Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1862-03-26
sells, she put ba,k to Old Point.

sells, she put back to Old Point.
The Minnesota and St. Lawrence. we
learn, are hard aground and in the pow
er of the Virginia, at high tide, as the
latter vessel was at Sewells Point, af
ter the engagement where she remain
ed on Saturday night, ready to CON-
mence on them on Sunday morning.
She is betweel them aud all assistance
from Old Point.
The frigate Congress was set fire to on
Saturday night by I boats crew from
some Of cur vessels. She illumined the
whole Roads and river, and about mid
night her magazine exploded with a
tremendous noise. Her conhagration
Afforded rare sight to many thousands
Of spectators who lined the shores of our
barbor to witness the spectacle Of a
ship on Ere. Many articles Of value
we learn were removed from her by
our gunboots before being fred.
Tugs and steamers were sent to The
assistance of The Minnesota and St. Law.
renee from Old Point after they groun.
ded, but their efforts to haul them off
were unavailing
The first gun fired in the engage.
ment is said to have been fired by the
Confederate guuboat Beaufort at the
+ frigate Congress. All ofour steamers
aud gunboats are said to have been
managed with the utmost skill and
dcxterity rendering great assistance to
the Virginia in this magnificent and
successful engagement,
We are without means Of getting al
the loss Of the enemy in killed and
wounded, though it is believed TO have
been very great. Our total loss in kill
ed and wounded as for as we can learn,
| is nine killed and twelve wounded, most
of them slightly.
TBenty.tbree prisoners were brought
up to this city on Saturday night,
These were all takr-otfthe frigate Con.
gress by the guuboas Beaufort, whilst
our other guuboats took off others.
Ore of these prisoner died while on
his way to the city He and Another
one wounded were shot by their own
forces while being saved from the ainb.
frigate Congress TIE wounded pris
oners were carried 10 the hospital.
The Virginia had two men killed and
some five or six wounded. A shot en-.
tered the port hole and struck the gun
on the muzzle, knocking Of piece
nine inches long. This disabled the
gun, which was Immediately replaced
by another ofthc same callibrc,
Capt. Buchanan and Lieut.. Miror of
the Virginia are said TO be wounded,
the former slightly, the latter severe.
ly
On board the Patrick Henry Z shot
entered a port, we understand, aud
passed through one Of her boilers disa-
bling it. She was compelled to haul
off temporarily for repairs. There
we're four men killed and three woun-
ded on her. Other damage not mate
rial.
On board the gunboat Raleigh, mid
sbipman Hutter was Killed, We under
stand, though we did not learn of any
other casualties.
The James River steamers arrived at
the scene Of action, it is said, about one
hour after the engagement commenced.
They easily passed the Newport's News
batteries, and after joining III the fight
rendered very efficient aid.
BY this daring exploit we have rails
ID the James River blockade without
assistance, and are likely, with the as
.istance of Virginia, to keep opon the
communication.
Several small prizes were said to have Z
,eon taken BY our gunboats from the a
Yankees, one of which, the schooner =
Reindeer was brought up to the Navy .
Yard on Saturday night Two others
we're said to have been carried over to
zig Point on Saturday,
Another report we hear says that u
,ut two men were killed on board the h
Iirginia. :
Andrew ]. Dalton, printer, who :.
eft our office a few days since to join VI
he Virginia, and who was at the bom "
ardment of Sumter, and participated =
n several other engagements during the "
yor we learn was one Of the wounded
n board that vessel on Saturday. o'
The engagement was renewed again q