St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-03-13
THE .MERR1MAoa 1RET11Ra!Elsfs
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Full Particulars of the Fight.
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1yAg To Elsr Mosh q Na'ssh:9y
The rebel frigate Merrimac and gun,
boats Yorktown sDas j ameseovp attacked
the Ericsson battery. After Ave hours
contest they were driven off The former
ifAi2ageon@iaa mk1sda1cht
The stars and stripes float over Cockpit
Point.
At 2 o'clocHdntht eth the rebels began.
burning their tents and other property Diff,
6cult oriemc1,1al, Ii and. Ase burned the:
steamer Page. ,.ss., ~ :,.e; 81 '@''
'''o'0ur gunboats opened fire on the battery
at haE:past o5cloef, and landed and took
possessiup:'iia sss s4';e ,.::oG
In The naval engagement the Merrimac
sunk the Cumberland, and captured and
sunk the Congress! and took the officers
prisoners i; Sheafterwards. opened fire on
the Minnesota The Ericsson steamer
VI Monitor, met them and opened fire on the
enemy's vessels, which retired, except the
Merriiufiace.s '@ These two IRON clad vessels
.fousht:from 8 o'clock till noon, part of the
time touching, EACH other, The Merri-
mac retired in sinking condition.
> Nearly half efthe Cumberland's crew of
..15@ m4 bsaL D/IV,'.I2 4
Col Geary has taken possession Of Lees
burg with many prisoners and stores. The
rebels e3asaa:a tE f6Eh-T
FORT MONROE, March 9.
The long expected confederate steamer
Merrimac made her appearance yesterday
afternoon, and With the1asistasce of two
guuboats which came cut with her from
Norfolk, made an attack upon Newport
MI 9 3f e.! a'4 's,t'1 stationed
The Merrimac was first seen from the
ramparts Of Fort Aenroe, on her way to
Newport News, at alout quarter be-
fore one o'clock. Two rebel gunboats fol-
lowed her. They all carried the rebel Gag
at the stern, and had French flag at the
masthead. The S1errimaaec had ! flag at
LEI. bows which was described BY some as
tonmodorc's blue flag, and by others as
a bl.ck'a The:side, bows and stern of
the Mer1iuhaac we're covered with iron plates
extending,a!bqsstt 4trHg9a feet Ib Yater
) Lac and meeting above like the rpef off,
house. On her-bows on the water line
are two sharp iron points, resembling
. 'rbws; about sir o1~se1en 2fsst'apart.;;y The
number Of guns is stated at II, but she
misA ~ Sba Have lad e. 6.hF At her
ahpas Eseeseq ttttp !eg4Fnas PiqesPtqi qHeof'0m
long, elliptieal port holes.
.Ths dedgu If 1tthgs'I ssusmyIasd not be,
come apparent till between one and two
&c lock, and by that time the Minnesota
had got under way to the scene Of action.
@.a qk H. ,ths lie ne UP, te(lg disa'
rsubled 'by'i tksibre,king of4her shatt some
time Since, la taken IN tow by' two gun
P9A t b:l s.9 Amstbe alarm
gaa was fred at Fortress Monroe and the
whole garrison promptly turned OUT. bal
The rebsl boats steadily pursued their
way to Newport News, and the Merrimas
he point,.sd sss |estto view
from The Fqstress l,na -. '?'"2"
s.u I'd Thee6 rst shot, W. 6na1 ~ the figate
s,,a Bsrlana u little p,st 2 o'clock. The
scwalps Point battery then opened On the
Iinpesosa, which, "a. passing, and the
Sawyer gun from tho Rip Raps replied
with asafex shots A. Sevalps Point. A
7zttbi Ia smoke vas seer to rise above New
port News point, indicating that tho bat;
,szikE9ithats,as nall.sathe Cumberland and
,s.lG tpnsrfYnF4s1e ,spgaged. The detaihfof
'oqShe1ssftoos ssuA not. helseen sfiom tho
esff /! ssfsss "a 1i.p.tsh i1.,rys
.oi1xad Announcing that tie Cumberland
and 1a4hpamss dDelose quarterrss-:.
ffas dfiag I'M gaas # l ths G Tls
.s-aas-A.ao aida - d.>sv ~ :.