The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-19
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH BY A REFUGEE.
Very Interesting Statement BY One Of
the Merrimac'S Crew.
His Impressment, Trials and
Sufterings.
Authentic Account Of the Contest Between
the Monitor and Mcrrimac.
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS At the SOUTH,
kc., &C., As.


lived here on Saturday night last from Norfolk and fur
aishss US with very interesting statement Of affairs In
'ebsldom. he OF the Of the Merrmac dur
ING the nght with the Monitor, having been impressed
INTO the rebel navy had been Of tho Of
The rebel gunboat Lady Davis during tho crusDss Of
mat vessel on Charleston and the coast.
Mr.. Thompson Ii . very sensible man, having more
than the average intelligence found among seafarins
man, and his statement may DO fully relied on. He
sAyss-
In the month of February 1861, shipped seaman
N board the ship R. H. Tucker, and sailed from Bruins
wick, Maine for Charleston. which city we reached
Ater . short passage and discharged cargo.
Hero ] left the vessel, and shipped on board
coaster sailing from Charleston to Jacksonville, Fer
nandina and other Florida ports. After about
months service in this trade, arrival back to
Charleston, In company with other sailors then in
port, impressed into the rebel service and placed
board the sunboat Lady Davis which formed OF the
rebel feet near Port Royal previous to the capture OF the
Two forts there by Dupont The Lady Davis
mounted two guns (rinsd hirsy-twopounders). Com
modore Tatnan was in command Of feet and after
the triumphant OF the United forces he
ordered all back through wahpoo cut Charleston
Here, made tho uardooat, running from Fort
Sumter out far dared 60 toward the blockadug
squadron every night, and watching all the movements
OF the bockading vessels After few days service Of
this character in company with Others detached
from the Lady Davis and sent to erect batteries the
Wahpoo river at which work engaged about
month. We built eleven batteries, about quarter
of mile apart, each mounting ten guns (mos,ly
thirty two pounders). This work having been
pleted sent back to Charleston, where
remained two weeks. We were then ordered to
Savannah. and made to eroct . battery
of ten guns opposite Fort Jackson which work
we completed in about three weeks time. In the
rear OF this battery there also erected a work.
covering ours, mounting eleven guns. We manned the
battery bad built for about . month, when
New Orleans it being the intention at that time
place OF the Lower Mississippi fortifcatons
but account OF some misunderstanding sent
back to Savannah after remaining week in the former
city. When returned noticed that another battery
for the defence Of the city Of Savannah had been built by
the rebels the Thun1erbot road II mounts ten guns
and IL is Cor was) ntrcnched camp Of IS 600 re
bel troops, mostly frem Georgia and South Carolina
From Savannah were removed, after short time TO
ntrepched camp about three miles from Charleston
the line Of the Charleston and Augusta Railroad
Here remained three weeks and were then sent 10
garrison a work at Pocataligo, Savannah, from
which afterwards again detached and reinstated
Of the of the Lady Davis lying in chareso
harbor Since the taking OF Port Royal in anticipated
OF an attack from the Union squadron, piles have
been driven clear asrsss the mouth of the
harbor Between Forts Sumter and Msultrie, leaving
open only passage for such vessels the block
ade, and TO pass through which requires the aid OF
. navigator fully conversapt with the harbor. Add
have been made to the defensive works Sulli-
vans Island where there are besides Fort Moultre
batteries, mounting seven guns each. The famous
snoating battery" also lies Off the island but is
paratvsy useless Near Fort johnson three additional
batteries have also been erected mounting guns Of small
calibre There also FIVE gunboats. mostly old sailing
craft stationed in the harbor amounting small guns)
which have been stripped Of their sails spars and rig
gng and anchored within the range Of the forts to OBJ
the passage Of Union vessels to aid the
forts in OF attack the city by water From
the guardboat was again detached, after months
service, TO Wilmington, North Carolina, where
d intended place in water battery the build
ing OF which contemp ated, but afterwards aban
donsd. While in Wilmington learned that Fort Cas-
well mounted In all thrty.wo pieces OF ordnance, four
OF which are l5-inch, and FIVE 10-inch mortars Tho
oaalcc is made up Of s-inch mortars and pieces Of
small calIbre There is rebel battery Oak Isaad in
sh1 Cape Foar river Wilmington, but it is not or
s'much account" From Wilmington / sent to
weldon, North Carolina, by railroad AT Weldon there
- battery mounting seven guns. and 900 troops are
stationed in camp Here was mustered into the "Ns
vile battalion, mostly composed Of seamen, which was
mainly recruited Savannah and numbered in all about
United States frgate Constitution this batta
Hon. with John Grmbe. formerly Of the United States
frgate Constellation First Lieutenant With this bat
Gallon went TO Richmond and placed board the
rebel gunboat EAnssmond. lying Oh the Rockets The
Nansemond mounts two guns, and 10 ofheefed BY -
Wilson, Captain John walker. First Lieutenant aud Jas
Rutine, Second Lieutenan-all virginians. After
naming three days board this boat selected
one Of the special Of the Msrrimac and her
Monitor.
Three days after became one Of the Merrimacs crew
we steamed down James river TO Hampton Roads. We
passed the Cumberland and Congress frigatss under
sill head OF stsam each OF which gave breadsds
va sped onward. This was about eleven O'Clock the
mornng Of the 9Th OF March. After having passed
shese frgatss turned round and made for the Cum
berland striking her With plough, and Immediately
paid our attentions 10 the Congress, which
served In . similar manner Previous 10 sinking
the Congress We sailed up 10 within haing dis.
tancs OF her, when Commodore Buchanan asked
her commander he would surrender. He
answered by a short and determined negative,
when Commodore Buchanan ordered our starboard bat
tery 10 open her. II did So and then into her.
soaring open her side with plough most fcarfuy,
which left her in sinking condition. The OF the
Congress soon 70 their waists In water but kept
fighting us with most undsunted bravery, giving
most fearful broadside her cheering most Justify
rs she went down. The Minnesota was At this time
aground OF sewalls Point, and kept up constant firing
st all the time Having sunk these two vessels we
steamed up James river tho rebel officers being high
slee, and came anchor about I've miles from the
scene ofsction. Here we remained all night, On the
morning Of the 9th prepared TO 90 down again, the
rebel officers thinking TO compets the work OF destrue
zion BY sinking all the vessels in The Roads, When day
light had revealed the situation Of Affairs the officers or
the Msrrmsc discovered what they at nrst thought was
. small tugboat, stssmins towards We hailed her,
out receiving reply lot ny at her from Of bow
guns but she very mpudensy tool ~ notice Of the
scngsr We had sent and kept stsaning on Then ON
csrs bsgun 70 bs fearful Of the tis chsesebox and
were fairly "trsmbhng their shoss for the result