The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-15

Merrinsac makes her Appedrance
but our Fleet fail to Draso her mt
an Engagement. = The Presidea
Vieacs the Engagement.
| FoRTREss MONROE, May 8.
Shortly. before noon to-day, th,
Monitor, Naugatuck, Seminole, Sus
quehanna, Dacotah, and San Jacinto
in the order in which they are named
steamed up towards Sewalrs Point
Capt. Lardner, of the Susquehanna, il
command of the expedition. As soor
as within range fire was opened Will
shot and shell against Sewall's Point
most Of the shots were good ones. II
was nearly half ansshour before reply
was made from the point. The RiI
Raps next opened fire, and then the
Naugatuck for the first time. Several
shots were fred from the single gun or
the extremity of the point, when one
from the Monitor struck in the vicinity
doubtless disabling the gun, as it has
not been fired since. The position Of
the Monitor was far in advance of the
rest of the fleet, and she continued in
motion until within mile or two of the
point, when considerable execution
must have been done by her accurate
firing. The Naugatuck kept in the
back ground, the range Of her Parrot,
guns enabling her to do so. Sewal's
Point battery replied briskly. The Rip
Raps fired occasionally. A continual
fire was kept up from the gunboats
On account of the distance no details
can be given. Nothing occurred till
O'clock, when the firing was very feeble
from the point. The Monitor, about
this time, returned from her advanced
position and joined the fleet. At 2:l5
very dense black smoke arose rapidly
from the point, caused, probably, by
the burning of the rebel barracks and
other buildings.
At about half past two o'clock the
Merrimao made her appearance, when
the fleet returned, with the exception
of the Monitor
FIue o'clock. Merrimac is still
off the Point The Monitor is ready
to attack her. The Seminole has re-
turned to the lower roads. There is nc
prospect of fight at present. feHor
Fiue- Thirty.-The Monitor has re.
turned. The Merrimac is in the same
position. fr
FORTRESS MONROE, May o.
The Monitor is now within mile OF
Sewall's Point, moving slowly forward,
E,.,,, 40 al firm n
briskly from Sewall's Point, at the
Monitor, and shells are falling thickly
around her. Craney Island is also
joining in the fight, and has just thrown
several shells at the Monitor, one OF
which exploded directly over her. The
Monitor moved steadily forward, &C.
casional!y firing and receiving shells
and shot from the rebel battery, with
perfect Indifference.
2 o'clock. -Thc Monitor has fallen
back, and lays alongside Of the Sus-
quehanna-probably for the purpose of
communicating with her. The Manga
tuck, in the meantime, has been throw
ing shells into Pig Point, and the fleet
has also thrown number Of shells in
the same direction.
2:l5 p M-The Monitor and Daco-
tab are moving along again slowly up
tile mouth of the Elizabeth river.
A dense black smoke has commenced
to arise from SewalPs Point, indicating
that orr inccndiary shells thrown there
have fired the barracks.
The Dacotah continues to throw her
shells directly into the Point. The
vessels by constantly changing their
position destroy the range of the rebel
gunners. They are, however, making
quite a determined fight from their
works, giving us almost shell for shell,
shot for shot. The Monitor has laid
out of action for nearly an hour, and is
probably cooling her guns. The Rip
Raps battery has the range of Sewall's
Point perfectly.
PAS p. M-The Merrimac now
makes her appearance on the scene.
She has just passed from behind Sewall's
Point, anil is slowly running down
towards the Federal fleet. Simultan.
tOuSlf Will thC appearance WI ei-
Merrimac, the Monitor started from
behind the wooden vessels and made
up to meet the enemy. The larger
vessels have drawn aside and left. The
Monitor and Naugatuck are now in the
approaching path of the Merrimac.
The vessels of the fleet had been lying
quietly at anchor for the last half hour,
when the signal from the flag ship
ordered them all to return. The Sus
johanna leads the way, followed by the
San Jacinto, Seminole and Decotab,
the Monitor bringing up the rear, all
apparently using the greatest speed to-
ward the fort. To the spectators this
seemed rather notifying, but as they
moved down in line, the Monitor was
seen to halt, and the San Jacinto and
Dacotah followed her example, leaving
the Susquehanna and Seminole moving
ahead. The four steamers having taken
their position, the Merrimac, also halted,
and the five vessels stood thus, not
more than mile and half apart, the
Merriinac apparently unwilling to come
further down, and the Monitor unwilling
to go further up. The Minnesota also
steamed up in front of the Fortress
wharf, followed slowly by the Wander
bilt, when both stopped. After lying
in this position, the Minnesota turned
round and steamed back, and the Van
darh;It without turninr slowly backed