Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-10
GBy Telegraph. Yesterday.l
EXPEDITION AGAINST SEWALL'S POINT.
SIX FEDERAL GUNBoATs ENGAGED
RETURN OF THE FLEET.
The Merrimac Watches the lombard
mant.

| FoRTREss MONROE, May S.-ShortIy be-
fore noon to-day, the Monitor, Naugatuck,
Seminole, Susquehannah Dacotah and San
Jaclnto, steamed towards Sewall's Point
Capt. Lardner of the SuSquehannah was in
command of the expedition, and as soon as
within range. opened with shot and shell over
Sewalls Point most Of which were good shots.
1t was nearly half an hour before any reply
was made from the Point. The Rip Raps next
opened fire, and then the Naugatuck. Sever
al shots were fired from the single gun on the
extremity of the Point, when one from the
/ Monitor struck in the vicinity, doubtless dis
| abling the gun, as it has not been fired since.
l2.4O.-The rebels are firing rapidly from
Sewalfs Point, principally at the Monitor,
while continual succession of shells is
poured on the enemy from the fleet, broadsde
after broadside; the Rip Raps are occasional
| ly throwing shells into Sewalls Point The
rebel shots fall short Of the fleet, many ex-
| ploding high in the air at half distance The
Monitor is still moving forward, firing occa-
sionally, and the Rip Raps and fleet keep up
their fire. Craney Island is also joining in
| the fight, and has just thrown several shells
at the Monitor, one of which exploded di-
rectly over her. The Monitor moved steadily
| forward, occasionally firing, and receiving
| shells and shot from the rebel batteries with
| perfect indifference.
| / Oclock.-During the past hour there has
been but little if any change in the progress
| of the bOmbardment The Monitor has fall
len back and lays along side of the Susdue-
hannah, probably for the purpose of seommu-
nicating with her. The Naugatuck. in the
meantime, has been throwing shells into Pig
Point, and the fleet have also thrown a num-
Der Of shells in the same direction. The
Monitor and Dacotah are moving along
again slowly up the mouth of the Eiz-
beth river a dense black smoke has
commenced to rise from Scwalls Point,
indicating that our incendary shells thrown
there have fired the barracks The Da-
cOtah continues to throw her shells directly
into the Point, the explosions of which can be
distinctly seen. The shells from the Point
mostly fall short, and splash along in the wa
ter or explode in the air, the constant chang
ing in the position Of our vessels DESTROYING
the range of the rebel gunners. They are,
however, making quite a determined fight
from their works, giving our fleet almost shell
for shell and shot for shot. Sewalrs Point is
almost enyeloped in smoke, from constant eX-
plosions of shells and the smoke from its own
guns, and the fire raging in the vicinity must
make it hot place for suffering humanity
: p. M.-The Monitor has laid out of action
for nearly an hour. She is probably cooling
her guns. -Four large vessels throw OCCASION
al shots, ALI OF which apear to enter the woods
Of the enemy, or explode within the woods
beyond. The Rip Raps also keep up a con-
slant cross fire, throwing a large number of
shells in the rear of the Sewalls Point batter
les. The Rip Raps battery has the range Of
Sewalrs Point perfectly. The rebel monster
Merrimac now makes her appearance on the
scene. The Monitor, with only a puff of
white steam escaping, looks in the distance
like an atom on the surface Of the water
The larger vessels have drawn aside and left
The Monitor and Naugatuck are now in the
approaching path of the Merrimac The
contestants are yet two miles apart.
T. M.-The Minnesota fires her signal
gun, and the long roll is being beaten in the
fort. The Minnesota is starting to come up
from her anchorage below the fort The YES
sells of the fleet had been lying quietly at an
Choir for the last half hour, when the signal
from the flagship ordered them all to return.
The Susquehannah led the way, followed by
the San JacintO Seminole, Dac0tah and the
Monitor bringing up the rear, all apparently
using the greatest speed towards the fort.
The four steamers and the Monitor having ia
ken their positions, the Merrimac also halted;
and the five vessels stood thus, not more than
mile and a half apart, the Merrimac appar-
entity not willing to come further down and
the Monitor unwilling to go further up.
P. M.-The Merrimac now turns round
and steams back towards Norfolk, with her
rebel flag flying impudently. The Baltimore
steamer Georgiana has laid out in the stream
with steam up all the afternoon, ready to es-
cape from danger at the earliest moment
The Minnesota and Vanderbilt have gone
back to their anchorage. The Dacotah again
proceeds up towards the Merrimac, and the
Monitor starts towards the mouth of Elizabeth
river. The Dacotah is now within easy range
OF SewalrS Point, but the batteries there do
not open on her She and ethe Monitor have
both stopped, and the Merrimac is living sta
tionary, about mile in advance of the Craney
Island batteries. Here commenced an impor-
tant movement, which cannot be made public
just yet. The Merrimac has run back under
the guns of Craney Island, and the Monitor
is steaming up towards her at full speed The
Minnesota Is also coming up again, at full
speed, the effect being to draw the rebels out
again.
40 p. M-For the past hour the fleet has
been moving back and forward, but the Mer-
rimac still lies under the guns of Craney Is
land. The Monitor is lying mile and half
from the Mernmac. There is no prospect of
fight tonight. The troops are going aboard
the transports, and the war vessels. including
the Monitor have all returned to their an
| chorage.
The president viewed the action from a tue
boat lying about mile in the rear of the fleet.
lie has just returned, and as he passed up the
wharf was vociterously cheered by the troops.
me Merrlmac is again steaming out The
Monitor, Dacotah, and Naugatuck are still
however, in position off Sewalps Point. An
officer Of the Seminole states that the rebel
| flag staff on SewallS Point was twice shot
away during the bombardment. The first
time it fell it was picked up, and rebel in a
red shirt jumped on the ramparts with a
stump OF the staff and the flag and waved it,
when another shell struck him. killing him
and it is supposed others near him. Of the
many shots fired at the fleet by the rebels not
one struck any Of our vesSels-some went
| over their masts, but most fell short. The
rebels could be distinctly seen from the yes-
| sells carrying Off their dead and wounded