Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-10
Night Dispatches.
Prom Fortress Monroe.

To affairs IN Hampton Roads and the Peninsula:
FORTRESS. MoSRoE, Mag s.-This has been a
most stirring and exciting day at Old Point, and
\ all are anticipating The early fall of Norfolk.
! HOO A. M.-The steamer Naugatuck OBJ
served raising steam, and about one o'clock she
/ moved out on the side of the Monitor. which
vessel also cleared her deck for action, taking
down her awning and stood forth in full fighting
/ trim.
1880 A. M.-The gunboat Dacotah has just
moved up in line of battle, together with the
sloop- of-war Seminole and San Jacinto. The
flag ship Minnesota was also under steam.
II O'Clock Naugatuck has moved up
towards the Elizabeth river followed by the Mon
itor and Dacotah in line OF battle. The San Ja-
cinto follows slowly.
Heavy firing can still be heard in the direction
James river, where YOU have already been in
formed the Galena and other gunboats have al
ready gone
The Susquehanna has just gone up.
In the meantime the Dacotah, Monitor and
Naugatuck had reached the channel and taken
the position oil Sewall's Point and the Dacotah
fired shot towards Craney Island. A second
shot from the Dacotah struck the beach at Sew
alls Point
1870 o'clock-The Susquehanna moves up
and takes the lead of the San Jacinto and Semi
mole. No answer from either of the rebel forts
aud the DAcotah and Seminole are steaming UP
Elizabeth river The Naugatuck is lying off to-
wards the mouth of james river.
Presently the Dacotah and Monitor approach
Craney Island and Sewalls Point The Daco-
tab fires every few minutes alternately at Sew
all's Point and Craney Island, the enemy making
reply, although the balls reached their intend
ed destination.
The Monitor is now taking the lead
In the meantime the Seminole and Susque-
hanna open on Sewal's Point. and two shots are
fired from the Point the latter falling short of
the Monitor, which is now a mile above the other
vessels.
I2:4O-The rebels are firing rapidly from Sew
all's Point, principally at the Monitor while
succession of shells are being poured on the enc
my from the Susquehanna, Dacotah, Seminole
and San Jacinto The Rip Raps also threw oc-
casionaly shells into Sewalls Point
l2:50.-1he Susquehanna, Dacotah, San ia
cnto and Seminole are pouring shells, and the
Monitor threw her first two shells full mile and
a half from the Point.
lP. M-The Monitor is now within mile of
Sewalls Point, moving slowly forward and firing.
The enemy are also firing brskly from Sewalls
Point at the Monitor, and shells falling thick
ly around her. Craney Island is also joining in
the fight and has just thrown several shells the
Monitor, one of which exploded directly over her
The Monitor moved steadily forward, OCCASION
ally firing and receiving shells and shot from the
rebel battery with perfect indifference.
2 o'clock.-The Monitor has fallen back and
lays alongside the Susquehanna, probably for the
purpose OF communicating with her. The Nau-
gatUck in the meantime has been throwing shells
into Pig Point, and the feet has also thrown a
number of shells in the direction.
Ills Z. M.-The Monitor and Dacotah are
moving along again slowly up the mouth of the
Elizabeth river.
A dense black smoke has commenced to arise
FROM Sewslls Point. indicating that ncen-
diary shells thrown there have fired the barracks.
The Dacotah continues To throw her shells di-
rectly into the Point. The vessels by constantly
changing position destroy the range of the rebel
gunners. They are, however, making quite
determined fight from their works, giving US al
most shell for shell and shot for shot.
The Monitor has Laid out of action for nearly
one hour and is probably cooling her guns
The Rip Raps battery has the range of Sew
alls point perfectly.
2:45 p. M.-The Merrimac now makes her
appearance on the scene. She has just passed
from behind Sewall's Point and is slowly runnn :
down toward the Federal fleet. simultaneously
with the appearance of the Merrimac the Monitor
started from behind the wooden vessels and
moved up To meet the enemy. The larger vessels
have drawn aside and left. The Monitor and
Naugatuck are now in the approaching path of
/ the Merrimac
The vessels of the feet had been lying quietly
at anchor for the last half hour when the signal
| from the flag ship ordered them all to return
| The Susquehanna leads the way followed by the
San Jacinto, Seminole. Dacotah, the Monitor
bringing up the rear-all apparently using the
greatest speed towards the fort.
To the spectators this seemed rather mortify-
] ing, but as they moved in line the Monitor was
seen to halt, and the San Jacinto and Dacotah
also followed her example, leaving the Susque-
| hanna and Seminole moving ahead. The four
! steamers and the Monitor having taken their po-
sition. the Merrmac also halted, and the five
vessels stood thus not more than mile and
half apart-the Merrimac apparently unwilling
I to come further down, and the Monitor unwilling
/ TO 90 further up.
The Minnesota also steamed up in front of the
Fortress wharf. followed slowly by the Wander
bilt, when both stopped. After laying in this po-
siton awhile the Minnesota turned round and
steamed back, and the Vanderbilt, without turn
ing, slowly backed water down the river. While
this maneuvering was going on the firing had
entirely ceased from all points.
$3.50 L. M-The Merrimac now turns round
aud steamS back toward Norfolk with her rebel
flag flying. The Daco,ah again proceeded up to-
ward the Merrimac. and the Monitor starts to-
ward the mouth of Elizabeth river. The Daco
tab is now within easy range of Sewall's Point,
but the batteries there do not open on her.
one anu Tue MOuttOI udNt uOtn rNOpptl, anu Tue
Merrimac is lying stationary about a mile from
the Craney Island battery
Here commenced IN important movement
which can't BE- made public just yet. The Van
derbilt and Arago have now steamed up in front
of the wharf
The Merrimac has run buck under the guns of
Craney Island and the Monitor is steam;ng of
toward her at full speed.
The Minnesota l. also coming up again at full
speed. the effort being to draw the rebels out
again.
For the past two hours the fleet has been mo-
wing backward and forward. but the Merrimac
still lies under the guns of Cranev Island
! The Minnesota, Arago and Vanderbilt have
gone back to their anchorage and there is no pros
pect of fight TO night
The troops are going on board the transports
and the war vessels including the Monitor have
returned 10 their anchorage.
The President viewed the action from a tug
boat about mile in the rear of the feet. He
has just returned and he passed up the wharf
was vocferously cheered by the troops.
Our feet having retired the Merrimac is again
out The Monitor, Ds,otah and Naugatuck
however are still in position of SewaIl's Point.
An officer of the Seminole states that the rebel
flag staff on Sewall's Point twice shot away
during the bombardment. The first time il wa:
picked up, and rebel in a red shirt jumped on
the ramparts with stump of the staff, and the
flag, and waved it,when another shell struck him
t.fI.-. - = L.