Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-14
STATEMENT OF TIE PILOT.

We had been on the lookout for the Merrimac
Tor some time, aud were as we'll prepared then AZ
! we could have been at any other time or q, -,
have been during the last SIX months
As she came ploughing through the water right
EDWARDS toward our port bow, she looked Ike a
huge crocodile. Her sides seemed Of solid iron
except where the guns pointed from the narrow
ports, and rose slantingly from the water ike the
root OF house or the archsi back of a tortoise
Probably the extreme height of the spex from
the waters edge, perpendiculsrly, was ten feet
The armament we could bring to bear on the Mer.
rimao was Aeout eleven a-ns and n-inch Dahl
rem guns and two pivot guns Of the same make
As soon as we could bear upon her, our whole
oroadside commenced. c:ill she came on the
balls bouncing from her mailed sides like India
rubber, apparently not making the least impress
sion, except to cut of her flagstaff, and thus
bring down the confederate colors. None of her
crew Ventured at that time on her outside 10 re-
place them, and she fought thenceforward with
only her pennsnt flying. She appeared 10 obey ksr
helm and be uuy readily handled, making all her
movements and evoiaions ttfh apparent faculty and
readrr'ss. We had probably fired six or eight
oroadsldes when shot was received from one of
her guns which killed five OF our marines. 1t
was Impossible for our vessel to get out Of her
way, and the Merrimac soon crashed her iron
aoTn or ram into the Cumberland, just starboard
me main chains, under the bluff Of the port bow |
Knocking hole in the side, near the water line,
as large as the head Of hogshead, and driving |
me vessel ack upon her anchors with great force
Inc night lasted about three-fourths Of an hour,
,ne cumberland firing rapidly and all the time,
the water pouring in tho hold, and by and by the
ports as her bow kept sinking deeper and deeper.
near the middle Of the fight, when the berth deck
d tue Z um berlsnd had sunk below water, one OF
me crew OF the Merrimsc came out of port to
ne outside Of her iron-pisted roof, and ball
rom one Of our guns instantly cut him in two:
nat was the last and only rebel that ventured
min sight, the rest remaining In their safe,
IOn-walled incloeure. We fred constantly, and
lie Merrimac occasionally, but every slot told
pom our wooden vessel and brave crew. Her
uns being without the least elevation, pointed
trsight at us along the surface Of the water, and
er nearness, she being much Of the time within i
1ree hundred yards, ade il an easy msttef to
md each ball to its exact mark. Probably her ,
ans would be useless at considerable distance,
II appears impossible TO elevate them. Finally,
Ter about three-fourtns of an hour of the most
we're fighting, our vessel sank, the stars aad c
rlpes sui uapng. That flag was finally sub a
erged. but after the hull grounded on the sands
ty-four feet below the ,urface of the water, our
nnsnt was still flying from the topmast above
waves None of our men were captured, but
my were drowned as the vessel vent down. We I
about four hundred on board, and 1 suppose o
IN one hundred and fifty to two hundred were .
ied during the engagement and dro wned at the 4
hlng. Very few of our men swan ashore, most
.nose who were rescued from the water being
eo oy small boats
LIE Mefrirnae then turned her attention to the =
,s'ess, Moicn lay probably 200 yards to the u
"a OF "nere the Cumberland was. The Merri- Il
came UP saass nsr stern, and her crew fred 1t