Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-03-12
Gag. She appeared to be yery law ;p n. 80.

water line, were two sharp iron noint, :.
sembiins pioughs, aboutsix or seven feetanart
Her number of guns is stated at twelve brt
she might not have had SO many ar her hovs
Two guns were seen projecting from her elm.
tical port holes. The design of the enemy
alo NOS become apparent until between one
ana TWO o'clock, and by that time the Minn.
sofa hao got under way for the scene of ac.
ton. "a az
The Roanoke flag ship having been disabled
py 'he breaking OF her shaft some time since
was taKeh IN tow by the tug. boats Dragon
and Young America. At about the SANE
time the alarm gun of the fortress wa. fred
ana ;he whole garrison turned out under
arms.
The Ioth New York regiment was briefly
addressed by Col. Bender and all testified
the greatest delight at the prospect Of an ac
ton
After being under orders for some time
the garrison was dismissed until they should
| be wanted.
The rebel boats steadily pursued their wav
to Newport News, and the Merrimac soon
tsrned the point and was lost to view from
the fortress
The hrst shot was ared from the frioate
Cumberland at a little past 2 o'clock. The
SewellS Point battery then opened upon the
Minnesota which was passing, and the Saw
| yer gun at the Rip Raps replied with few
shots at Se1elfs Point. A thick SMOKE w,s
soon seen to arise above Newpors News Point
indicating that the battery there, as we'll a.
the Cumberland and Congress, was engaged
| The details Of action could not be seen from
the Fort, but telegraphic dispatch was re-.
ceiTed announcing that the Cumberland and
Merrimac were in close quarters. As tina
latter approached the Cumberland she did
not pay any attention to the Congress. but af.
ter nrlng two guns struck the Cumber
land with her sharp bows, making Jagged
hole IN her side at the water line, seven feet
in extent The Cumberland immediately
commenced to sink, when the Merrimac
| backing short distance, run into her a sec
| ond time, making another terrible hole which
admitted the water at q furious rate. She
continued firing until the water began to en-
tor her port holes, aud soon after she careen
ed over slowly and finally sunk at about
o'clock.
The Newport News battery and the gun,
of the Cumberland fired continuously upon
the Merrimac, but no apparent effect was pro
duced.
The Minnesota unfortunately got aground
on the way up, and could offer but little as
astance.
Shortly before three o'clock the jamestown
and Yorktown arrived from up James river
The latter was disabled early in the afternoon
by the Cumberland, and put in shore for re-
pairs. After sinking the Cumberland. the
Merrlmac turned her attention to the Congress
and IN less than an hour afterwards a white
flag was hnisted OH board the latter. The
Confederate gunboat mmcdiately went along
side her, the officers and marines being taken
prisoners the seamen were allowed to escape
to shore.
The United States frisate St. lawrence ar
rived here during the afternoon and without
dropping anchor proceeded up the river She
followed the example OF the Minnesota and
tie Roanoke, IN firing upon SewelPS Point,
but like the others, the shot fell short The
gunbpat Mystic Was alto towed up in the ai.
ernoon.
AtsundOwn the Roanoke, ST. Lawrence and
Mystic, all returned
After ! O'Clock, the Merrimac continued to
throw shell into tho camp at Newport News,
while the jamestown and ether confederate
Sunbosts commenced firing upon the Mime
sofa. Jh" latter replied as yigoruurly ~ pos
sIble, and the conflict was continued without
any apparent effect until dark. During the
evening the Congress was set on fire, and
made brilliant spectacle; at midnight she
was blown up with Il tremendous explosion.
very opportuneIy, and at once proceeded up
the river, although not prepared for action, to
take her part. During the night only an oc
cnsional gun was fired.
Reinforcements Of men and ammunition
were sent to Newport News early in the after
noon. But little serious damage was done
there, and no one was killed. This merning
the conflict was renewed, until the presence
OF the Monitor WAS known to the Merrimac.
The latter was engaged with the Minnesota,
and but for the fortunate arrival of the Mon.
lteur, the Minnesota might have been lost. |
The two lron-clad vessels engaged each other
for two or three hours, at long and at short
range. No perceptihle effect was produced
upon either. They went alongside once or
twice, and seemed almost to run each other
down, but they soon reappeared. The Eric
son battery succeeded finally in forcing large
hole in the port side of the Merrimac, and
with the whole confederate feet, she then re.
tired to Norfolk. At about o'clock the U. |
s. gunbost Oregon was struck by the Merr- |
mac in her boiler and was blown up.
This morning the gunboat Zouave was also |
seriously damaged and was obliged to return |
The principal loss of life was on board the !
Cumberland. where it is thought as many as |
one hundred and Fifty must have been killed |
or drowned. But six lives were lost on the |
Minnesota, according to the report Of her |
officers.
A rebel gunboat was cut in two yesterday |
afternoon by the Cumberland. The crew of
the Minnesota were brought on shore this |
afternoon, and With the assistance of the |
SPaulding she has been got off, and is now on
her way here. She received numerous shots,
but no serious damage.
The Congress is supposed to have lost over
one hundred, including but one officer. The
escaped crews of the Congress and Cumber-
land have arrived here.
The Monitor has come up to the expecta
tions that we entertained of her, and has
proved herself impregnablc to the heaviest
shot at close quarters. She behaved remar-
kablv well on her passage from New York