Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-10

particulars Of the naval engagements OF Yesterday
and the day before. Viz:
AT 10 a. m. the enemy . vessels were discovered
coming out from Norfolk and James river. Cant
Marston, senior ofacer on the station. then or
dered the Minnesota, Capt. Van Brunt, TO oct
under weigh
Two tugs aided Captain Marston,s shin. the
Roanoke (whose steam power was inIuredI The
Merrimac was then seen coming from sew,rp.
Point towards Newport News, accompanied bv
several rebel gunboas.
The Roanoke was with difficulty lowed 70
wards the enemy, but her broken shan made no,
progress slow.
The Merrimac Immediately attacked the Con-
gross and Cumberland, particularly the latter.
The Minnesota grounded at about miles from
Fortress Monroe. The Roanoke pressed forward
On getting in sight Of the Cumberland, Il was
evident she was sinking.
The Merrimac was then joined by the James
town and Yorktown iron-clad rebel steamers.
from James river-both Of which attacked the
Congress
The latter surrendered at 10 minutes past
p m, IN consequence Of being aground, and
therefore unable to bring her guns to bear on
them.
The Roanoke about then go, aground. Az soon
n
nesota's aid, hoping to get her of also.
At P. m. the frigate st. Lawrence, in tow of
the Cambridge, passed up above the Roanoke,
the Minnesota being then aground and engaged
with the Merrimac.
The St. Lawrence also grounaed, but the Cam,
bridge got her afoat The st. l.. being unable
to render the Minnesota assistance, returned down
the harbor.
Theenemy's batteries at Sewall's and Pig Point
opened fire on all vessels they severally went
up and returned-the Minnesota, ST. Lawrence, Ro-
anoke, Cambridge and Mystic; striking the st.
Lawrence and the Mistic.
The range proved too great for our guns, but
those Of the battery went far over our ships
At7K p. m. II was discovered that the Con-
gress had been fred by the rebels, and she con-
tinued to burn until a. m, when she blew up
At p m. Sunday the Monitor arrived, and
Capt. Marston instantly ordered her to the assist
ance Of the Minnesota
Yesterday morning the Merrimac renewed the
attack on the Minnesota, and was promptly taken
In hand, to her surprise, by the Monitor.
The fight, which soon became a close quarters
one, continued for several hours; the Monitor 60
ing around the Merrimac and hammerinp on her
like a cooper around a cask.
Finally-near evening-the Merrimac aban-
doned the contest, running back towards and
past Sewall's Point.
When last seen, the Merrimac was apparently
in tow Of her consorts, her crew being on her
upper deck, as she disappeared.
1t is not doubted by Lieut.. Worden that she is
seriously crippled.
The Minnesota had about killed AMI 9 or 10
wounded-no officers among either
The Cumberland had her Chaplain (probabIy)
drowned, Masters Mate Harrington and % men
killed, and about 40 drowned, including some
SO who were wounded.
Acting Commander Joe Smith, jr., (Commo-
dore Joe Smiths son. Of the Congress, vas
killed. Paymaster Buchanan was her only officer
not taken prisoner. None Of the rest Of her OFF,
GERS were killed or wounded. 1t is not known
vet how many men she had killed or wounded
Lieut.. Morris (who is safe) fought the Cumber-
land until she sunk-whIch she did with her FAC
fying-a worthy son, indeed, of glorious naval
sire.
The Monitor had not aman killed Lieut.. Wor-
den, her commander, only being wounded on
her. His eyes and face are badly but not danger
ously powder burned.
Capt Radford, the commander Of the Congress,
happened to be absent on a court martial, and
thus escaped capture.
PARTICULARS OF The EVACUATION OF THE Po-
ToMAc BATTERIES.
The steamer Stepping Stones, Capt. Van Der
vent, arrived at the Navy Yard this morning Il
seems that the first intimation received by cur
forces of the evacuation Of the Rebel BATTERIES,
came from a contraband, a boy, who came on
board Of one of our vessels Saturday night, and
reported that he had come from the vicinity Of
Csnterville, and that all the secession troops he
met In his four days wanderings were going
away and that he heard them say they were 60
ing to leave their batteries on the river
Yesterday, the Anacostia, Lieut.. Badger COM
handing, shelled the batteries from Cockpit
Point to Evansport, and receiving no response, a
few men were landed from the Anacostia and
Yankee to reconnoiter. They found the batteries
evacuated, and proceeded to haul down the rebel
flag and hoist the Stars and Stripes. Some very
fine guns were found. There was one s-inch
rifed gun at Cockpit Point, and a number Of O.
inch shell guns. A portion Of these guns had been
spiked by the rebels. Our troops not being able
at the time to move the guns, spiked all the
others which were serviceable. The magazine
at Cockpit Point was uninjured, and contains a
large quantity of shells and ammunition.
Two heavy explosions were heard In the direc-
tion Of Quantico, and Immediately afterwards
large columns Of smoke arose. This was sup
posed to be, from the blowing up the Page and
one Of the rebel magazines.
The fotilla will take OF all Of the army stores
and ammunition that was left In good condition.
THE CUMBERLAND AND CONGRESS.
The loss Of two sailing wal vessels II Of no i'm
porance whatever to the service, except 30 far a.
the loss OF the officers, men and material Of war
on board them is concerned. For a contest with
modern ships they were worse than useless, though
as against anything but iron-clad vessels such
az attacked them, they might have been efacient,
employed a. they Were, simply to lay at anchor
before the entrance ofrivers.
REMOVAL AND APPoINTMKNT.-Hon. Calvin c.
Chaffee, an ex- member OF Congress, who has for
some yean been Librarian Of the House Of Repre-