Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-11
The Battle with the Merrimac.
OEEIC1AL REPoRr.

OFFICIAL REPORT.
UNITED STATES STEAMER ROANOKE, HAMP.
TON ROADS, March 80 Hon. Gideon Wells,
Secretary Of the May: SRI have the honor
to inform you that yesterday at o'clock one
OF the gunboat vessels reported by signals
that the enemy was coming out. l immed
ately ordered the Minnesota to get under way
and as soon as the two tugs appointed to tow
her out co me along side slipped our cable.
The Merrimae was soon discerned passing
out by SewalPs Point standing up towards
Newport News, accompanied by several small
gunIoats. Every eXertiOn was made by us
to get all the speed on the Roanoke that the
two tugs were capable of giving her, but in
consequence of our bad stearage we did not
get ahead so rapidly as we desired to.
The NIerrimac went up and Immediately
attacked the Congress and Cumberland, but
particularly the latter ship which was hid
from us by the land Whsn about seven or
eight miles from fortress Monroe, the Mime
sofa grounded We continued to stand ON
and when we came in sight OF the Cumber-
land we saw that she had careened over, ap-
rarently full of water. The enemy, who had
been joined by two or three steamer from
James river, now devoted themselves eXclus
lively to the Congress, but she, being aground,
could bring but five guns to bear Oh them, and
at ten minutes before tour O'Clock we had the
modification OF seeing her haul down her
flag.
continued to stand on until we found our.
selves in three and half tathoms of water,
and were ON the ground astern Finding that
we could 90 no farther E-5rdered one of the
tugs to tow us round5 and as soon as the
hOanoke's head Was pointed down the bay,
and l found she was afoat again, directed
the tugs to go to the assistance of the Mime.
sofa, under the hope that, with the assistance
Ct the two Others which had accompanied her,
they would be able to get her oft but, up to
the time that now write, they have not sue.
ceeded in doing so.
AT 5 O'Clock the frigate ST. Lawrence, in
tow OF the Cambridge, passed lis, and not long
after SHE also grounded; but by the AID OF the
Cambridge she was got afloa again. and being
unable TO render any assistance to the Min
nesota, came down the harbur. In passing
the batteries at Sewall's Point, both going and
returning, the rebels opened fire on us, which
was returned from our pivot guns, but the
range was too great tor them, while the enc
my's shot fell beyond us One shot went
through our toresails cutting away two OF our
shrOuds, and several shell burst over and near
the ship, scattering their fragments on the
deck
Between and o'clock we discovered that
the rebels had set fire to the Congress- aud she
continued to burn till CLOCK, when she blew
up. This vas Il melancholy satisfaction to
me, for as she had fallen into the hands OF the
enemy, it was far better to have her DESTROYED
then TO have her employed against US at some
future day 1t was the impression OF some of
my officers that the rebels hoisted the French
flag.
heard that the Monitor had arrived, and
soon after lieutenant commanding Worden
came on board, ami / Immediately ordered
him to 20 up to the Minnesota, hoping she
would be able to keep off an attack on the
Minnesota until we had got her a1Oat again.
This morning the Merrimac renewed the at
tack upon the Minnesota, but she found, 10
doubt greatly 10 her surprise, new opponent
in the Monitor. The contest has been going
on during most of the day between these two
armored vessels, and most beautifully has the
little Monitor sustained herself, showing her.
self capable of great endurance. / have not
received any official accounts Of the loss of the
Congress and Cumberland, but no doubt shall
do so, when it will be transmitted to you
should do injustice to this military depart
ment, did l hot inform you that every assist
ance was freely rendered TO us, sending five
of their tugs to the relief OF the Minnesota,
and offering all the aid in their power.
would also beg leave to say that Capt. Poor,
of the ordnance department, kindly volun.
teered to do duty temporarily on board this
ship, and from whom l have received much
assistance. l am, very respectfully, your ODE
dent servant, john MARsToN,
Captain and senior officer
WAsuINGroN, March 10.-The following is
copied from an official report of Gen. Wool,
dated today
Nothing of Importance has occurred to day.
The Merrimac has not made her appearance
since yesterday. 1t is not yet ascertalned how
much she was injured The chief engineer
of the Monitor says that three balls from that
vessel passed through the Merrmac. The
Monitor suffered very little, although she was
struck twenty three times"