Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-17

= lM0aAoF 1utfftt0C-AttIt9t
Of the Merrimae-Setsty Of the Minnesota
Fligh ofthe Rebels.
THE FIGHT on sAruRDAS-DEsrRUcrIoS OF THE
CUMBERLAND AND CONGRESS.
The Merrimac made her appearance coming
out from Elizabeth river about noon on Saturday.
She stood directly across the roads toward New
port News As soon as she was made out and
her direction ascertained, the crews were beat to
quarters ON beth the Cumberland and Congress,
and preparations made for what was felt to be an
almost hopeless fight, but the determination to
make it as desperate as possible The Merrimac
kept straight on, making. according to the best
estimates. about eight miles su hour. As she
passed the mouth of Nansemond river the Con
gress threw the first shot at her, which was i'm
mediately answered. The Merrimac passed the
Congress, discharging broadside at her, Zone
shell from which killed and dia oiled every man
except one at gun No. l0,) ana kept on toward
the Cumberland which laid further Up in the
mouth of James river.
She approached the Cumberland at full speed,
striking her on the port side near the bow, her
stem knocking port No. l and the bride port in
to one whilst her ram cut into the Cumberland
under water. Almost at the moment of collision
the Merrimac discharged from her forward gun
an eleven-nc she'll This shell raked the whole
| gun-deck, killing ten men at gun No. l, among
whom was master mate John Harrington, and
cutting off both arms and both legs of quarter
/ gunner Wood. The water rushed in from the
hole made below, and in FIVE minutes the ship
began to sink by the head. Shell and solid shot
from the Cumberland were rained on the Merri-
mac as she passed ahead. bur the most glanced
harmlessly from the incline of her iron plated
bomb proof, though some shots which struck her
at more favorable range caused 81 iaters of iron
/ to hy.
As the Merrimac rounded to and came up she
again raked the Cumberland with heavy fire. At
this fire sixteen men at gun No. 10 were killed
or wounded, and were all subsequently carried
down in the sinking ship.
| Advancing with increased, speed the Merrrimac
struck the Cumberland on the starboard side,
smashing her upper works and cutting another
hole below the water line.
| The ship now began TO rapidly settle. and the
scene became most horrible. The cockpit was
| filled with the wounded, whom il was impossible
to bring up. The former magazine under
water, but powder still supplied from the af
ter magazine, and the firing kept steadily up by
men who knew that the ship was sinking under
them. They worked desperately and unremit
tingly and amid the din and horror OF the conflict
gave cheers for their flag and the Union, which
were joined in by the wounded. The decks we're
slippery with blood. arms and legs, and chunks"
OF flesh were strewed about. The Merrimac laid
off at easy point blank range, discharging her
|
! Congress. The water by this time had reached
the after magazine of the Cumberland. The
men. however, kept at work, and several cases of
powder were passed up and the guns kept in play.
Several men in the after shell room fingered there
too long in their eagerness to pass up she'll, and
we're drowned. The reader must bear in mind
| that these incidents of the fight which we briefly
detail, occupied some time in transpiring, it be
ing about one hour and half from the time of
| fha FIRST hQ m arl nd he
finally sank.
The water had, at this time reached the berth
or main gun deck, and it was felt hopeless and
useless to continue the fight longer. The word
was given for each man TO save himself, but af
ter this order gun No. was fred when the adj
joining gun No. 6. actually under water.
| This last shot was fired by an active little fellow
named Matthew Teney. whose courage had been
conspicuous throughout the action. As his port
was lett open by the recoil of the gun, he jumped
| to scramble out, but the waite. rushed in with so
much force that he was washed back and drown
| ed
When the order was given to cease firing and
to look out for their safety in the best way poss
| ble numbers scampered through the port noles,
whilst others reached tbs spar-deck by the com.
panion ways. Some incapable to get out
by either of these means, and were carried down
by the rapidly sinking ship. Ofthose who reach
ed the upper deck, some swan off TO the tugs
that came out from Newport News, some kept
afoat by seizng floating fragments of the wreck,
Others escaped in the rigging and masts, and still
others sank never to rise agBin
| The Cumberland sank in water nearly to her
cross trees. and lies with heavy list to port.
She went down with her flag still flying, and it
still flies from her mast, above the waters that
| Oyerwhel med her, "A memento of the most daring,
and yet most hopeless defense that has ever been
made by any vessel belonging to any navy in the
| world.
THE ATTACK on THE CONGRESS.
The Cumberland being thoroughly demolished,
the Merrimac left her--nOt, to the credit of the
rebels it ought to be stated either firing at the
men clinging to the rigging OF at the small boats
on the propeller Whildin. which were busily en-
ployed rescuing the survivors of her crew-and
proceeded TO attack the Congress. The officers
of the Congress seeing the fate of the Cumber-
land and aware that she also would be sunk if
she remained within reach of the iron beak of the
Merrimac, had gotsail on the ship with the in
| tention of running her ashore. The tug boat
ZOuave also calamity came out and made fast to
the Cumberland, and assisted in towing her
ashore.
The Merrimac then surged up, gave the Con-
gress a broadside, receiving one in return, and
getting astern raked the ship fore and aft This
fire was terribly destructive. shell killing every
man at one OF the guns except one. Coming
again broadside to the Congress, the Merrimac
ranged slowly backward and forward, at less
than one hundred yards distance, and fred broad
side after brOadside into the Congress The lat
ter vessel replied maniully and obstnately, every
gun that could be brought TO bear being dscharg-
ell rapidly. but with little effect, upon the iron
monster Some of the balls striking ut favor
able angle caused spnters OF iron to fly from
her mailed roof, and one shot entering portfolio
is supposed to have dismounted gun, there was
I FL.
the Merrimac appeared to be specially trained up
on the after magazine Of the Congress. and shot
after shot entered that part of the ship, fortu-
Iately, however, without reaching the maya
zine.
Thus slowly drifting down with the current and
again steaming uD the Merrimsc continued for
an hour to fire into her opponent. Several times
the Congress on fire, but the flames were
kept down. Finally the ship was on fire in so
many places and the flames gathering such force
that it was hopeless and suicidal to keep up the
defense any longer. The National flag was sor-
rowfully hauled down and white flag hoisted at
the peak.
The Yorktown when abreast of the Con-
gress dispatched boat for the purpose, as was
Supposed OF taking the officers prisoners. The
/ Indiana rihemeD on the beach opened on the
boat. killing and wounding majority of those
on board, and the boat hastily retreated to the
/ Yorktown.
The Merrimac, the Yorktown, jamestown. and
the small tug then went off in the direction of
the Minnesota. which was aground off Pigs Point.
The officers OF the Congress. finding themselves
unmolested, at once turned their attention get
ting the crew and the wounded ashore. During
the confusion ard excitement after the White flag
was raised. some forty or fifty of the men had
gone over the bow, aud by swimming or in small
boats, which the soldiers had brought off from
the shore. made their escape. The large major
ty of the crew, however. behaved admirably,