The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-03-18
TnE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
foNrNlss MoNnok. Mareh 3

SION OF nv uispaicn thAt evening" ttHE istt
Of which. Ia these censnrious times, can.
not Of course know I will cav that 81
a, on, O'Clock IN the evening she Com
gress. ~ Newport News, was SET am ERE
By the rebels, and in short time Vas a
pyramid Of hame--a spectacle NJ once
splendid beyond description, and well
calculated to till loyal hearts with patriotic
indigestion. She continued to burn for
hours witnessed by The whole country
around Gen. Wool made every precan-
lion ia view Of the probability q lan'l
attack. either on Camp Hamilton or Camp
Butler at Newport News, Tie Mime
sofa was still aground midway between
the Fortress and the latter place, and ar
engagements were made 10 relieve her a, the
ensuing flood tide, which would be about
midnight. Arrangements we're made like.
wise, ID case the Merrimack or any Of the
rebel boats should pay US visit or attempt
to go out during the night 10 give tl m a
proper reception. During the day, while
the bloody scenes on the Cumberland and
Congress were in progress, the prayer Of
all hearts was that the Monitor, he Eries-
son, rather, as everybody persists in call
ing ller---the only name ineligible here)
would come. As il in answer TO that
prayer, in company with the Currtuck
and Sachem about l0t o'clock she entered
the Roads, with modesty little dcnoting
the terrible think she really was. The
satisfaction with which her arrival WAS
hailed may be imagined. The only regret
was that she did not come twelve hours
sooner Preparations were Immediately
made for placing her in condition for the
terrible contest which untried and an ex-
pertinent as she was, she weuld have TO
engage in within the next few hours. At
about l-2 the magazine Of the Congress,
whose flames had for hours illumined the
Roads and Bay, blew up. The concussion
shook the earth like an earthquake. The
glare for an instant made the night almost
AS light as day. The gloom that followed
seemed to be an appropriate closing scene
to the work Of carnage. Beyond tie un-
successful efforts TO release the Minnesota
by a number Of tugs, nothing else Of mo-
menl occurred during the night.
AT an early dawn this morning, the
Merrmac. jamestown, Yorktown, and q
number Of rebel craft were seen dr. wn up
of Sewel's Point apparently waiting for
the smoke and haze 10 lit before resuming
The contest. The Monitor had taken her
station 10 the lett and in advance Of the
Minnesota, and our other gunboats were
in advance Of he frgate. Shortly after 8
O'Clock the Merimaek began TO move up
toward the Minnesota, about three miles
distant. Her path lay across the bows OF
the Monitor, whose presence of real chrac-
ter it is probable she was not aware Of
When within about a mile, the ball was
oponed by The Monitor firing SHOT, which
struck the side of the iron-hided monster,
the Merrimack at the same time slackening
her speed. Her intention evidently was 10
make directly Tor the Minnesota and serve
her as she lad the Cumberland and Con-
gress. But suddenly she found hon in
her path. The firing was kept up for
some time at the distance Of about one
mile, when the Monitor began to move
towards her antagonist, delivering her
tire deliberately and with precision. Tho
Merrimac, six times her SIZE, and with a
armament equally out otproporton. await
ed her at resi-. At a distance OF quarter
of mile or less, both opened their terrible
hnfs . Ie, n Ersp ha
oftenesl of course. II was the trial Of an
experiment in fearful orderl. The scene
was witnessed by those who crowded the
ramparts and lined the docks, with almost
breathlcss interest. 1t would not have
disappointed many at that moment had It
become apparent that the unpretendlng
Monitor was unequal to the contest. BY
this time the two iron-clsd combatants
seemed to touch, fighting at close quarters,
delivering their shots seemingly INTO the
muzzles Of each others guns. But so far
from being unequal to her adversary, the
Monitor moved around her, planting her
shots where she would. The contest was
so hot for time the smoke obscurcd both
lHB nlOIilOT ana lHe AAefFiiUhSs ~ al
realizing that she had found her match il
not her supeior, the Merrimac drew off
towards Craney Island, the Monitor pur-
suing, planting her shot with the same de-
Liberation which had characterized her
movements from the outset. After keep
ing up the pursuit for half an hour, the
Monitor returned TO the Minnesota. !
should have mentioned that shortly after
this engagement commenced, one of tbs
rebel gunboats, apparently the Yorktown,
steamed out and boldly engaged the Moni.
Tor. A shot through her which must have
done serious injury, sent her back again,
and she did not venture within range OF
the guns Of the new conner again during
the day.
As If having rested from the first round,
and recovered from the bewilderment re-
sulting from finding such a terrible antag-
onist in 50 small one, the Merrimae re-
turned 10 the contest, and, as before, was
met iearlessly by the Monitor The
Merrimac being within range Of The Min