New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-03-24
The Naval Battle,



UNITED srAras srs4u.a ROANOKE, ,
hampton &osds March Q, lS62 s
To II n Gidson U.l'ss secrst&ty Of ,he Navy
have the honor TO inform yoa that yesterday
at O'Clock, one of the lookout vessels reported
by signal that the enemy was coming out. l i'm
mediatey ordered the Minnesota to get under
way, and as soon as the two tugs appointed to
tow this ship came alongside, slipped our
cable.
The Merrimac was soon discovered passing out
by Sewell's Point, standing up towards Newpor,
News, accompanied by several small gunboata
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 oul
bad steerage, We did not get ahead as rapidly as
we desired to.
Tie herrimac went up and Immediately attacked
the Congress and Cumberland, but particularly
the latter ship, which was hid from Us BY the land
When about seven eight miles from Fortress
Monroe, the Minnesota grounded. We continued
to stand in, and when we came in sight OF tht
Cumberland we saw that she had careened over
apparently full of water. The enemy, who hat
been Joined by two or three steamers from James
river, now devoted themselves exclusively to the
Congress; but she being aground, could bring bu,
five guns to bear on them, and at ten minutes be.
fore o'clock we had the modification Of seeing
her haul down her flag. -.t
continued to stand on till we found ourselves
in three and one halt fatloms of water, and were
on the ground astern. Finding that we could &c
no further, ! ordered one of the tugs to tow u
round, and as soon as the Roanokes head was
pointed down the bay, and found she was atloa
again, directed the tugs to go to the assistance
OF the Minnesota, under the hope that, with the
two others which had accompanied her, they
you'd be able to get her of. But up to the time
now write they have not succeeded in doing SO,
at 5 o'clock the frigate St. Lawrence, in tow OF
the Cambridge, passed up, and not long after she
also grounded; but, by the aid Of the Cambridge
she has got afloat again, and, being unable to
render any assistance to the Minnesota came down
to the harbor.
In passing the batteries at Sewells Point, both
going and returning, the Rebels opened fire on US
which was returned from our pivot guns !; but the
range was too great for Them, while the enemy's
shot fell far beyond u.s. One shot went through
our fore-sal. cutting away two OF our shrouds and
several shells burst over and under the ship scat
tering their fragments on The deck.
Between and o'clock we discovered the Reb.
els had set fire to the Congress, and she continued
to burn until l O'Clock, when she blew up. This
was melancholy satisfaction to US, for as she had
fallen into the hands Of the enemy it was far bet
ter to have her destroyed than that she should be
employed against us at some future day. rs
1t was the impression of some of my officers thai
the Rebels hosted the French flag. heard thai
the Monitor had arrived, and soon after Lieuten.
ant-Commandng Worden came on board, and
Immediately ordered him to go up to the Mime
sota hoping that she would be able to keep of
an attack on The Minnesota till we had got her
afloat again.
This morning the Merrimac renewed the attack
on the Minnesota, but she found, no doubt greatly
to her surprise, new opponent in the Monitor.
The contest has been goiag on during the day be-
tween these two armed vessels, and most beauti
fully has the little Monitor sustained herself show.
ing herself capable of the greatest endurance. !
have not received any official account Of the loss
Of the Congress and Cumberland but no doubt
shall have them soon, when they will be transmit.
ted to you
Il should do injustice to, the military department
dip not | inform you that every assistance was
freely rendered to They sent five of their tugs
to the relief OF the Minnesota, and offered all the
aid i'll their power. ] would also beg leave 10 say
that Capt, Poor; Of the ordnance department
kindly volunteered to do duty Temporarily aboard
this ship, from whom received much assistance
Your obe :ent ant.
JOAN NARSTON,
Zap ain and senior Officer.