Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-20

WAsmNeToN. March 12.-The official
report of Lieut.. Pendergrast of the frigate
Congress, addressed to Commodore Mars
ton. has been forwarded to the Navy De-
partment. Lieut.. Pendergrast states that
owing to the death OF the late commanding
officer, Jas. b. Smith. 1t becomes his pain
full duty to make report to you of the
part which the United States frigate took
in the efforts of our vessels at Newport
News to repel the attack of the rebel fo-
tilla on the 9Th inst.
The report says that when the Mcrrimac,
with three gunboats, was seen steaming
down from Norfolk. and had approached
near enough to discover her character. the
ship was cleared for action. At 10 min
utes past 2. the Merrimac opened with her
bow gun with grape. passing us on the
starboard side at a distance of about 800
yards, receiving orr broadsides and giving
one in return. After passing the Congress
she ran into and sunk the Cumberland. -
The smaller vessel then attacked us, killing
and wounding many of our crew. Seeing
the fate Of the Cumberland, we set the lib
and topsail and with the assistance of the
gunboat Zouavc ran the vessel ashore. =
at half-pa two Merrimac took position
astern OF us, at q distance Of about $50
yards, and raked us fore and aft with
shells while one of the smaller steamers
kept up fire on our star-board quarter
In the meantime the Patrick Henry and the
Thomas Jefferson, rebel steamers, ap-
preached from up the James river. firing
with precision and doing us great damage
Our two stern gans were our only means
of defense. These were soon disabled, one
being dismounted and the other its muzzle
knocked away The men were knocked
away from them with great rapidity and
slaughter by the terrible fire of the enemy :.
Lieut.. Pendergrast first learned Of the
death of Lieut. Smith at half past four
The death happened ten minutes previous
Seeing that our men were being killed
without the prospect of any relief from the
Minnesota, which vessel had rup aground
in attempting to get to US from Hampton
Roads, and not being able to get single
gunto tsn upon The enemy, and the ship
being on fire in several places, upon consul
tation with Commander VIM. Smith. we
deemed it proper to haul down our colors
without any further loss Of life on our part.
We were soon boarded by an officer of the
Merrimac who said he would take charge
of the ship. He left shortly afterwards.
and a small towboat came alongside. whose
Captain demanded we should surrender
and get ont OF the ship, as he intended to
burn her immediately A sharp fire with
musketry and artillery was maintained
from our troops on shore upon the tug,
having the effect of driving her off. The
Merrimac again opened upon us. although
we had flag apeak to show that we were
oat of action. After having fred several
shots into us, she left US, and engaged the
Minnesota and shore batteries, after which
Lieut.. Pendergrast states the wounded
were taken ashore in small boats, the ship
having been on fire from the beginning oil
the action from the hot shot fired by tho
Merrimac.
He reports the death Of the following of.
ficers: Lieut.. Jos. D. Smith. acting mast
err; Thos. Moore and VIM. Rhodes.
REBEL ACCOUNTS-DAMAGE TO
THE MERRIMAC.
DALTrMoRE. March 1.-THE Old Poin,
boat has arrived. We learn through Lieut.
Hayward that a copy of the Norfolk Day
Book has reached Old Point 1t contains
highly colored account Of the Mcrr;mac's
fight, and pays great compliment to the
bravery of the crew of the Cumberland
1t admits that some OF the shot from tina,
vessel entered the Merrimac One she'll kill
ed seventeen men on the Merrimac, and
wounded Capt. Buchanan who subsequent
ly died. The Monitor is admitted to b.
formidable, but says she appears like a
black Yankee cheese box on raft.
The Merrimac on Sunday was under
command OF Catesby Jones. The accoun'
is mainly confined to Saturdays fight
Some slight repairs viii be necessary to tho
Mcrrimac. The reason why the Merrimat
did not not first attack the Congress was
because that Capt. Buchanan had a broth
er on board as paymaster.
GEN. Banks at Winchester
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