Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-03-15


loss was sustained. The much talked Of
iron chad rebel steamer Merrimsc one Of
the vessels rescued from the flames OF the
evacuation Of Norfolk, making signals from
Fortress Monroe, ia the morning moved
down the channel from Norfolk in front Of
Sewelrs POint battery.
!, All was excitement about the Fortress.
and the Cumberland, Congress, Minnesota
81. Lawrence aud RounOke exchanged sig.
mails Of danger. f'r - -- \
N The Merrmac Ind nothing above water
bu. the flag staff aying the rebel Gag, aud
smokeFtack.. She moved slowly and steam.
ed directly for the Cumberland aud Con
gress lying at tho mouth Of the James
river. -. rras f1
| The Cumberland opened on her with
i heavy guns, but the balls glaneed Of, hav-
ing no effect At the same time, The rebel
iron clad gunboats yorktown and Jumes-
town came down the James River, and-en'
gnged our frigaics on the other side. Oar
batteries at Newport News opened on the
gunbOats 10 assist The Cumberland and
Congress, which, being sailing vessels, we're
at The mercy of the rebel steamers. They
both Tainsd heavy broadsides on the Mer.
rimae, which was slowly approaching, but
all the effect visible was to slightly check
her progress. She then ron against the
Cumberland, striking her about mid.ships,
literally laying open her sides. She then
| drew OF aud fred into the disabled ship,
and again dashed against her with iron clad
PROV, and khocked in her sides, left her to
sink, end started for the Congress, laying
quarter Of mile distant which was engag.
ing the Yorktown and Jamestown She
having no regular crew aboard, being only
partially manped by three companies of na.
val brigade, and seeing their hopelessness
struck colors.
4 The jamestown then took from all her
:, officers as prisoners The crew escaped in
boats. The vessel was fired by the rebels
After this the Mesrimac and two gHnboatS
opened with shot and shell on the Newport
/ News batteries.
| The garrison vas compelled TO retreat to
the woods. Oihers say the gunboats were
Obliged TO retreat The Minnesota did not
get up steam in time to aid the two frigates
She was followed by the ST. btwrence, aud
from necessity cns age the rebel vessels at
/ the distance Of u mile.
1t was the impression at the Point that
both were considerably damaged, Lnt these
stalements are bdsed on what could be seen
4 with glass at the distance OF eight miles
The MvrTimac was also believed aground
When the Baltimore boat left she iay a
mile distant from the Merrimac, making
! no attempt 10 molest her.
1t was the intention Of the Minnesota to
run Der TO close quarters, avoid the iron
prov of the Merrimac, aud carry her by
boarding. This the Merrimac didn't seem
inclined to give her aa opportunity to do.
The details of the action could not be
seen from the Fort, but telegraph dispatch
was received announcing that the Cumber.
land and Merrimac was in close quarters
After firing guns at the Cumberland, the
Merrimar struck her, her sharp bows max.
ing hole in her at the water line seven
feet IN exi ent. The Cumberland commenced
sinking. when The MerIimac backing short
distaLce, ran into her second time, max
ing another terrible hole in her, causing the
water to rush in at fearful rate.
The Cumberland continued firing till the
water entered her port holes, when she ca
reeDed over slowly and finally sunk about
3 o'clock. The Newport News battery aud /
the guns ofthe Cumberland fred continuous.
" upon the Nerrimac, but no apparent ef-
feet was produced upon her. ~
The Minnesota ran aground on the way
up, aud could afford but little assistance
Shortly before O'Clock the Yorktown and
Jamestown arrived from up the James Riy-
er. The former was disabled early in the
afternoon aud put in shore for repairs.
After Siuking the Cumberland, the Merri.
mac turned her attention to the Congress,
aud IN less than Oh hour afterwards white
flag was hoisted on the Congress-. A
rebel ganboat Immediately went along side
and took the officers aud marines prisoners
The seamen were allowed TO escape to the
shore.
The frigate St. Lawrence arrived at For
tress Moutue during the p. NJ, aud With
out shipping her auchor, proceeded up the
river aad followed the example Of the Min |
nesota and Roanoke in firing on the battery
at Sewell's Point, but like the rest her shot !
fell short.
The gunbOat Mystic was also towed up
in the afternoon, but at sundOYn the Ro-
aDoke, ST. Lawrence and Mystic all return.
ed. After four O'clock the Merrimac con
tiuued to throw shells iuto the camp at
Newport News while the jamestown and
other rebel gunboats commenced firing on
the Minnesota.
The latter replied as vigorously as posi-
bic, and the conflict was continued without
any apparent effect until dark, During the
evening the Congress was.set on FIRE, at
midnight blew up, making terrible explo.
sion. Daring the evening the Monitor ar.
rived. aud at once proceeded 10 take part
in the conflict.
| The lst engineer Of the Monitor says that
three balls from that vessel passed through
the Merrimac. The Monitor suffered very
little, although she was struck 20 times.
The latter was engaged with the Merri
mac. AVID bot for the fortunate arrival Of
the Monitor the Minnesota might have been
lost The Monitor and Merrimac engaged
each other for two or three hours at long
and short range without peFceplable effect.
They went along side Of each other once or
twice, aRd seemed almost to run each 9th