Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-19
The Naval Fight in Hampton Roads

la the report of the Secretary nf the United
States navy, we lind the following authentic md
interesting account of the great naval bnttle bc
tween the Union iron clad Monitor, and The rebel
Alerrlihac IN Hampton Roads the 9Th Of March
last:
1t was the intention AMI constant effort of the
Department aud the contractors that the Mouilor
should be completed in tile month of January
but there was delay in consequence Of the ditii
eultes incident TO AN undrlt king Of such novelty
and magnitude, and there was also some sligLt
defects, which We're, however, promptly reme
ditd, and she left New York early ia March
reaebihe Hampton Roads on the night of the 9tb.
Her arrival though not as soon ny anticipated
was most opportune aud important For some
time the Department had heard, with erent solI-
cltude, Of The progress VIII ch tho Insurgents ha,
made IN hrm0rlng aud CquippiHg the large war
steamer Melrmac, which had fallen into their
Lands when Norfolk was abandoned On the
afternoon Of the Sth Of March this Formidable
yesse', heavily armorcd aud nrmed and fullv
prepared to operate 10th as n ram and as n war
steamer, came down the Elizabeth river. neeo,n
panied by several smaller steamers, iva of tb",,
partially nrm0rei, to attack the vessels of fla
blockadipg squadron that we're in and abont
Hampton Roads. When the Aorrimao nnd ber
attendants made their appearance, the Conaress
aHd the Cumberland, two sailing vessels warc
anchored OF Newport News aud the rsmaining
vessels were in the vicinity of Fortress Monror
Sumo Six miles distant The AIineAotn the
Roanoke, and the st Lawrence got immediatrlv
under way, and proceeded towards the scene Of
action. -
Ihe congress, being nearest to the Merrimae
was the hrst TO receive her fire which was promnt
ly returned by full broadsids, the shots falIpg
apparently harmlessly off from the armered side
OF the assaiant Passing by the Congre 5. the
Merrlmnc, dashed upon the Cumberland. nud
kU a aft lHN.a 81.
aud vigorous iire, which, like that of the Con-
gress, produced unfortunately, but little effect
q contest SO unequal could not be Of long con.
llnuance, and IT was closed when the Merrimao
awaiting herself of her power as q etoam ram
run furiously against the Cumberland. layins |
open her wooden hull. and causing her almosl |
immediately to sink. As her guns approached |
lho waters edge, her young commander. Lieu
tenant Morris, aud the gallant crew, stood Arm
ut their posts, delivered parting fire and tbs
good ship went down heroicaly with her oolors
flying
Having thus destroyed the Cumberland the
Merrmns turned again upon the Congress
Nhl3h hal. in the meantime, been eneaoei win
the smaller rebel steamers aud, after Il -
loss, in order to guard against such fate az WI
which had befilen the Cumberland. Ind hnon
run agrouud. The Merrimac now selected "
rahiug position astern Of the Congress. wldln
one of the smaller steamers poured in a eonstnnt
fire on her staTboard quarter. Two other steam,
ers of the enemy also approached from James
river, firing upon the unfortunate fripate win
precision and severe effect The guns Of ihe
Congress were almost entirely disabled, an her
gallant commanding officer, Lieutenant Joseph
b. Smith, had fallen at his post. Her deok,
were etrcwn with the dead and dying; the shin
was on Gre in several places, and not gun could
be brought to bear on the asaaiMnts In tbia
state Of things and with no ttfectual relief at
hand, the senior surviving officer, Lieutenant
PendergrGst, felt il his duty to save further use
less destruction of life by hauling down his
eolors. THIS was done about four O'Clock +. NJ.
The Congress continued to buru till about eipht
in the evening, and then blew up.
From the Congress tho Merrimae turned her
attention to the remaining vessels Of the SQUAD
ron. The RoAnokc had grounded on her wav IN
the scene Of the conflict aud although she gun-
ceeded in getting oil, her condition was such
her propeller beng useess--lhat sho took mn
part in the action. The ST. Lawrence also
grounded near the Alnnesota, and Ind n short
with the Merrmlc, but suffered mo
serious injury, and, on getting ailont, WAS order.
ed back TO Fortress Monroe,
The Minnesota, which had also got aground in
the shallow water Of the channel, because the !
special object of attack, and the Merrimac, with
the yorktown and JamestOwn, bore down upon
her. The MerrimAo drew too much water Ia ~
\
effective, The other steamers se. G
ected their position, fired with much accuracy.
and caused considerable damage to the Min /
lesOta She soon, however, succeeded in getting
4 gun to bear on the Two smaller steamers. and ,
irove them away-one, apparently, in crippled a
condition. About seven F. NJ. the Merrimac )
also hauled OIL, and the three stood towards Nor
lolk.
All efforts 10 get the Minnesota nfoat during :
The night, aud into a safe position, were totally
lnayang The morning was looked for with !
ieep anxiety, as it would, in all probability,
BRING renewed attack from the formidable as :,
laiant At this critical and anxious moment 2
he Monitor, one of the newly finished nrmorei I,
Iessels, came into Hampton Roads, from New Ii
York, under the command Of Lieut., John h. Wor- =.
LEM and little after midnight anchored along ii
de the Minnesota. At six o'clock the next OF
morning the Merrimac, as anticipated, agsIn =.
made her appearance and opened her fire nnon ~
he Minnesota. Promptly obeyiug the signal IN Of
lttack the Monitor ran down past the Minnesota o..
md laid herself close alongside the Merrimae. III
,etween that formidable vessel and the Minno. 50
ota. The fierce conflict between the two iron. ~
lads lasted for several hours 1t was, in an n
'earance, an unequal conflict, for the Merrmac
Tas large and noble structure, and the Moni-
or, was, in COMPARISON, almost diininutive But co
he Monitor was strong in her armor, in the in cl
enious novelty Of her construction, in the large
alibre Of her two guns, and the valOr and skill Y
nth which she was handled. After several :
nj rai H0hffu0 tha VI