The New York herald., 1862-03-13
THE NAVAL CONFLICT.
Additional Interesting Details OF the
Fighting at Newport'S News.
Names of the Killed, Wounded
and Missing.
THE REBEL COMMANDERS.
&C., &C.,, 20.

WASHINGTON. March 10, 1861.
The telegraph from Fortress Monroe this evening re-
ports oil quiet thero The flag Of ruoe brought but little
news backtoday Parties accompanying the rebel flag
Of truce loosely admitted that our "chsess box had
severely wounded the Merrmac. It IL thought she
not make another venture until she il repaired. The
telegraph works admirably nSd Washington eonversss
with Fortress Monroe a. readily It does with Asxan
dria and the camps on the Potomac.
The Official report Of Lieutenant Pendergras, OF tho
Congress, addressed to Commander Nsrst0n has been
Forwarded TO the Navy Department
REPORT or LIEUT.. PESDKRaRAsf.
Lieut. Pendergras states that owing to the death ofths
late commanding oosr Joseph B. Smith, II becomes my
painful duty to make report to you Of tho part which
tho United States fsac Congress took in the efforts Of
vessels At Newpors News to rspsl the attack Of the
rebel aotilla on the 9Th inst.
The report says that "when the Morrlmac with three
small sunboats was seen ssaming down from Norfolk,
and had approached enough to discover her charac
ter the ship cleared for action At ten minutes past
two the Merrimao opened with her bow gun with grape,
passing The starboard side at distance Of about
three hundred yards receiving broadside and giving
in return. After passing the Congress she ran into
the Cumberland The smaller vessels then attacked U.S.
killing and wounding many Of crew. Seeing the fate
Of tho Cumberland we cot the jb and topsal, and,
with the assistance Of the tugboes Zouavs ran
the vessel ashore. At hafpast two the BIsrri.
took position astern OF us,'at a distance Of
about hundred and n!y yards and raed fore and
aft with shells, wbio Of the smaller steamers kept
up nro sarboard quarter. In tho tla THO
Patrick Henry and the Thomas Jefferson ebel steasfs
approached from up James river, firing with precision
and doing Us great damage. Our two stern guns were
our only means OF defence. These disabled,
one being dsmountsd and the other having Its muzzls
Knocked away. The men were knocked away from them
with great rapidy and slaughter by the terrible fire Of
the enemy"
Lieutenant Pendergrast rst learned OF the death OF
Lieutenant Smith at hapas four. The death happened
ton minutes previous. He says;-"seeing that
wero boing killed without the prospect Of any relief
from the Minnesota which vessel had ashore in at
tempting to get up from Hampton Roads, being
able 10 get single gun to bear upon the enemy and tho
ship being Gre in several places upon consultation
with Commander VIM. Smith, deemed il proper TO
haul down colors without any further oss Of life
our part. We wore soon boarded by an officer Of the
Merriniac, who said he would take charge OF the
ship He left shortly afterwards, and a small tug
came alongside whose canain demanded that should
surrender and set out Of the ships he intended TO burn
her Immediately. sharp fire with mualets and artl-
ery maintained from troops ashore upon tho tug
having tho effect Of driving her or The Merrrnac again
on, OF action. After having rod several shells
into US, She left and engaged the Minnesota and the
shore batteries aftor which the wounded taken
ashore in small boats the ship having boon on Are from
tho beginning OF the action from hot shot rod by tho
Merrimac"
Lieutenant Pondorgrsst reports the death of the follow
ing officers Lieut. Joseph B. Smith, Acting Master;
Thomas iioore, and Pilot William Rhodes.
REPORT COMMODORE ruRvANcE.
'The following extract from the report Of Commodore
Purvance Of The United States figate ST. Lawrence in
regard TO the action with the rebel HotIa at Hampton
Reads, will prove interesting
AT halfraa' eigh. got under weigh in tow Of tho
Cambridge and whom abreast Of the rebel battery at
Sswa Point the battery opened IRE, one OF the shells
exploding under the foreoot Of the St. Lawrence doing
however, no material injury. Tho fire was re-
turned, and, II is beloved, with some effect Tho
Cumberland had at this time gone down having been
into by the Nerrimac and the Congress had
dsrsd. afor terrific slaughter Of her men, and when
rendered perfectly poweress by the fire Of the rebels
The Minnesota was aground, and engaging the sns-
my, whose force consisted Of the rebel steam ram aud
four or five sidewhesl gunbosts When the Mime
sofa the St. Lawrence grounded and at that time opened
dre but her shot did execution. The armor OF the
Msrrimac proved nvunerable TO her comparatively fee
BILE pvojecties. Taking advantage OF those por.
tsntous circumstances, the Msrrimac directed her
attention to firing several projectes Of formida.
bic dimensions, one Of which, eight pound
shell penetrated the starbosrd quarter about four inches
above the water line passed through the pantry Of tho
ward and into the stateroom Of the Assistant Sur
geon on the port sde completely dsmoshug the bulk.
head and then struck against strong iron bar which
secured the bulseye Of the port 1t returned into the
ward room expended Il fortunately did not explode,
and no one was injured
The damage done by this shot proves the power Of the
projeoties which she employed, and readily explained
the quick destruction OF wooden aaA sn;iQuaed
frigatss
Our position a. this time Of some anxiety Being
aground the tug Young America came alongside and got
US Of after which powerful broadsde from the spar
and gun decks Of the ST. Lawrence then distant about
half mile, thrown into the Merrimac. induced Der "
withdraw, whether from necessity discretion is pot
known.
REPORT or cArTAy VAN BRrSI.
The report Of Captain T. J. Van Brun. in command OF
the Minnesota has been received al the Navy Depart
ment. Il states that the Monitor alongside OF Vie
Minnesota at two O'Clock on the morning OF tie 9th
Of March, having arrived tie night previous and re-
ported for duty. AL on board at her appearance
rsoiced that hoy had found friend that would stand
by thsm in their hour Of trial Al o'clock on that
day the enemy again appeared when the crews were
beat TO quarters but they past tho Minnesota and
wv tuss' Nv tno 's pehs "s'Vuu" Nsp"u van pruht
ordered Of tho spadsck guns 70 DO thrown
beard and half the board the tug to tighten
the ship, AFTER which supsrhuman efforts made w
60, her or and when succeeding In getting her half
mile she stuck again; for the tide had fallen much
that thors was not water 10 1oat her in the chan.
mel. At length, however, she was towed out
Of the msi into deep water and at the time OF writing
the report the Minnesota vas al anchor opposite For
trsss Monroe.
Our Fortress Monroe Correspondence. |
FoElRsss MONROE, March 10, 1907
Further Pariit,iar, Of The Eagcgsmcnt-Safsty Of he |