Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-10

shot for shot, Sowelrs Point is almost en-
velopedih smoke The constant explosion
OF shells and smoke from its own guns. and
hEe raging ia the vicinity, must make it a
NOT place for suffering humanity.
z:5O r. M.-The Monitor has laid out of
actlon ZOE nearly an hour, probably cooling
ner guns. Four large vessels are throwing
snot ana shell, all of which appear 10 en-
Ter the works of the enemy, or explode in
the woods beyond.
Rip Raps has also kept up n constant
cross-hre, throwing large numbers Of balls
and shells in the Near Point Batteries.
The Rip Rap Batteries have range OF
Sewelps Point perfectly. - ~ . =
2:45 2. M.-The rebel monster Merrimac
now made her appearance aud has inst
passed out from behind SeWell's Point and
is running down slowly towards the fed
eral fleet. Her black hull can be seen
moving slowly along shore in front of
Crancy Island batteries. simultaneously
with the appearance of the Merrimac the
Monitor started up from behind the wooden
vessels and moved up to meetthe enemy.
Dense volumes of smoke assembled from
tue pipes OF the Aerrimac and Monitor,
With only puff of white steam escaping
from her. Looked in the distance like an
atom on the surface of the water. The
larger Federal vessels drew on one side
and lett the Monitor and Naugatuck in the
path approaching the enemy, the contest
ants being yet fully two miles apart.
3:40, P. M.-The Merrtmac now turns
around and steams back towards Norfolk
with her rebel-flag flying impuden;ly.
A Baltimore steamer, the Georgiana, has
laid out in the stream with steam up all af-
ternoon, ready to escape from danger at
the earliest moment. lr 'H. i7.-fF
The Minnesota and Vanderbilt have gone
back to their anchorage.
Tho Dacotah again proceeds up towards
the MerrimaC, and the Monitor also starts
towards the mouth OF the Elizabeth river.
The Dacotah is now within easy range of
SeWelFs Point, but the batteries do not
open on her. She and the Monitor have
both stopped, aud the Merrimac is living
stationary about a mile in advance of
Craney Island batteries.
Here commenced an important move
ment, which cannot be made public lust
yet. s55sl '''
3. o'clock P. M.-The Minnesota fires her
signal gun, and the loug-roll is being beat
in the Fort. The Minnesota is coming up
from her anchorage below the Fort.
The fleet had all been lying quietly nj
anchor for the past half-hour, when sig
nal from the flagship ordered them all to
return. The Susquehannah lend the way,
followed by the San Jacinto, Seminole, and
Docatah. the Monitor bringing up the rear,
oil apparently using the greatest speed to.
ward the Fort.
To the spectators this seemed rather
Notifying, but as they moved down in
line, the Monitor was observed to halt, and
the San Jacinto and Dacotah also followed
her example, leaving the Susquehanna and
the Seminole moving ahead. The four
steamers and the Monitor having taken
their positions, the Merrimac also halted,
and the five vessels stood thus, not more
than mile and II half apart.
:. The Merrimac was not apparently w!l-
ling to come further down, aud tue Mont
tor unwilling to go further up.
The Minnesota also steamed up in front
of the wharf of the fort, followed slowly
by the Vanderbilt, when both stopped. AT.
ter laying in this position sometime the
Minnesota turned round, steamed back, and
the Vanderbilt, without turning, backed
slowly down the river. Whilst all this
manGuvering was going ON firing had en-
tirely ceased from all points.