The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-03-18


having already hal = taste Of that scot u
thing, Kept At prudent distance. For
morr than an hour The battle VAS kepl up
~ithou, either side showing damage, when,
At about A. m.. tie Moniior retired be-
you'd the Miunesoia to allow her guns TO
cool The contest nov ragged tet~cen the
Mifrimac and Minnesota and the gueboAis.
The terrible broadsides oi the ftigaie.
chained 10 the bottom al il were, SHOCK
the earth, and the solid shot glanced in
every direction from the sides Of the
Meriimac.
Having given her guns an hour 10 cool,
the Monitor returned TO the contest, and
the MerrimAc was apparently ready tor
her, for she did no, retreat but sood her
ground Nothing could exceed the aceu-
racy OF the firing or both sides, After
keeping up tie contest for halt An hour At
a range OF half or three quarters Of a mile,
the Monitor began 10 advance on her an
lagonist, who awaited her with apparent
confidence. Delivering her Gre with de-
liberation and unerring precision, the
Monitor went straight ahead and at fall
speed Tor the Merrimac, tn The mea on
both boats, il they had not been hidden
by the iron covering, nigh, engaged in
hand 10 hand fight. Now followed one Of
the most remarkable aud exc ting scenes
ever witnessed in naval warfare, The
vessels touched, and delivering their broad
side simultaneously, the shot crashed upon
the sides OF both, either glaDeing uh and
falling into the water, or crumblng into
atoms. As ii determined that the combat
should have an end, the Monitor moved
round the Merrimac at a distance Of only
a few yards, plunging her shots into her
sides. With well-direcled aim she plant
cd one into her hull below her iron-coating,
and below her water line. Three gaping
holes now appeared in her iron coating
Passing deliberately round the stern OF the
Merrimac, the Monitor aimed shot at
her screw, and several others at vital points.
The MerrImae now began TO make ell
towards the cove flanklng Craney Island
and MS il became apparent that she was
disabled, three cheers went up from the
ramparis and the shore. The Monitor
did not pursue, probably on account OF the
heating OF her guns, or some other equal
ly good reason. After lying for short
time near the shore, the Merrimac slow
ly rounded out. and turned her prov
toward tie place she was seen in the
morning, where the other rebel boats were
assembled spectators Of the fight. They
gathered around her like The bakers OF
whipped bully At this time 1t WIS the
general opinion OF those who bad the best
means for observing, that the Merrimac
had sunk at least two feet, aud that she
was last going down. Her deck was
thronged with her crew. She gave no
sign OF steam or smoke Small boats put
off from her. snd tug boats came 10 her
sides, as If to render assistance. Az soon
as arrangements could be made for doing
50, the boats took her in tow, and about
three-qusrters past IL, the Merrimac, the
Yorktown, the jamestown, and the other
rebel craft, either towing or pulling the
former, might be seen, constituting
mournful procession, as they passed into
the dim distance under Craney Island.
Thus ended probably the most remark
able naval engagement on record; certain
ly the first between two iron-clad antag-
onists.