Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-10
GREAT EXCITEMENT AT OLD POINT.
The Merrimac and other rebel steam
erS attack the frigateS Cumber-
land and Congress.
The Q lmb erland Sunk, and the
Congress Taken.
THE ERIGSSON STEAMER FIGHTS THE REBEL
STEAMERS AND DRIVES THEM OFF.

FORTRESS MONROE, March 8.-The dull.
ness OF Old Point was startled at ten O'Clock
to-day, by the announcement that mysteri.
GUS vessel, supposed to be the Merrimac, look
ing likea submerged house with the roof only
above water, was moving down from Norfolk
by the channel in front OF Sewall's Point bat
teries. Signal guns were also fred by the
Cumberland and Congress, to notify the Min.
nesota, st. Lawrence, and Roanoke, of the
approaching danger, and all was excitement
in and about fortress Monroe. There was
nothing protruding above the water but flag
staff flying the rebel flag, and short smoke
stack. She moved along slowly, and turning
into the channel leading to Newport News,
steamed direct for the frigates Cumberland
and Congress, which were lying at the
mouth of the James river. AS she came
within range OF the Cumberland, that ship
opened on her with her heavy guns. but the
balls struck and glanced off, having no more
effect on her Than peas from pop gun. Her
ports were all closed, and she moved on in ST.
lence, but with full head of steam. In the
meantime, while the Merrimac was approach.
ing the two frigates OIL one side, the rebel iron
clad steamers Yorktown and jamestown came
down James River and engaged our frigates
on the other side. The batteries at Newport
News also opened on the jamestown and
Yorktown, and did all in their power TO assist
the Cumberland and Congress, which, being
sailing vessels, were at the mercy of the APP
preaching steamers. The Merrimac, in the
meantime, kept steadily on her course, and
slowly approached the Cumberland, when she
and the Congress, at the distance of one hun
bred yards, poured full broadside on the iron
clad monster. The shot took no effect
glancing upwards and flying off, having only
the effect of checking her progress for a
moment After receiving the first broadside
of the two trigates she ran on to the Cumber.
land, striking her about midshps, and literally
LAYING open her sides. She then drew off and
fired a broadside into the disabled ship, and
again dashed against her with her ironclad
prov, and, knocking in her side, left her to
sink, while she engaged the Congress, which
laid about quarter of mile distant. The
Congress had, in the mean time, kept up a
sharp engagement with the Yorktown and
jamestown. and having no regular crew on
board OF her, and seeing the hopelessness of
resisting the iron-cad steamer, at once struck
her cOlors. Her crew had been discharged
several days since, and three companies of the
naval brigade had been rut on board tempo.
rarily, until she could be relieved by the St.
Lawrence, which was TO have gone up on
Monday to take her position as one Of the
blockadng vessels at James river. On the
Congress striking her colors the jamestown
went and took from on hoard her the officers
as prisoners, but allowed the crew to escape in
boats. The vessel being thus cleared was
fred by the ebels, when the Merrimac aud
her two iron clad companions opened with
shell and shot en- the Newport News batteries.
The firing was brlskly returned. Various re.
ports have been received principally from
frightened suffers clerks. Some OF them repre-
scented that the garrison had been compelled to
retreat from the batteries to the woods. Anoih-
er was that the two smaller rebel steamers
had been compelled TO retreat from their guns
In the meantime the steam frigale Minnesota
having partly got up steam, was being lowed
up to the relief of the two trigates, but did not
get up until too late to assist them. She was
also followed up by the trigate ST. Lawrence
which was taken in tow by several of the
small harbOr steamers. 1t is, however, ru-
mored that neither of these vessels had pilots
on board of them, and, after a short engage.
ment, both OF them seemed to be, in the opin
ion OF pilots, on the point aground. The Min
nesota, either Intentionally or from necessity,
engaged the three steamers at about mile dis
tant with only her two bow guns. The st.
Lawrence also poured in shot from all the
guns she could bring to bear, and it was the
impression of the most experienced naval Off
Gers on the point that both had been consider
ably damaged These statements, it must be
borne in mind, are all based on W hat could be
seen by glass at the distance of nearly eight
miles, and by a few panic stricken non.com-
battants who fled at almost the first gun from
Newport News.
In the meantime darkness approached,
though the moon shone out brightly, and moth
ing but the occasional flashing of the guns
cou be seen. The Merrimac was also be
lieved to be aground, as she remaiRed station
airy at the distance of a mile from the Mime
sofa, making no attempt to attack or modest
her Previous to the departure of the steamer
for Baltimore, no guns had been fired for half
an hour, The last one being fired from the
Minnesota. Some persons declared that i'm
mediately after this last gun was fired, dense
volume Of vapor was seen 10 rise from the
Merrimac, indicating explosion OF her
boiler. Whether this was so or not cannot be
known, but it was the universal opinion that
the rebel monster was hard aground. Fears
were of course entertained for the safety of
the Minnesota and ST. Lawrence in such an
unequal contest but if the Merrimac was
really ashore, she could do no further harm to
them. 1t was the intention of the Minnesota,
with her picked and gallant crew, to have run
into close quarters with the Merrimac, avert
her iron PROV, and board her. This the Mer
1 l.