New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-04-24
The Virginia's Second Trial.

The Norfolk Day Book of Saturday gives an ac-
count of the naval proceedings in the Roads on
Friday. 1t says:
In vain did the Virginia endeavor to prevail on
the Monitor to leave her place OF retreat under
the guns of Fortress Monroe. Proudly she sped
to and fro through the waters-cha aengiug her
opponent to come forth and do battle hut the
challeuge was unheeded. Finding her eff rts to
coax the Monitor out unavang she opened at 4
O'Clock precisely, on a large gunboat and small
tug with large gun on her, both of which kept
lurking around the shore, close into Hampton
Creek, Immediately in the vicinity of the Chesa.
peake Female Seminary; at these she fred three
shots, which were promptly responded to by each
of them. The first shot the Virginia fred appear
ed, from the position the writer occupied to strike
the water and pass right over the tugboat, going
over on the land. The gun on board the small
tugbOat seemed to have much longer range than
that on board her larger consort, the shot from
which fell short each time as far as the little tugs
gun overshot the mark
This battle was carried on at long range, be it
remembered as these vessels kept their position
in shallow water, where they knew it impps.
sible for the Virginia get at them. Several of
the shots from the little tug passed away over the
Virginia, and as we thought, came in very uncum
Portable proximity to the English and French ves-
sells lying in ber rear In fact, it was >ugge ted
by some present that it appeared the Yanke,s
| wished to avail of that opportunity to give Bull
and Crapeau a ''stock," to appease a little of
Jonatlap's spite against those two amabIe gentle
men. There were aome Eiae or ten shots eX-
changed on the occasion, and the Virginia, finding
it impossible to get the Monitor out, retired to her
anchorage near the city.
| The prizes captured by our feet are the brig
| Marcus of Stockton, N j., brig Saboah, of Provi-
| dence, and schooner Catherine 7. Dix, of Acco-
| mac. The two brgs loaded with hay-one
| of them having stalls for the accommodation Of
horses. The schooner was not loaded,
The prisoners numbered thirteen in all-eeven
white men and two Degroes. The latter, as also
| three of the white men, hail from the Eastern
| Shore Of Virginia.
| The fleet returned about O'clock and came to
| anchor between Fort Norfolk and Crauey Island.
| Shortly after their return, two Federal steamers,
| which had been caught at Newport's News, and
| which remained out of sight while the Virginia
| was in the Roads, embraced the opportunity
Afforded them by her withdrawal to advantage,
| and proceeded at once to Old Point.
The Day Book intimates that the Monitor was
| not at the Point 1t says:
| We confess that were unable to see if she
| was there though we had good view of all the
shipping there with an excellent pair of glasses.
Still the sails of the vessels there being spread out
or hoised to dry may have obscured her. Aud we
may here mention a'rumor as coming from one of
| had left the Point and gone round to Yorktown to
| operate with Mcclellan. If this is so, and the
Monitor was not at the Point really, she may have
accompanied this fleet.
| There very large fleet of mostly large wal
vessels anchored outside Of Old Point They ap.
peared to be drawn up in battle array, probably
awaiting the passage of the Virginia past the Point
Though we rather suspect, if she had gone ou
these valiant wooden walls would have beer
| speedily "taken with leaving" either for tht
bottom or to other parts.