Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-03-14
The Naval Rattle.
WASHINGTON, March 10

The following is a summary of the official
account of the first days fight at Newport
News: At 10 A. NJ, Sunday, the enemy's
vessels coming out, Captain Marston, senior
officer on station, ordered the Minnesota, AMI
in command OF the Roanoke, got under way
Two tugs aided the Roanoke, whose steam
power was injured. The Roanoke was with
difficulty towed towards the enemy. Her bro
ken shaft made progress slow.
The Merrimac Immediately attacked the
Congress and Cumberland; particularly the
latter. The Minnesota grounded about seven
miles from Fortress Monroe. The Roanoke
pressed forward. On getting sight of the
| Cumberland, it was evident she was sinking.
The Merrimac was then Joined by the James
! town and J Yorktown, rebel steamers (wooden,)
/ from the James River. Both attacked the
| Congress, which surrendered at ten minutes
past four. being aground and unable 10 bring
her guns to bear.
! The Roanoke, about the same time, was
aground. The tugs pulled her Off and then
went to the Minnesota. At p. NJ. the frigate
St. Lawrence, in tow of the Cambridge, pass
cd up above the Roanoke, the Minnesota being
then aground, and engaged with the Merrimac.
The St. Lawrence also grounded. The Cam
bridge got her shuat, but being unable to rem
der the Minnesota assistance, returned down
/ the harbCr.
The encmys batteries at Sewell's and Pig
Point opcacd fire OH all our vessels as they
passed up and returned. The range was too
great for our guns. but those of the battery
went far over our ships, and several shells
struck
At7ls O'Clock it was discovered that the
Congress had been fred by the rebels. She
continued to burn until l a. NJ, when she
blew up.
At 8 T. NJ. the Monitor arrived, and Capt
Narston instantly ordered her to the assistance
of the Minnesota
From al eyewitness we learn, in addition
that the Cumberland was run into twice and
/ the Congress once by the Merrinac, which
struck AID delivered broadsidcs alternately
After the Second blow. the Cumberland sunIl
in five minutes. She was fought Spendidly
delivering her last broatlside as her guns sunk
below the water. All officers but the Chap
lain escaped in launches. One hundred and
fifty men were probably drowned, including
the killed and wounded.
Tile Congress was then ordered to surrender
and answered with broad tlt The Merri
mac then hauled off and ran into her but shC
didn surrender till sunk so low that the mag
azinc was flooded. The officers were taken of
prisoners. The AIcrrmac hadn't room for tht
men. Acting Commander Smith, Commodore
Smiths son, was killed.
The official account of yesterdays fight il
.or,,eo,,t
nifcent The MerIiinac, Yorktown, James
town and several tugs came down at half pas
eight, evidently expecting the Minnesota woul,
fall an easy prey. They started back at tn,
Monitors first shot The battle ragged till tcl
MINUTES past twelve, Scwall's and Pig Poin
batteries taking part. fs. e
The jamestown and Yorktown threw oc
casional shells keeping their distance The Min
nesota, aground, kept up con tant broldSi lie
The Whitehall Union ginbuat aad other small
vessels, joined, but the great fight was betwccl
the Mcrrimac and Monitor, the latter nimb,
running around the former and hemmcrir!
with her two immense guns, seeking 10 get a
the stern, the Mcrrimac'5 weakest point, bu
did not succeed in hitting that She fred eight
Tor ninety shots, Of which It. Worden think
tlrcc went through anyhow After firing tw,
hundred shots, the Merrimac went back, ap
parently sinking deeper at the stern, in tow o
two tugs, and according to some, with the mel
on the top OF the root, as if afraid of sinkin.
with Ler.
The Mouior is unhurt. The only man liz
jnrcd is Lieut. Wor,e her commander Flam
and particles of shells through the aperture o
the iron pilot house. struck his face ard eyes
He was prisoner at Pensacola and is nov
here. lie was visited by the President to-day
1t is believed that the total loss on our sid
is about three hundred. Five were killed b,
one shell, on the Minnesota.