New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-14
movements, and Capt. worden appears well ssti'-
fed with his command.

Ffidag, March 7, 8 a. m.-We are steaming s'o"'
" down the coast making about five knots an pour
with the wind blowing freshly from the NORTH cs''
The SET is rising quite rapidly aud OF ~ {" H. na"e'
a clean eweep over our main deck. Oh seoou"' y,
mproper caulking Of the engine-room anu ioi""',
batebes the water penetrates to the berth-decK anu
into the ire.room, rendering the positions OF ens''
neers ANYTHING but agreeable. 12 m.-The Monitor
ia making. according to saor dialect, bad weather.
The blower.hstches, from defective arrangement OF
pipes, allowed good deal OF water 70 pehe'rtte !"
the engine. room, where coming in contact Win tue
straps which revove the blowers on either side OF
the engine, snapped them asunder aud lett tue iur'
naces without draft. In consequence OF this, INC
epqine-room soon became filled with coal-Sas from
the furnaces which ia short time Frustrated Mr.
Newton the senior engineer. lie was brou8ns up
aud placed on the deck of the turret, where ne re-
NAMED in an unconscious condition for ID minutes.
Mr.. Sinners, chief engineer, whe superntcnded the
construction of the Monitor for the Government, and
who was passenger in her to Fortress Monroe re-
paired TO the engne-room at this junctule where nc
found I'd stanEngineer Campbell ana 81 Ashis'-
ant Hands, with four 6remen, in q state Oh total
Inconsistencies on the floor Of the iirc'room Ihey
were Immediately removed to the urre' deck whefe
restora,lves were applied successfully. ABOUT
q. H., we passed Cape Charles Lighthouse, making
about five knots, with steady breeze from the NORTH
West, The sea has moderated slightly, and
the vessel has us little motion AZ when riniiiAe
down New.York barbor. AZ this time cape Honi!
Light comes in view. The atmosphere is remarkably
clear. ard every eye is directed with curious interest
TO the low line Of sandy coas: that formsthe sontAefh
border Of Chesapeake Bay. We are approaching
our destination rapidly, and, If we have continue
ance Of our present weather. three hours from this
time will find us anchored safely in Hampton Roads.
p. MIR so1der, Let Master, from the tower,
report. heavy firing in tho distance AT iirst' CAPT
Wotden attributes the reports to artillery practice ut
For Monroe but an hour later, the flash OF bursting
she'll is plainly visible. We are now certain that an
engagement is in progress aud our interest becomes
intense, fearing that the Eebel steamer MefFlmAc
may be raining ler iron hail on the comparatively
de:enseess vessels at anchor in tho roads. But one
desire ariInnes our crew, officers and men, ana u
plainly visble in their compressed lips and ANXIOUS
faces, aud that is to play their part III
the fray. ?. m.-Ihe report Of heavy
artillery il becoming more and moro distinct,
ard in range OF the bursting shells in the direction
Of Fortress Monroe tue vivid light Of burning YEA
sci ia plainly seen. p. The Monitor has dropped
her anchor in the roads, short distance aheam Oh
the ffca,e Roanoke the flag ship Of the squadron ~
this station small ste amer has just hauled along
sde, dispatched by the military authorities at the
fortress to scQuaini Capt. WOrden with the parcu-
lars Of the afternoons action. The captain OF the
steamer WAS 2rcaily excited, aud IN hurried aud
almost incoherent manner related the story Of the
afternoons disaster. The Rebel ron.pla,ed steamer
,ierrinac suddenly made her appearance oil Sewa! .
pon, batteries and steamed up part the fngate Con-
erees TO the Cumberland, and summoned her COM
uauder 10 surrender. This was refused, anG the
Ncrrinsc, making short doiour, steamed head On,
and pierced TIE Cumberland with her ram, below
ware, line ten wi'hdrawing, opened on her with
broll,des. Tie action lasted - minutes, the Cum
berlnnd broadsde with broadside, until the water
ROE. 10 her gun-decl. and she began 10 ssttle.
! Down SINK the frigaie, so nobly but vainly de-
Tended; her lag sull flying, md broadrde
Numbering from Der po,ls. Scarcely had tie
Cumberland gone down, when the MeiTirae
moved up TO Inc Congress with the same challenge
10 surrender. receiving the same response. The
Nerrimac opened tho action with her terrific bail.
and the commander Of the Congress seeing resist
auco usel,sf airlc. HE sg. leroiieers were taken
oil Is zoe NJ, rr.uac the crew being allowed to 90
nsh0ro il ANAL boais At this tine she wes ret cn
fire by bursting saell End continued 20 burn until
10 =. H., when her magazine exploded with t.e-
meulor1 report and the doomed fTi,'se sheet Of
fame from wafer live to main truck, was apparently
lifted entirely out oi tie water For some inmates
aiior tue Sky Wa, al aglow with burning fra smeuts
Of ta,tered cordage and other light rigging. Au hour
htcr and but q few lickerng spires Of iImc were
visible, where, in tho morning, lay one Of he finest
fdgatcs Of tie Navy. Flushed with her sudden suc-
cesses tie herrimac paid her attention in thu neNt
place 10 the frigate Minnesota, which had unfor-
'unaely run aground earlier in the day. However,
y..ltber nom the ateness Of he hour or from fear
q getting aground. iho Merrimac, ai.cr Il few
shots, retired for the night, under The
cover OF the batteries oil SeWalls Point,
I confident, no doubt, OF an easy victory in the
morning. In this, however, size WAS doomed 10 "a
thter disa ppointmeat. We viii now return 10 the
Monitor Alter castiog anchor, Capt. Worden re-
ported to tie flagship Roanoke for orders. Ho rc-
turned in fhot time, leiug ordered to lay along
eide the Minnesota 20 defend her against tie Ierr-
mac, who, il was feared, would renew tue attack
during the night. IA short time were snugly
anchored aonsf' de; but 10 bo.tsw ain piped "ell
bands 10 hammocke' Mat night Exciting thoughts
OF tie long wshed-for fight with her proper enemy
d.ove slumber from TIE eyelids Il each hardy
" Monitor" But the night passed, and tie Merrmac
did not come.
S9Ad6y, Mnrch 9.-The sun rose in clear, un-
clouded sky, and revealed 10 the anxious watchers
On the tower three vessels apparently at anchor oil
Sewals Point; but the distance was too great TO
distinctly observe their ouilines No dopbi how.