Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-03-20

TSigued] S. B. MALLORY,
Secretary Navy.
Terribly Deceived.
It is said that the Captain of the Con-
gress, on seeing the Virginia bear down
towards his ship on Saturday, mustered
his men and addressed them thus: "My
hearties, you see before you the great South
ern bugaboo, got up to fright us out of oul
wits Stand to your guns, and let me as
sure you that one good broadside from oul
gallant frigate, and she is ours p When
that broadside was poured into the Virgin
ia, the Captain in dismay witnessed its ef
fects, and seeing it did not even faize the
the armor of the Virginia, be again addres
sed his crew, and said: "Well, my hear.
ties that was terrific fire, but have been
mistaken They have got US, unless we
can give 'em Bull Run" This is said to
be positive fact, as reported by one of the
prisoners on board the Congress.
On board the Cumberland, we learn thai
many of the crew were looking on the Vir'
ginia as she bore down upon them, and
making all manner of derisive and conten
tious remarks, many of them aloud, and
within the hearing of those on board the
Virginia, such as Swell, there she
comes % "What the devil does she looh
like ?" "What in h-ll is she after Pr
"Let's look at the great secesh curiosity,
&c. These remarks were cut short by 6
discharge from the Virginia's bow gun
which swept them from one end of the
Cunberland's deck to the other, killing
and wounding numbers of the poor deludeo
wretches; and in few minutes after the
most of the remainder of them found a va
terry grave from the effects of the terrible
work of the object of their merriment ane
contempt.
We have no doubt that the Northern
journals will be enabled, by putting on ar
extra head of their lying power, to kee!
the terrible truth from their readers, bu
we are gratied in the fact that true &C
count of this particular instance of South
ern courage and prowess will 60 abroad tt
the nations Of Europe from eye-witnesses
on board of foreign vessels, as we learn tut
whole operations of Saturday last were wit
messed by the officers and crew of at leas
one French vessel in Hampton Roads, if no
two, and possibly an English vessel also.
This successful and terrible work of th'
Virginian, on Saturday, will create re7o
luton in naval warfare, and hencefortt
iron will be king of the sea. The pation
of Europe have been discussing this prin
ciple for number of years past, but it wa
left for the people of the South, battling
for their independence, to develop its fea
sibility and success. The ingenuity o
Southern mechanics will henceforth re
ceive its proper need Of praise from th
world at large; and the master mind tina
conceived and executed the plan of tn
Virginia, will occupy proud position a
mong those whom the people delight t.
honor He has, with his own hands as
were, created an engine of destruction a
gainst our enemies more terrible far thai
an army of one hundred thousand men,
He has given his country the command
the enemy's navy, which has been our mos
terrible annoyance, and if our rulers ar
wise, they will hasten to avail themselve
of the power thus rendered them by build
ing at least dozen more just such vessels
varying their draught so as to suit our va
rious rivers and harbors.
The Virginia, it is intimated, while "
here, has changed her forward and aft pl7
OF guns for two of the celebrated Armstron
guns, which lately found their way int
this vicinity. She is now ready "cocke'
and primed," as the saying is, to do an
little job of work our folks may coDclud
to put her at, with as much ease, faoillt
and despatch, as she did her admirable 10
of destroying those three frst.class Yanke
men of war on Saturday and Sunday last
Long may she wave !-Norfok Day Book
l1M.