Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-17
From the Norfolk Day Book, 18th inst.
The Virgtnia's Second Trial,

The ViEgInia's Second Trial.
We expected to be able this morning to lay before
our readers the result OF engagement between the
Virginia and Monitor, but owing to the evident cow
ardce eff those in charge OF the latter vessel are not
permitted to do 80.
Our feet lett the barbor about six o'clock Yesterday
morning and proceeded to the Roads. On its appear
ance there a great commoton among the Federal
vessels, all of which, including the Monitor, proceeded
without delay to place themselves out of danger
La vain did the Virginia endeavor to prevail on the
Monitor to leave her place of retreat under the guns
Fortress Monroe Proudly she sped to and fro through
the waerschaenging her opponent to come forth and
do battle, but the challenge UNDECIDED. Still the
Virginia not altogether unemployed. The material
to work upon, it is true scan yet wherever pre-
sened ITSELF it properly used Snd although hoping
for something better, satisfied with our first
dispatch by The Airline Telegraph, which reached US
about 10 d and as follows:
The Monitor is afraid of the Virginia. and remains
under the guns at Fortress Monroe.
awe have just captured three prizes-two briggs and &
schooner
The following were the vessels alluded to
Brig Marcus, of Stockton, n. j., Brig Saboah, of
Providence, and Schr. Catharine I. Dix of AccOmac.
The two briggs were loaded with hay-one of them
having stalls for the accommodation of horses. The
Schooner not loaCed
The crews Of these vessels were made prisoners with
the exception of a portion Of the OF Of the
briggs who escaped to Camp Hamilton by Of their
in the river between Craney Island and the city, and
the prisoners taken of by the steamer Raleigh and
brought up to the Navy Yald about O'Clock, and pa-
ced in safe keeping.
The prisoners numbered thirteen in al-eleven white
men and two negroes The latter as also three of the
white men, bail from the Eastern Shore of Virginia
The fleet returned about O'Clock and came to anchor
between Fort Norfolk and CraDey Island. Shortly
after their return two Federal steamers, which had
been caught at Viewpoints News and which remained
out of sight while the Virginia in the Roads,
braced the opportunity afforded them by her withdrawal
to advantage, and proceeded at once to Old Point.
ONLY FIRED.
The Virginia, after backing and filling in Hampton
Roads all day, endeavorng 10 the Monitor cut
and finding her efforts unavailing finally concluded she
would leave the field without firing shot two.
At four o'clock, precisely she opened large gun
boat ard a small tug with large gun her. both OF
which kept lurking around the shore, close into Hamp-
Creek in the immediate vciaity of the Chesapeake
Female Seminary at these she fired shots, which were
promptly responded to by each of them. he first shot
the Virginia fred seemed to splendid richochete
shot it appeared from the position the writer
Pied to have hit the water and passed right the tug
boat, going the land. The gun on board the
small tug boat seemed to have much longer range
th9n that board her larger consort, the shot from
which fell short each time as far as the little tugs gun
OvershOt the mark.
| This battle was carried on at long range be it re-
membered, these vessels kept their position in shallow
water where they knew IL Was Impossible Or LDe IT.
GINA to get at them Several of the shot from the lit
tie tug passed away over the Virginia, and, we
thought, in very uncomfortable proximity to the
English and French vessels lying in her 10 fact
suggested by present that it appeared the
Yankees wished to avail of that opportunity to give
Bull and Crapau sOCk to appease little OF jena
thans spite against those two amiable gentlemen
There were nine ten shots exchanged on this
occasion, and the Virginia finding it impossible to get
the Monitor out retired to her anchorage the city
For the last month, since the VirgiDa's
trial trip, the Northern papers have been blowing "
away terrible rate, endeaVoring doubtless to keep
up their courage telling their readers thousand lies
about the Monitor beating the Virginia off" Why
don't the Virginia out, the Monitor is waiting fol
her. &c, &c. Here OF the finest opportunities
in the world. If the Monitor anywhere about she
had good chance to test her metal, If she not en-
tirely satisfied with the first test.
Now it may be the Monitor not at the Point
and we confess that unable to see her if sht
was there, though we had good view OF all the ship
ping there, with excellent pair Of glasses. Still tht
sails OF the vessels there being spread out hosted t
dry may have obscured her. And We may here men
tion rumor coming from one of the prisoners cap
tured, that feet of gunboats had lett the Point ant
gone rou0d to Yorktown to operate with Mcclellan
If this is so and the Monitor was not at the Point
really, she may have accompanied this feet.
There was very large fleet of mostly large war yes
sells anchored outside of Old Point. They appeared t.
be drawn up in battle array, probably awaiting th
passage of the Virginia past the Point. Though W
rather suspect if she had gone out these valiant woode
walls would have been speedily taken with leaving
either for the bottom Or to other parts.