Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-13

EoRTRRE hoERoE, March Q, 'e2.
Taking up the narrative at the conclusion
Of my dispatch last evening, 1.-THE fate Of
which, In these eensorious times, cannot of |
course know, will say that at about eight |
0 clock IN the evening the Congress, at New |
port News, was set on Ere by the rebels and |
in short time was 8 pyramid Of hame-a |
spectacle ct once splendid beyond description, |
and well calculated to Gil loyal hearts with |
patriotic indignation. She contlr ued to burn
for hours, witnessed By the whole country
around. Gen. Wool made every preparation
in view Of the probability of land attack.
either on Camp Hamilton or Camp Butler at
Newport News The Minnesota was still
aground midway between the Fortress and
the latter place, and arrangements were made
to relieve her at the ensuing food tide, which
would be about midnight Arrangements
were made likewise, In case the Merrimsc OF
any Of the rebel boats should pay us a visit,
or attempt TO 60 out during the night 70
give them q proper reception. During the
day, while the bloody scenes on the Cumber-
land and Congress were In progress, the pray
er OF all hearts was, that the Monitor (the
Ericsson, rather, as everybody persists in CALI
ing her-the only name Ineligible here,)
would come. As if in answer to that prayer,
in company with the Currituck and sachem
about lO} o'clock she entered the roads, with
a modesty little denoting the terrible thing
she really was. The satisfaction with which
her arrival was hailed may be imagined
The only regret was that she did not come
twelve hours sooner. Preparations were
Immediately made for placing her in condi-
ton for the terrible contest which, untried
and an experiment ss she was, she would
have to engage In within the next few hours.
At about ! the magazine Of the Congress,
whose flames had tor hours illumined the
Roads and Bay blew up. The conclusion
shook the earth like an earthquake. The
glsre for an instant made the night almost
as light as day. The gloom that followed
seemed to be an appropriate closing scene to
the work Of carnage. Beyond theunsuccsss-
full efforts to release the Minnesota by num-
Der of tugs, nothing else of moment occurred
during the night
At early dawn this morning, the Msrri-
mac, Jamestown, Yorktown, and number
of other rebel craft were seen drawn up of
Sewalrs Point apparently waiting for tie
smoke and haze to lift before resuming the
contest. The Monitor had taken her alton
to the left and In sdvsnce of the Minnesota,
and our other gueboats were In the neighbor-
hood of the frigste. Shortly after o'clock
the Merrimac began to move up toward the
Minnesota, about three miles distant. Her
| path lay across the bows Of the Monitor,
/ whose presence or real character Il is prob
able she was not aware Of When within
about mile, the ball was opened by the
Monitor firing a shot which struck the side
of the Iron-hided monster, the Merrimsc st
the same time slackening her speed Her
intention evidently was to make directly for
the Minnesota and serve her as she had serv.
ed the Cumberland and Congress. But sud-
denly she found a lion in her path. The ir-
ing was kept upf0r some time at the distance
Of about one mile, when the Monitor began
to move toward her antagonist, delivering
her fire deliberately and with precision =
The Merrimac, six times her size, and with
an armament equally out Of proportion,
awaited her at rest. At distance of a quar-
ter Of q mile or less, both opened their terri
bic batteries-the 4errimsc firing much the
OfteneSt of course. 1t was the first trial Of an
experiment in 6 fearful ordeal. The scene
was witnessed by those who crowded the
ramparts and lined the docks with almost
breathless interest. It would rot have dis.
appointed many at that moment had it be-
come apparent that the unpreteHding Moni-
tor was unequal to the contest. By this
time the Two irOn.clad conbAtauts seemed to
touch, fighting at close Quarters, delivering
their shots seemingly in the muEEles of each
others guns. But 30 far from being unequal
to her adversary, the Monitor moved sround
her, planting her shots where she would =
The contest was so hot that for q time the
smoke obscured both the Monitor and Ner.
rimac. As if realizing that abe had found
ct least her match, Il not her superior, thu
Merrimse drew of toward Oraney Island
the Monitor pursuing, painting her shot viii
the same dehberation which had character
lied her movements from the outset.
After keeping up the pursuit for half 81
hour, the Monitor returned toward the Mln
nesOta. should have mentioned that short
ly after this engagement commenced, one o
the Rebel gunboats, apparently the York
town, steamed out, and boldly engaged thl
Monitor. A shot through her, which mus
have done serious injury, sent her back again
and she did not venture within range OF th
new conner during the day.
Asif having rested from the first rsund
and recovered from the beWilderment result
ing from finding such terrible sntagonis
in 60 small one, the Aerrimac returned Il
the contest, and, as before, was met fearlessll
by the Moniter. The Merrimac being nov
within range Of the Minnesota, delivered
several of her laundering broadsides, ant
showers of solid shot went crashing agains
the side Of the iron monster. The gunbost
also went into the fight gslIantly. ThOugl
the Monitor again sought close quarters, tn,
Merrimac, having already had taste of tina
sort Of thing, kept at prudent distance
For more than an hour the battle was KEEP
up without either side showing damage, when
at about IL A. NJ, the Monitor retired be
yond the Minnesota to allow her guns to cool
The contest now ragged between the Merrimal
and Minnesota and the gunbosts. The ter
rible broadsides of the figate, chained TO tn
bottom ss it were, shook the earth, and thi
solid shot glanced in every direction from thl
sides Of the Merrimac.
Having given her guns an hour to cool, th,
Monitor returned to the contest, and the Mer
rimac was ap2areD tly ready for her, for shl
did not retreat, but stsOd her ground
Nothing could exceed the accuracy of thl
firing on both sides. After keeping up tht
contest for half an hour at q range Of half Of
three quarters of mile, the Monitor begaE
to advance on her antagonist, who awaited
her with apparent confidence. Delivering
her FIRE with deliberstion and unerring pre-
cision, the Monitor went straight ahead and
with full speed foI the Merrimac, till the me1
on both boats5 if they had not been hidder
BY the iron covering, might have engaged in
8 hs1d-to-hand 6ght Now followed one oi
the most remarkable and exciting scenes evel
witnessed IL naval warfare.
The vessels touched and delivering their
broadsides simultaneously, the shot crashed
upon The sides Of both, either plancing of
and falling into the water. or erumblin9 into