THE MONITOR.
THE DAMAGE TO THE MERRIMAC.
q HOLE STOVE IN HER SIDE.
Union Loss on the Cumberland about SO.
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS ACCOUNT
n.,i.I ni.natch 10 TIE n. Y. Tribune.

y '''' WisHisGrOl Monday. Msrch 10 1861
The following official report Of the recent o.
ragements at Fortress Monroe is from Capt
Marston, the senior officer Of the fleet:
USIrrD SrArYs STEAMER RnsVOEE.
HAMPTON ROADS, March =, 1871
Sir: have the honor to inform You that yester-
day ct 10 O'clock Of the lookout vessels reported
by signal that the enemy was coming out imue-
diately ordered the Minnesota TO get underway;
and rs coon a. the two tugs Appointed to TOW tbis
ship came alopgside, slipped our cables. The Mer-
rinse was soon discovered passing out by seweiPs
Point, standing up toward Newport News, aecomps-
MED by several small gunboa's. Every exertion was
made by us to get all the speed on the Eoauoke
hat the two tugs were capable Of giving Der,
but, in consequence OF our bad Storage, we
did not get ahead ss rapidly as We desired to.
Tie MerTnac went up and Immediately attacked
the Congress and Cumberland, but particularly the
latter ship, " hich was hid from us by the isnd.
Wien about seven or eight miles from forreo
Monroe the Minnesota grounded. We continued to
s,aud On and when We came IN s'ght Of the Cumber-
laBd We s.w she bad careened oves, apparently fGn
o. water The enemy who lad been joined ~
TWO a. three steamers from james River now de-
voted themselves exclusively q the Copgrese but
=. E being aground could orng bnt lew guns 10 bear
On them aud 70 10 minutes before O'Clock We had
he modification Of seeing ct haul down Der flag.
4 continued TO stand Oh ull we found ourselves in
three and hat fathous OF water, and were aground
astcrl. Finding we could 20 40 further, ! ordered
one Of D. tugs 10 tow Us around aud soon
- the Ro4uoks's head was pointed down the
bay, and | found sLe aBoat sgain,
directed the tugs 10 90 70 the assistance
~ ,he Minnesota. Ider the hope that with
TWO o,lcls which had ac ompanied her they would
be able o. get Der of but, up 20 the time thst now
xras, have not succeeded in doing 70. Al o'clock.
the ir.are =. Lawrence, il tow OF the Cambridge,
.a-s.d H. ara rot long tlershe aso gronadeGi but,
by the all oi the Cambridge. she was got .hcat
again. auG being unable 90 fen ier any assistance L,
t.e alnue,ots came down the barber. Ia Easing
the batteries ar seweirs Point, bo.h going and re-
u.luiag, lie X .bels opened thei Gre o. us, which
wus returned from our .so, gausi but the range
was TO great iJr them. Wide tie enemy sloI Ell
lar be,ou. ne. one saot went through our fore
saii, cattn. away two oil shrouas,
AMI -tyera, shells bust over and mar tie
ship. sc..er.ns tacir fragments On the deck. Be
tween sud clock We discovered thai the Rebels
ha0 ret lse 10 tAs Congress, and she coLiinaedto
burn III O'Clock, when she blew up. This was d
melancholy i,iac;.on TO me; for as SIZE bad fallen
into the hands OF rhe enemy, il was far better 10
have her destroyed an that size should oe employed
against AZ future day. Il was the impression
OF some d my officers that the Rebels hOisted the
French hag, bu, ! cOuld not make it ont. At :
o'clock l heard Ina, tie Monitor had arrived, and
soon after Lieut. Commanding Wosdon came on
board, and IN medately offered him to 20 up " the
Mnneeota hoping she would be able 70 keep OF A.
tack on thc Minnesota III had got her a.Ot again.
This morning the Merimac renewed the attack
on The Minnesota, bui she found, doubt greatly
% her surprise, new opponent ia the Monitor. The
contest has been going during mos. 0. the day
between these two armored vessels, aud mos beau
tfay has the lit.le Monitor sustained herself show
ing heIseli capable cf great endurance. | have not
received any Official account Of the l0ss o. the Con
eress and Cumberland, but doubt shall do so,
when it shall be transmitted 10 YOU should do in
Justice 20 this Military Department. Dbl MOI INFORM
Won thai every assistance freely rendered TO us,
and tha, i've Oh their tugs sent 10 the relief OF
the slinne ,oa and all the ali offered in their power.
would also beg leave TO SAY that Capt. Pooe CT the
ordnance department kindly volunteered TO DO duty
temporarily on board this ship, and from whom
have received much assistance. / did hope 20 get
this OF by this days mail, BIZ, have been SO COR
s,antly employed that fear | shall no; do so.
Very respectfully. your obsiisr, servant,
John MkRsION. Captain un- : Mol Ofcer
TotU5u GiDroS WELLS, secIctsry Of Navy "sstins-
ton, d. {.