New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-11

the lower hull is such that bah 70 strike in any
part must pass through NJ least - feet of water auG
would have TO engage in within the next few hours.
AZ about the magazine Of the Congress, whose
flames had for hours umed the Hoa isano Bay, blew
lua The conclusion shook the earth Ike IN earth
quake. The glare for IN instant made the night al
most ~ light as day. The gloom that followed
tesmed TO be appropriate closing lene 10 the "orh
Of carrece. Beyond the uasuccessiul eforts u re
lease TIE Minnesota by number Of tugs, nothing
clso Of moment occurred during the night.
At early dawn this morning, the Meirimoc. james
town. Yorktown, aud number of other Rebel clali
were seen drawn up or Sewalls Poiur, apparently
waning for the smoke aud haze 10 If before re-
suming the contest. Tie Monitor lad taken her sta
ton TO the lett and in advance o the Mnnesota, snd
our other gunboats were IN the neghb0rtood Of the
irigAe Shorty after o clock ihe Ierimac Oegan
to move up toward the Minnesota, abou. three nl's
.-tani. Her path lay across the bows Of tue Moor
t.f. wbose presence or real character II ID rro,h
etc was not then aware Of When within stou. n
mile, tie ball was opened by the Monitor firing a
slot. which stuck IRE s.do Of the Ton-hlded mon
s.er the MeIrimac al the time saeseuiug Der
speed. Her intention evidently TO make d!roci
" for the Minneso,a aud serve her she had so.ved
the Cumberland and Congress. Bat sudden
/ " sAe found Ion ia her path. The brug
wac KEEP, NJ for come time ut Tue d.s-
lance of about one mile when tue Monitor began 20
move toward ner Antagonist, delivering hei fire d.
| iiberately ard with precision. The Meuimac, sx
iiues her size and with armament equally out OF
proporton awaited her at rest. At a distance Of
quarter of mile or loss both opened tier terrible
batelos-the Mcrrimae firing much the oftenest OF
course. In was the iirt trial Of an experiment III
fearful ordeal The scene was witnessed by those
who crowded the ramparts and lined the docks wi'h
almost bre hless interest," 1t would not have dtap
. uonted many at that moment had ii become apparent
That the unpretending Monitor unequal 10 the
D contest By this time the two iron-clad comba'ant
seemed 10 touch. fighting at close quarters, de
. liyeIing their thots seemingly into the mu11Ie
of each Others guns Bat so far from being unequa
}, 10 her adversary, the Monitor moved around her
planting her shots where she would. The contes
was 40 hot that for line the smoke o5scused boil
the Monitor and the Merrmac. AS If realizing tha
she had found al least her match IL not her superior
the Merrmac drew off toward Craney Island, th'
Monitor pursuing planting her shot with the sam'
deliberation which had characterized her movemcn,'
: from the outset. After keeping up the pursuit To-
, half an hour, the Monitor returned toward the
Minnesota. should have mentioned that shcrtl,
after this engagement commenced, one OF the kebe
gunboats, apparently the Yorktown, steamed out
and boldly engaged the Monitor. A shot thougl
her. which mus; have done serious injury cent he
back again, and she did not venture within range O
the guns of the new conner during the day.
As if having rested from the fret round and re-
covered from the bewilderment resultngfrom indiot
such q terrible antagonist in small one, the nef
rimac returned to the contest, and, as before, wa
met fearessly by the Monitor. The Merrimac beinl
now within rance ofthe Minnesota, delivered severa
Of her laundering broadsides and showers of sole
shot went crashing against the side of the iron mon
. ster. The gunboas aso went into the hgh! gal
, lantly. Though the Monitor again sought clos'
quarters the Merrimac, having already had tast'
OF that sort Of thing kept at prudent distance. Fol-
mere than an hour the battle WAS kept W without
either side showing damage, when, at abont u a. NJ
the Monitor retired beyond the Minnesota 10 allow
her guns 10 cool. The contest nov ragged between
the MeIriniac and Minnesoia and the funboals. Tho
ten broadsi1cs OF the frgate, chained 10 the bot
tom AZ II were shook the earth, and the scd shD
glanced in every direction from the ides OF the Nei
iimsc.
Having given her guns an hour to cool, tie Moni'
for returned TO the contest, and The Merrimac wa'
ppu renty ready for her, for fhe did not retreat ou
stood ger ground Nothing could exceed the accuracy
Of the flng on both sides. After keeping up The
contest Tor half IN hour at Il range Of half or three
quarters Of nile, the Monitor began 10 advance on
her antag ,is,, who awaited her with apparent con-
fdence delivering her fire with de!iberation and
unerring pre- cision the Monitor went straight aNe-d
and at fall sp,~d for the Merrmac, I'LL tie men on
both boats. il they had not been hidden by the
iron covering. might have engaged in hand
10 hand fgh. Now followed one Of the most re-
markablo and e. citing scenes ever witnessed IN
naval warfare. TIE vessels touched and del.,e ny
their broaCsdes Gin ultaneousiy, the shot crashed
npon the sides of both, either glancing OF and falling
INFO the water, or crum bling INTO atoms. AZ # de-
terrniped that the combat should have an end the
Monitor moved ronnd the MeTimac at Il distance Of
only few yards, plungiug her shos into Ter sides.
With well-dfected aim she planted one INTO her null
below her iron coating, aud below her water line.
Three gaping holes now appeared IN her IRON
coating Passing deliberately round the stern
Of the keEIse, ihe Monitor AIMED she!