The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-13


A thick smoke was now seen to rise above
Newport News point, indicating that the
battery there as'well IS the Cumberland and
Congress were engaged. @ 81
The action could not be seen from the
Fort, but telegraph dispatch gas received
in the morning that the Cumberland and
Merrimac were in close quarters. After fir
ing two guns at the Cumberland the Merri-
mac closed, her sharp bows making hole
in her at the water limo some seven feet in
extent. The Merrimac backing short dis
lance ran into her second time, making an
other terrible hole in her, causing the water
to run in at furious rate. The On mber.
land continued firing till the water entered
her port holes, when she careened over slow
" and finally sunk about three o'clock. -
The Newport News battery and the Cum.
berland fired continuously upon the Merri.
mac, but no apparent effect was produced
upon her. - 20 aii f at
The Minnesota got agronnd upon her way
up, and could afford bat little assistance. /
Shortly before o'clock the Yorktown
and jamestown arrived from up the James
river. The former WAS disabled early 10 the
afternoon, and put in shore for repairs
After sinking the Cumberland the Merrimac
turned her attention to the Congress, and in
less than an hour afterwards white flag
was hoisted on the Congress. rebel gum
boat Immediately went alongside and took
the officers and marines prisoners. The sea-
men were allowed to escape to shore. The
frigate st. Laurence arrived in the afternoon,
and without delay at once proceeded up the
river and followed the example of the Min.
nesota and Roanoke in firing on the battery
at Sewalrs Point, but, like the rest, her shot
fell short The gunboat Mystic was also
towel up in the afternoon, but soon the
Roanoke, st. Lawrence and Mystic all re-
turned. The Merrlnac continued to throw
shells into the camp at Newport News, while
the jamestown and other rebel gunboats
commenced firing on the Minnesota. The
latter replied rs vigorously as possible and
tho conflict was continued without any ap.
parent effect until dark. During the even.
ing the Congress was set on fire. At mid
night she was blown up, making terrible
explosion. During the evening the Monitor
arrived and at once proceeded to take part
in the action. During the night only an oc.
casional gun was fred. Reinforcements and
men and ammunition were sent to Newport
News early in the afternoon. Little serious
damage WAS done AMI no one was killed. !
This morning the Confederate was near
until the presence Of the Monitor was known
to the Mcrrimac. The latter was engaged
with tho Minnesota, and but for the fortu-
nate arri,al of tho Monitor. the Minnesota
might have been lost. The, Monitor and
Mcrrimac engaged each other or two or three
hours at long and short, range without per-
ccptible effect upon either. They went
alongside of each other onoo or twice and
seemed almost to run each other down, but
they soon appeared again to renew the &c
ton. The battery finally succeeded in
forcing long hole in the port side of the
Merrimac and she retired with the whole
rebel feet to Norfolk.
At about o'clock the United States gun
boat Oregon was struck by the Merrimac
in her boiler and WAS blown up. This morn
ing the U. s. gunboat Scioto was also seri-
ously damaged and was obliged to return.
The principal loss Of life was on board the
Cumberland, where it is thought as many
as one hundred and fifty must have been
killed or drowned. But few lives were lost
on board the Minnesota according to &C.
count of her officers.
A rebel gunboat was cut in two yester.
day by the Cumberland
The Mcrrimac is understood to have been
under Commodore Buchan, late Of tho Navy
Yard.
WASHINGTON, March 1O.-Licut. Wise,
commander of the Potomac fotilla, in his Of
fetal report to the Navy Department, con.
firms the rumor Of tho abandonment of tie
rebel batteries at Cock Pit, Shipping, and
other points along the Potmac, and also the
burning Of the steamer Page, and other reb-
cl crafts.
Lieut.. Wise arrived this p m, bringing
dispatches from Fortress Monroe. But few
particulars have yet transpired, as his intor-
view is not closed. Tho following items are
reliable
Capt. Rodford was engaged on a court
martial. and not on board Of the Cumbcr.
land. f5 so e @
Lieut.. J. B. Smith, son of Com Smith,
was on board the Congress, and Is killed.
The loss in killed, drowned, wounded and
missing, is supposed to be over one hun
dred. e a6f's@
Iieut. Worden, who handled the Monitor
SO skilfully, is. here in tho hands Of Sur.
geon. He was in the pilot-house ofthe Mon.
itor when the Merrimack directed whole
broad side at her and received his iniuries
from the minute fragments Of shell and the
powder, which were driven through the look
out holes.
Lieut.. Worden was stunned BY the con-
cussion and was carried away. On recover
ing, he asked: Have saved the Mime
sofa ." the cry was Eyes. and whipped the
Merrimscl" to which he replied: Then I
don't care what becomes Of me-" His inju.