The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-13

fall of Norfolk. AT | o'clock the steam
er Naugatuck was observed raising steam,
and about IL o'clock she moved out by
the side of the Monitor, which vessel al
so cleared her decks for action. taking
down her awning and stood forth in full
fighting trim. AT 1880 the gun.boat
Dacotah moved up in line Of battle, to.
gether with the sloop of war Seminole
and San Jacinto. The flagship Mime
sofa was also under steam.
12 o'clock. Naugatuck has moved up
towards Elizabeth River, followed by the
Monitor and Dacotah in line Of battle
The San Jacinto follows slowly.
Heavy firing is still heard in The direc-
ton of James River. where you have al
ready been informed by telegraph the
Galena and other boats have gone.
The Susquehannah has just gone up.
In the meantime the Dacotah, Monitor
and Naugatuck had reached the channel
and taken a position off Sewall's Point,
and the Dacotah fired a shot towards
Craney Island. A second shot from the
Dacotah struck the beach at Sewall's
Point.
12:30.-The Sdsquehanna moves up
and takes the lead of the San Jacinto and
Seminole. No answer from either of The
rebel forts, and the Dacotah and Semi.
mole are steaming up Elizabeth River.
The Naugatuck is lying on toward the
mouth Of James river. Presently the Da,
cotah and Monitor approach Craney Is
land and Sewall's Point. The Dacotah
fires every few minutes alternately at
Sewall's Point and Craney Island, the
enemy making no reply, although the
balls reached their destination. The Mon
itor is taking the lead, in the meantime
the Seminole and Susquehanna open on
SewalPs Point, and two shots are fred
from the Point, the latter falling short
Of the Monitor, which is now mile
above the other vessels.
12:4O.-The rebels are firing rapidly
from Sewall's Point, principally at the
Monitor, while a succession of shells are
being poured on the enemy from the
Susquehanna. Dacotah, Seminole and
San Jacinto, broadside aft broadside.
The Rip Raps also threw occasional shells
into Sewall's Point.
12:50.-The Susquehanna, Monitor.
San Jacinto and Seminole are pouring in
shells ; the Monitor tire her first two
shells full mile and half from the
Point.
p. M.-The Monitor is now within
mile of Sewall's Point, moving SLOWLY
forward and firing. The enemy are also
firing brskly from Falls Point at the
Monitor, and shells are falling thickly
around her. Craney Island is also join
ing in the fight, and has thrown shells at
the Monitor, one Of which exploded d.
reclly over her. The Monitor moved
steadily forward and occasionally firing
and receiving shells and shot from the
rebel battery with perfect Indifference "a
2 o'clock. Tho Monitor has fallen
back and lays alongside Of the Susque
hanna, probably for the purpose of com
municating with her. The Naugatuck
in the meantime has been throwing shells
into Pigs Point, and the fleet has also
, thrown number of shells in the same
direction.
els p. M.-The Monitor and Dacotal
are moving along again slowly, up The
mouth of the Elizabeth river, and dense
black smoke has commenced to arise
from Sewall's Point, indicating that our
, incendiary shells thrown there have fired
the barracks. The Dacotah continues
to throw her shells directly into the
Poirt. The vessels, by constantly chan.
ging position, destroy the range Of Ih
rebel gunners. They are, however, ma
/ king quite determined fight from their
works, giving US almost she'll for shell
and shot for shot. The Monitor ha:
laid out Of action for nearly an hour, and
probably cooling her guns. The Rip
Raps battery has the range of Sewall's
Point perfectly.
2:45 p. M.-The Merrimac now make.
her appearance on the scene. She has
just passed from behind Sewall's Point
and is slowly running down towards the
Federal fleet.
Simultaneously with the appearance
of the Merrimac the Monitor started from
behind the wooden vessels, and moved
up to meet the enemy. The larger yes
sells have drawn aside and left. The
Monitor and Naugatuck are now in tn,
approaching path ofthe Merrimac. The
vessels of the fleet had been lying quiet
ly at anchor for the last half hour wher
| the signal from the flag ship ordered
them all to return. The Susquehanna
leads the way followed by the San Jacin
to, Seminole, Dacotah and Monitor, al
apparently using the greatest speed To,
wards the forward TO the spectators this
seemed Notifying. but as they moved
down in line the Monitor was seen to
halt, and the San Jacinto and Dacotah
also followed her example. leaving the
Susquehanna and Seminole MOVING
, ahead The four steamers and the Mon.
, i,or having taken their positions, the
Merrimac also halted, and the vessels
stood thus not more than mile and a
half apart. The Merrimac apparently
unwilling to come further down, and the
Monitor unwilling TO go further up
The Minnesota also steamed up in from
Of the wharf at Fortress Monroe, follow.
cd slowly by the Vanderbilt when both