Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-18
REBEL ACCOUNTS OF THE NAVAL BAT.
TIE IN HAMPTON ROADS.


Virginia, Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan
commanding, left her moorings at the deck
yard, and, attended by the steam tugs Beau
fort, Lieut.. Commanding Parker, and the Ra.
leigh, Lieut. Commanding Alexander, steamed
down the harbor.
1t was gallant sight to see the iron-clad
leviathan gliding noiselessly through the water,
flying the red pennon of her commander at
the fore-fag staff, and the gay Confederate
ensign aft.
Not the least impressive thought which she
suggested was that her gallant crew, under q
commander and officers worthy to direct their
destiny and defend the flag she bore, went thus
bsldly with smiles and huzzas to solve a new
problem in maritime warfare-to make the
"trial trip" Of the Virginia, the trial of BATTLE
Nor could any man behold the little tugs
with their gay ensigns at peak and masthead,
their battle-fsgs set, steaming in her wake
without an emotion Of admiration for the brave
men theyfhus bore, and prayer for their de-
Hvsranee.
In the wake of all came the Pert Admiral,
with staff of naval officers.
Thus down the harbor, past the wharVes
thronged with eager citizens, past the bate
ries whose parapets were dark with soldiers,
steamed the squadron.
Through the two barricades, and then the
Virginia put her helm a-stsrboard, and took
the south channel.
Meantime, the morning was still as that of a
Sabbath. The two frigates lay with their boats
at their oooms and wash clothes in the rigging.
Did they see the long, dark hull2 Had they
made her out? Was it ignorance, apathy or
composure These were the questions we dis
eussed as we steamed across the fats to the
south Of the frigste, with the two gallant little
gunboats well on our starboard beam heading
up for the enemy. Our doubts were solved by
the heavy boom OF gun from beyond Sewall's
Point. The reverberation 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
one) broke on the air, and a tug started from
Newport News, while at the same time two 9TH
ers left Old Point, taking the channel inside
Hampton bar. Steadily, with a grim and
Ominous silence, the Virginia glides through
the water; steadily and with defiant valor the
Beaufort and Raleigh followed where she led.
At LOO rifle gun from one Of these little
vessels rang out, then white puff from her
eonsOrt. Still the clothes in the rigging, still
the boats atfthe boom Was this confidence?
It could not be ignorance. Did it mean torpe-
does, submarine batteries, Internal machines?
The gunboats have fired again, and 10! here
away to the eastward were the Roanoke and
Minnesota, rising like prodigious castles above
the placid water, the first under steam, the
second in tow. Other puffs Of smoke, other
sharp reports from the gunboats, but the Vir-
ginia goes on steadily, silently to do her work.
Now the in-shore frigate, the Cumberland,
fires, now the Virgins close aboard, now
Sewal1s Point battery, now the Minnesota,
now the Roanoke, now the air trembles with
the cannonsde. Now the Virginia delivers
both broadsldes, now she runs full against the
Cumberland's starbOard bow, now the smoke
clears away and she appears to be heading up
james river. This at % minutes to 3.
The Congress now lets fall foretopsaiI and
then the main, and 80, with a tug alongside,
starts down the north channel, where the Min
nesota has grounded, and presently runs plump
ashore. Meanwhile the Virginia opens upon
the Yankee fort; slowly she steans back, and
the Cumberland, sunk now to her white streak,
opens upon her again. A gallant man fought
that ship-a man worthy to have maintsined
a better cause. Gun after gun he fred; lower
and lower sunk his ship; his last discharge
comes from his pivot gun; the ship lurches TO
stsrboard, now to port, his flag streams out
wildly, and now the Cumberland goes down on
her beam ends, at once a monument and an
epiNph Of the gallant men who fought her.
TIE BATTLE Oh SUNDAY.
Some detention occurred On board the Vir-
ginia on Sunday morning, we learn, or she
would have commenced the engagement much
earlier than 81 o'clock; at which time she,
together with the Patrick Henry and James
town, and our other gunboats, opened fire on
the Minnesota, which still lies hard and fast
aground. The tide being at the ebb, the Vir-
ginia did not take the channel where the Min
nesota lay, probably for fear OF grounding, but
getting within good range of her, she opened
frs with terrible effect, completely riddling
her, and rendering constant exertion at the
pump necessary to prevent her from sinking
Early h the morning, the Ericsson Battery,
now called the Monitor, was discovered of
Newport's News Point, she having gone up
A. IL
soOn took place between her and the Virginia,
during which time they were frequently not
more than 80 or 40 yards apert Unfortun ately,
the Virginia ran aground and the Ericsson using
her advantage, poured shot after shot into her,
but without doing any serious damage. In q
short while, however, the Virginia succeeded
in getting of, and putting on full head of
steam, ran her bow into tie Ericsson, doing,
a. Ii is thought, great damage.
We are rejoieed to say that notwithstanding
the firing was much heavier than on Saturday,
there were no casualties on either of our yes
sels-not man being in the least injured by
shots from the enemy or otherwise.
Several Of the enemy gunboats being with
in range, they were favored with a shell or
two from the Virginia with telling effect, and
in every case disabling or sinking them. One
Of these laying alongside the Minnesota had q
shell thrown aboard of her, which on bursting
tore her asunder and sent her to the bottom
Having completely riddled the Minnesota and
disabled the St. Lawrence and Monitor, be-
sides, as stated above, destroying several of
the enemy's gunboats-in a word, having ac-
complished all that they designed, and hav-
ing no more material to work upon, our noble
vessels left the scene Of their triumphs and
returned TO the yard, where they await an
ether opportunity of displaying their prowess
ANOTHER ACCOUNT. -
On Sunday morning faint cannonading was
heard below. When the thick vapors that
overhung Hampton Roads lifted, 1t, Com c.
Ap. r. Jones got under weigh, and 1egan his
attack upon the enemy. At ten O'Clock the
steamer Harmony showed of from the dock
yard, and shot down the harbor. After thread
ing our way through the barriers, and passing
the forts, dark, as on the previous day, with
masses OF soldiers Of all arms, we saw a strange
pieture-a picture at once novel and beautiful
The gunboats were lying in line Of battle under
SeTall's Point, with tbs thick masses of smoke
floating lazily above them, firing now and then
q shot; while the Virginia, looking grim and
mysterious as before, steamed in pursuit Of q
wonderful looking thing that was Justly COM
pared TO prodigious "cheese box on q plank, I"
said " cheese box" being of PlutOnian black