Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-03-14
THE GREAT NAVAL CONFLICT.

The steamer Adelaide, Captain Cannon, ar
rived at Baltimore at half-past nine o'clock on
Sunday morning, from Old Point, having left
the latter place at eight o'clock on Saturday
night. She brought the important intelligence
of an engagement between several United
States and Confederate vessels in Hampton
Roads, between the mouth OF James river and
Sewalrs Point.
1t appeared, after careful inquiry, that pas
sengers who came up in the Adelaide, and
seemed to be intelligent, stated that the Con-
federate steamer Merimac came out at one
O'Clock on Saturday afternoon, while the Fed
eral frigates Congress and Cumberland were
lying off Newport Newspoint. She headed for
these vessels, and was soon within range of
the Congress, which opened a broadside on
her without any perceptibe effect. She passed
the Congress, when the Cumberland opened
broadside on her, but that likewise had no in
furious effect, and in few minutes more the
Merrimac struck the Cumberland aANidship,
and so crushed in her side that she sunk in a
few minutes.
1t was reported that one hundred and fifty
of those on board were known to have been
saved, but how many were lost was not
known. The Merimac next turned her atten-
ton to the Congress, which had not ceased to
fire on her; and after short engagement cap
tured her and all on board. The officers and
crew of the Congress were sent to Pig's Point,
and the Congress was Immediately manned by
Confederates.
The frigate st. Lawrence was engaged by
the Confederate steamers jamestown and Pat
rick Henry, and is said to have been disabled
and run ashore in sinking condition.
The steam frigate Minnesota left Old Point
to join in the engagement, when the Confede-
rates turned the guns of the Congress against
her, but she grounded, and was still aground
when the Adelaide left Old Point The Con-
gress, after her capture, was found to be in a
sinking condition, and her captors fired and
burned her.
The steam frigate Roanoke also started 10
take part in the engagement, but the battery
at Sewalps Point opened against her and so
disabled her that she was obliged to put back
under canvass. Several smaller gunboats also
started toward the scene of action from Old
Point, but withdrew. Capt. Buchanan, for
mcrly of the United States navy, and native
Of Maryland, was in command Of the Confede-
rate fleet. 1t was said by persons who came
up in the Adelaide that the conflict was to
have been renewed yesterday morning.
The Congress and st. Lawrence were first
class sailing frgaies, each carrying fifty guns.
The Cumberland was a frst-class sloop-of-
war, carrying twenty-five guns, and the Min
nesota and Roanoke are first class steam fri
gates, each carrying forty guns, besides which
the Minnesota carries two heavy pivot guns.
The whole engagement was Of but few hours
duration
We have list Of the names Of the officers
attached several months ago to the U S. YES
sells which participated in the engagement, but
since it was made out so many changes have
taken place that we omit it until we are able
to give IT in more correct form.
The Congress, which carries so guns, is of
1867 tonnage, and was built at Kittery, Me-,
in l84l.
The Cumberland carries "a guns was built
at Charlestown, Mass, in 1912. She is Of
l,726 tonnage.
The st. Lawrence was built at Gosport,
Va, in ls47. She carries SO guns, is ofl726
tonnage. She is commanded by Capt. Hugh
Y. Purviance, of Baltimore, and sometime
since engaged and sunk the Confederate pri-
yateer Savannah off Charleston harbor. She
was engaged for about six months in blocka-
ding Southern ports, but returned to New
York on the 9Th ult., for temporary repairs.
The Roanoke was also built at Gosport in
1855. She is of 3, AGO tonnage.-San.
Another Account.
About one clock on Saturday the much
talked OF steam ship-of-war Merrimac was OBJ
served to leave Norfolk and steam directly for
Newport News. The frigates Cumberland
and Congress were lying near Newport News,
the Congress some half mile nearer Norfolk
than the Cumberland. When the Merrimac
got within range the Congress opened upon
her, but there was no response from the Mer-
rimsc. She steamed past within two hundred
yards OF the Congress and made directly for
| the Cumberland, struck her amid ship and
cut her almostin two. The Congress kept up
the firing, and the crew Of the Merrimac went
to work to save the crew Of the Cumberland
as she was sinking very rapidly. Many Of
the crew Of the Cumberland swan ashore to
4 Newport News.
After the Cumberland was sunk, the Mer-
ri mac turned upon the Congress, cred two
broadsides, when the latter ran up a white
flag and made an unconditional surrender
The crew Of the Congress were sent ashore at
| Pig Point, and the officers were detained on
board the Merrimac. AS soon as the fight
commenced the Minnesota St. Lawrence.
Roanoke and a number Of gunboats, were de-
spatched from the Fortress to Newport News,
and at the same time the Confederate steamers
yorktown and Patrick Henry made their ap-
pearance in the mouth OF James river and
were soon at the side of the Merrmac As the
| Federal boats passed Sewall's Point, the bat
teries opened on them, and one shot struck
the Roanoke, seriously disabling her, and on
coming within range Of the Confederate vcs-
sells, the Congress, on which Confederate
crew had been placed, opened her guns on the
Minnesota, and at the same time the Patrick
Henry engaged the st. Lawrence, doing her
serious damage, and, in her efforts to escape, |
she ran ashore above Newport News. The
Minnesota also ran ashore near the same
point. While this was going on, the Merri- |
mac took position near Newport News and
opened on the Notifications. Her fire was so
vigorous that the troops were compelled to
leave their guns and retire from their fortif- |
cations. The Roanoke, in her disabled con-
dition, attempted TO return 10 the Fortress, |
but on coming within range Of the guns Of
Sewal's Point found II impossible 10 pass,
and went back out Of range Of the guns. All
the small gunboats returned to the Fortress.
The injury done to the Congress in her con-
! test with the McrriInac, and afterwards with
the Minnesota, was Of most serious charac-
ter, and put her in a sinking condition. At
night II was found that the Congress would
certainly sink, and little after seven o'clock
she was fred and burnt. The conhagration
illuminated the Heavens for miles, and the
scene Is said to have been grand. II was re-
ported that General Ma0ruder was in the rear |