Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-03-20
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
GREAT NAVAL ENGAGEMENT |!
Ericsson Battery Triumphant !

Ericsson Battery Triumphant!
On the 9Th instant, the long expect
cd steamer Merrimac, from Norfolk
navy yard, made her appearance, and
with the assistance of two gunboats
which came out with her from Nor
folk, made an attack on Newport
News and the naval vessels stationed
at that place.
The Merrimac was first seen from
the ramparts of Fortress Monroe on
her way to Newport News at about
l o'clock. The two rebel gunboats
followed her. They all carried reb-
ell flag at the stern, and French flag
at the mast head. The Merrimac had
a flag at the bow which was described
by some as Commodore's blue flag,
and by others as a black flag.
The sides, bows and stern Of the
Merrimac were covered with sloping
iron plates, extending about two feet
below the water line and meeting
above like the roof of house. On
her bows on the water line arc two
sharp iron points resembling plows
about six or seven feet apart The
number of guns is stated at twelve,
but she might not have had so many.
At her bows were seen two guns pro-
truding from long elliptical port holes.
The design of the enemy did not be-
come apparent till between one and
two o'clock. and bythat time the steam
frigate Minnesota had got under way
to the scene of action. The Roanoke,
the flag ship, disabled by the breaking
of her shaft some time since, was ia
ken i'm tow by two gunboats. About
the same time the alarm gun was fired
at Fortress Monroe and the whole gar
rison promptly turned out.
The rebel boats steadily pursued
their way to Newport News, and the
Merrimac soon turned the point and
was lost to view from the Fortress.
The first shot was fired from the
frigatc Cumberland at little past
two o'clock. The Sewall's point bat.
terry (rebel) then opened on the Min
nesota which was passing, and our
Sawyer gun from the Rip Raps replied
A thick smoke was soon seen to
arise above Newport News Point, i'm.
dicating that the battery there as well
as the Cumberland and Congress were
engaged
The details of the action could not
be seen from the Fortress, but a telc-
graphic despatch was received an
nouncing that the Cumberland and
Merrimac were in close quarters. AT,
ter firing two guns at the Cumberland
the Merrimac struck her sharp bows
into her, making hole at her water
line seven feet in extent The Cum
berland commenced sinking, when the
Merrimac, backing short distance
ran into her second time, making
another terrible hole in her, causing
the water To run in at a furious rate.
The Cumberland continued firing till
the water entered her port holes. when
she carecned over slowly and finally
sunk at about 3 o'clock The New
port News battery and the guns of
the Cumberland fired continuously up.
on the Merrimac, but no apparent eff.
feet was produced upon her.
The steam frigatc Minnesota got
aground on the way up and could af-
ford but little assistance. Shortly be-
fore 3 o'clock the rebel gunboats York.
town and Jamestown arrived from up
the James river. The former had been
disabled early in the afternoon and put
in shore for repairs.
After sinking the Cumberland the
Merrimac turned her attention TO the
Congress, another of our sailing ves-
sells, and in less than an hour afterwards
a white flag was hoisted on the Con.
gress. A rebel gunboat went along.
side and took officers and marines
prisoners. The scamen were allowed
to escape to the shore.
The frigate st. Lawrence arrived at
at Fortress Monroe during the after
noon, and without dropping her an
Choir proceeded up the river and fol-
lowed the example of the Minnesota
and Roanoke in firing on the Sewall's
Point battery, but like the rest her
shot fell short. The gunboat Mystic
was also towed up in the afternoon,
but at sun down the Roanoke, St.
Lawrence, and Mystic, all returned.
The Mcrrimac continued to throw
shells into the Camp at Newport News,
while the jamestown and other rebel
gunboats commenced firing on the
Minnesota. The latter replied as Wig
orously as possible, and the conflict
was continued without any apparent
effect until dark.
During the evening the Congress
was set on fire, At midnight she was
blown mp, making terrible explosion
At about 10 o'clock the Monitor,
(the Ericsson Battery arrived at For
trcss Monroe, and Immediately went
to the protection of the Minnesota,
which was aground below Newport
News. During the night only an &C.
casional gun was fired. Reinforce
ments of men and ammunition had
sent to Newport News been in the af-
ternoon. But little serious damage
was done and no one was killed. Next
morning at o'clock the Merrimac,
Yorktown and Jamestown went to-
wards the Minnesota and opened fire.
The Monitor met them and opened fire,
when the enemy's vessels retired, ex-
cepting the Merrimac. The Monitor
and Mcrrimac engaged each other for
two or three hours withou: pcrcepti-
BILE effect upon either. They went
alongside each other once or twice
and seemed almost to run each other
down, but they again soon appeared
to renew the action. The Ericsson
battery finally succeeded in forcing
a large hole in the port side of the
Merrimac. when she retired with the
whole rebel feet to Norfolk. The
Mentor is uninjured and ready for
another attack.
We subjoin the following addition
al particulars:
Fr. MONROE, March 10.
The Monitor has come up to the ex-
pectations that were formed of her,
and has proved herself impreg nable
to heavy shot at close quarters She
behaved remarkably we'll on her pas
.oo., c.o,x, NJ vi c,l L.