Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-03-14
WAR NEWS.

DAYS az Ne"Poi' A
.,hs, steamer Merrimsc, came cut Of Eliz-
beth River looking like Submerged
house with the Uof only above water,
nothing projecting but flag staff flying
,bs rebel flag and short smOke-stack.
she moved along slowly and turned into
tbs channel leading to Newport News, and
.,.,med direct for the frigates Cumberland
and Congress which were lying at the
tmouth of the James River. The heaviest
shots from those vessels, full broadsides
at only 100 yards distance, had no effect
upon her, the shot glancing off.
After receiving the first broadside of
the two frigates, she ran into the Cumber-
land striking her about mid-ships and lit
orally laying open her side. She then
drew Oh and fired broadside into the
disabled ship, and again dashed against
her with her iron-clad PROV, and knock
inc in her side, left her to sink, while she
engaged the Congress. which lay about
quarter of mile distant, engaged with
the rebel steamers Yorktown and James
River. The Congress struck her colors,
and the jamestown took from on board
all her officers as prisoners, but allowing
the men to escape in boats. The vessel
being thus cleared was fred by the rebels,
when the Merrimac and her two iron-clad
companions opened with shell and shot on
the batteries at Newport News, The fir
ing was briskly returned.
In the mean time, the steam frigate
Minnesota having fairly got up steam,
was being towed up to the relief of the
two frigates, but did not get up until it
was too late to assist them. She was al
so followed by the frigate St. Lawrence,
which was taken in tow by several Of the
small harbor steamers. The Minnesota
either intentionally or from necessity en-
gagged the two steamers at about a mile
distance with only her two bow guns.
The St. Lawrence also poured in shot from
all the guns she could bring to bear. 1t
was now dark and nothing more could be
distinctly seen from the Fort. except the
occasional flash of the guns. 1t was
thought certain that the Merrimac and
Minnesota were both aground, and feet
of tugs was sent up in the evening to
drag our vessel off.
The iron-clad Ericsson battery, the
Monitor, arrived at Fort Monroe about l
Saturday evening and Immediately went
to Newport News to the assistance of our
vessels. AT o'clock Sunday morning.
the Merrimac with her two associates
stood out towards the Minnesota, and
opened fire. The Monitor met them at
once and opened fire, when the enemy's
vessels retired except the Merrimac. The
two iron-clad vessels fought, part Of
the time touching each other from a. m.
till noon, when the Mcrrimac retreated in
sinking condition. She was towed by
the jamestown, Yorktown and several 9TH
er boats toward Norfolk, no doubt if pos
sible to get her on the dry dock for re-
pairs The Minnesota is afoat and be.
ing towed towards Fortress Monroe.
The Monitor is uninjured and ready al
any moment to repel another attack.
The Merrimac is understood to have
been under the command of Commander
Buchanan. late of the Navy Yard.
A special dispatch to the Tribune says
that the Cumberland had crew Of soc
men, nearly half of whom went down, bu
a negro states that some of them who swan
ashore, give the number lost as 100.
The guns of the Congress after her cap
ture were turned on our batteries at New
port News. She had no regular crew OF
board, there being temporarily on boart
of her three companies of the naval brig
ade.
Gen. Wool sent 2 regiments Of infan
try and six companies of Cavalry and tn
mounted rifles by land to Newport New
Ito support Gen. Mansfield in case of al
attack.
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