The New York herald., 1862-03-11
OTHER INTERESTING REPORTS.
ACCOUNT OF THE ENGAGEMENT BY AN
EYEWITNESS.

We have been furnished with the following interesting
account Of the engagement between the iron batteries
uerrimac and Monitor, by gentleman who eye
witness to the whole proceeding. Some of the details
will be found full Of interest
On Saturday, about O'Clock, the rebel battery Mer
'imac accompanied by the rebel James
town and Yorktown, ran down, under the guns of the
battery at Sewalps Point and when within about three
hundred yards fred into the Union frgate Congress-
Eewport's News receiving in return full broadside,
without either being injured. The Merrnae then tried
her guns upon the Union steamer Cumberland doing but
little injury. She then sailed round down and
into the bows Of the Cumberland. TheCumberland almost
Immediately rolled upon her side and sunk The engage
uent then continued between the Merrmac and
the Congress about twenty minutes, when the Congress
found TO BE on fire. The fire continued during the
afternoon and night and about Sunday
morning the magazine exploded the officers having been
taken prisoners the crew. about hundred fifty
Of three hundred being able to escape either by swimming
reaching IT, --ss.-s - .Sssk..ggs
Ths Nerrmac thsn at about four O'Clock attacked the
Union steamer Minnesota. The firing continued heavy
between them until after dark when the Minnesota
grounded the point Newport News Even AZ this
Time OF night the Merrimac attempted to shell Newport
news, DONG, however, but little injury. One Of the
shells was thrown beyond the point into one Of oer
N0vrn
on One Of the crew Of the Congress informs re ,h.,
mans head and part of his shoulder was bio ~ 40 .r
ing with flesh and blood boy sixteen ar. old STANDING
beside him on deck, the boy receiv ng M nirx This
seemed to end the for ,rrd.1 n,.ht .ra r-.,,
49, uufD tho remainder of the night
N, s lining the Merrmac would destroy
Fortress Mo-
. % .-roe.
90 by perfect godsend the new and magnh.
Gee Ericsson battery entered the hsrbor during
~hs night from New York, and the Captain
was at once apprised by General Wool of what
had transpiret the night before.
By sunrise the next morning the numbers upon the
shores and the rigging and other vessels
in the hsrbor and the buildings about the fort showed
that the night had been anxious those residing in
the vicinity of Newports News and the fortress By
O'Clock 1t that the Ericsson battery was ap
preaching the Merrmac that had by this time got steam
up and coming out from under Sewars Point. She
opened fire. The two batteries approached each
other and when very close contact both continuing to
fire full broadsidss The firing continued the Moni.
cor keeping inside, apparently with the view of
saving the Minnesota, which still aground the
point Newports News although and lighters
had been hard at work during the night to get her of
The Minnesota not much injured, and during the
whole engagement between tho Merrimac and Monitor
(Which lasted for than three hours on SUNDAY
morning. continued 10 pour whole brordside Of her
guns which the harb Dor side into the rebel steam
and fred during the day that pealed such
thunder tones At fortyve minutes past twelve O'Clock
the firing ceased all round the Mermac having steamed
off to sewals Point, under the rebel batteries where
eho now lies with the Jamestown and Yorktown and
towboai alongside either 70 supply her with ammunition
or TO repair the damage which she have suffered by
the raking Ere Of the Nor during the engagement
The magnificent steamer Monitor has proved her
self be all that her friends and distinguished con.
structor had anticipated for her. One other such bat
tory the harbor would have sunk the steamers York
town and Jamestown who kept out Of the range of her
guns during the whole engagement between the Monitor
the Merrmac; and could she have arrived on Satur
day would have saved the government s5 900 900 Of
property large hole could bo the afterpart OF
the Msrrinac, she steaming back two O'Clock
on Sunday afternoon into Elizabeth river Not scratch
can be seen by good glass upon tho Monitor.
The largos. gun Fortress Monroe which is placed in
front Of the upon the shore by side Of light
bouse and which carries a pail OF 400 pounds weight
was fred about ten O'Clock Sunday morning
but was 50 situated as to be Of no service.
Several guns we're also fred from the Rip Raps,
TO sewt's Point which did not reach tho James
town aad Yorktown. The excitement continued very
great ., Fortress Monroe far greater than any time
since the war broke out Several hundred
sged on Sunday afternoon in throwing up sand batteries
10 protect tho large 400 pound rife guns placed upon the
shore and every other prepara ion IL being tado for de-
fence against that willy serpent the rebel war steamer
Morimac, which may, after all, only have withdrawn
fhe better TO her attack on another ocession
An order has beon issued requiring an the women and
children TO lcave the fortress and hundreds arc crowd