The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-03-21
THE NAVAL BATTLE.
Official Report of Lieut.. Pcndcrsast.

Official Report of Lieut. Pcndcrgast.
WASHINGTON, March lo-Tho official
report of Lieut.. pcndcrgast Of the Con-
grcss, addressed To Commander Marston,
has been forwarded to the Navy Depart
mcnt. Lieut. pondergast states that ow.
ing to the death Of the late commanding
officer, Jns.B.Smith, 1t becomes his pain.
ful duty to make a report 10 you oi the
part which the us. lrigatc Congress tool,
IN the efforts of our vessels at Newport
News TO rcpel the attack Of the rebel ilo-
tilla, on the 9Th inst. Tho report SAYS
that when the Mcrrimnc, with three gun
boats, were seen s,eaming down from
Norfolk, and had approached near
enough TO discover her character, the
ship was cleared for action.
Al ten minutes past two tho Mcrrinnc
opened with her bow gun with grape,
passing us ON the starboard side at dis.
tanco Of about 800 yards, receiving our
broadside and giving ono in return. After
passing the Congress she ran into and
sunk the Cumberland. The smaller YES.
sci then attacked us, killing and wound.
ik W phi NiNhs DtNillH lnt lult
OF the Cumberland, we set tho lib and
topsail, and with the assistance Of the
gunbout Zouaye ran the vessel ashore.
At half past two the Merrimac took a
position astcrn OF us, at distance of about
100 yarde, aud raked us fore aud aft with
shells, while ono Of the smaller steamers
kept up fire on our starboard quarter. In
the meantime the Patrick Henry and tho
Thomas Jefferson, rebel steamers, ap-
preached from up the James River, frinr
with precision and doing US great damage.
Our two stern guns were our only means
OF defense. These were soon disabled
ore being dismounted, and the other had
its muzzlc knocko3 away. The men were
knocked away from them with great rn.
pidity and slaughter, by the terrible fire
of the enemy.
Lieut.. Pendergnst first learned Of the
death of Lieut.. Smith at half past four
The death happened ten minutes preyi
Gus.
Seeing that our mon were boing killed
without the prospect of any relief from
the Minnesota, which vessel had run
ashore in attempting to get up to us from
Hampton Roads, not being able TO get q
single gun TO benr upon the enemy, and
the ship being on fire in several places
upon consultation with Commander WIN.
Smith we deemed it proper to haul down
our colors without any further loss of life
on our part. We were soon boarden by
an officer of the Merrimac, who ssid he
would take charge of the ship. lie left
shortly aiterward, nnd small tow came
alongside, whose captain demanded that
we should surrender and get out of the
ship, as he intended TO burn her immodi-
ntcly. A sharp fire with musketry and
artillery was maintained from our troops
ashore upon the tug, having the effect Of
driving her of.
The Merrimuc again opened upon us
although we had flag npcNk to show that
we were out Of action. After having fired
several shells into us, sho left us and en-
gagged the Minnesota and shore batteries,
after which Lieut.. Pendergast states tho
wounded were taken ashore in small
boats, the ship hoving been on FIRE from
the beginning of the action, from the hot
shot fired by the Merrimoc. lie reports
tho death OF the following officers; Lieut..
James B. Smith, 0ctng master, Thomas
Moore and VIM. Roads.