Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-04-03
The Combat of the 9th.

1iip'ioh u .ic ittFal lib Ht Jhlile
River, we clip from the Norfolk Da
book, sent by our co-parishioner JUMU
L1sso, now at Norfolk in the army, I'M
received through the obliging kindness
Of our fellow townsman, CUNNINGHAM
Esq
On the 9Th, the steam Frigato Vir
! ginia, Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan
Commanding, left her mornings at tht
, Dock Yard, and attended by the steam
tugs Beaufort Lieut.. Commanding
Parker, and the Raleigh Lieut.. Com
manding, Alexander, steamed down
the harbor.
1t was gallant sight to see the iron
clad, Leviathan gliding noiselessly
through the water flying the red pen
non Of her Commander at the fore
flagstaff and the gay Confederate en-
sign aft.
| Not the least impressive thought
which she suggested, was that her
gallant crew, under commander and
officers worthy 10 direct their destiny
and defend the flag she bore, went
thus boldly with smiles and huzsas to
solve a new problem in maritime war
fare--to make the trial trip" Of the
Virginia the trial of battlel
Nor could any man behold the little
tugs with their gay ensigns at peak
and mast head their battle flags set,
stcaming in her wake, without an emo
| ton of admiration for tho brave
men they thus bore, and praying for
their delivcrence.
In the wake of all came to the Port
Admiral with staff of naval officers.
Thus down the harbor passed the
wharves tlronged with eagor citizens,
past the batteries whose parapels
were dark with soldiers steamed@ the
squadron through the barricades and
then the Virginia put her helm a-star-
board, and took The South channel.
Meantime the morning was still as
that Of Sabbath. The two frigates
lay with their boats at the booms and
wash clothes in the rigging. Did .fEey
see the long dark hulll Had they made |
her out? Was it ignorance, apathy, or
composurc?-These the questions we
discussed as we steamed across the
flats to tho south Of the frigate with
the two gallant little gnnboats well
on our starboard beam heading up for
the enemy. Our doubts where solved
by the heavy boom of gun from be.
yound Sowell Point The reverbera.
ton rolled across the sun lit water
and died away, but still the clothes
hung in the rigging, still the boats lay
at the booms. Another gun, go minutes
past ] broke on the air, and tug
started from New port News, while at
the same time two others left Old F,
Point, taking the channel inside Hamp.
ton bar. Steadily with grim and
ominous silence the Virginia glidcs ,
through the ~@.ter, steadily and with
lrtiiasInt yalor the Beaufort and Raleigh
where she led. At 10 minutes
TO 2, rifle gun from ono Of these little
ressels rang out, then white puff
rom her consort Still the clothes in :
hc rigging, still the boats at the boom?
Was this confidonce2 It could not !, ,
&c ignorance. Did it mean torpedoes
batteries, Internal machines?
Fhe gunboats have fred again, and
Of here away to the eastward where
he Roanoke and Minnesota rising
ike prodigious castles above the pla- O
id water, the first under steam, the t
ocond in tow. Other pufs of smoke p
ther sharp reports from the gunboats, h
ut tho Virginia goes on steadily, 81 q
entity to do her work. Now, the in t,
horc frigate, the Cumberland, fires, ii
ow the Virginia close aboard, now h
cwelPs Point Battery, now the Mime tx
ota, now the Roanoke, now the air a
.emblcs with the cannonade. Now t.
lc Virginia delivers both broadside, p
ow she runs full against the Culaber- W
.nd's starboard bow, now the smoke
ears away and she appears heading in
p James River. This at % minutes ai
} 2. The Congress now lets fall fore M
'psail, and then the main, and SO with te
tug along side, starts down the tr
orth channel where The Minnesota fir
rs grounded, and presently. runs be
ump ashore. Meanwhile the Vir- si
mia opens upon the Yankee fort, til
owly she steams back, and the Cum iu
'rland, sunk now to her white streak fri
'ens upon her again. A gallant man
ught that ship--a man worthy to eli
we maintained better cause. Gun tn
ter gun he fired, lower and lower di
INK bis ship, his last discharge comes sc
om his pivot gun, the ship lurches to al
now to port, his flag streams is
1t wildly, and now the Cumberland pc
,es down on her beam ends, at once W.
onument and epitaph of the gallant i'm
en- who fought her. The Virginia It
ops. Is the aground7 And the gun tir
'ats? Raleigh and Beaufort! glorious in;
arkerl glorious Alexander there ST
ey are on the quarters of the Con- ha
'ess hammering away, and creeping de
} closer and closer all the time. alb
10 minutes to 4 the Congress struck WI
Parker hauled down the ensign, run me
} his own battle flag in its p ace; there Sta
c heroic Taylor, who fought the Fan th;
: at Roanoke Island and Elizabeth an
ty, got his wound-thcre the gallant VIC
'unS nutter fell, all shot by the on