The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-03-14
W A R N B W :.
A Severe Naval Engagement,
EAST PROVIDENCE.

The steamer Adelaide, Captain Cannon, ar
rived at halt-past nine o'clock yesterday morn
ing, from Old Point, having left the latter place
at eight O'Clock on Saturday night. She brought
the important intelligence of an engagement be-
tween several United States and Confederate
vessels in Hampton Roads, between the mouth
of James river and Sewalls Point. The news,
soon after the arrival of the Adelaide yester-
day morning, created quite a sensation, and an
end'ess variety of exaggerated reports were put
in circulation.
1t appeared, after careful inquiry, that pas
sengers who came up in the Adelaide, and SEEM
cd to be intelligent, stated that the Confederate
steamer Merrimac came out at one o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, while the Federal frigates
Congress and Cumberland were lying off New
port Newspoint. She headed for the Congress,
which opened a broadside on her without any
perceptible effect. She passed the Congress
when the Cumberland opened broadside on
her, but that likewise had no injurious effect,
and in few minutes more the Merrimac struck
the Cumberland amidship, and so crushed in
her side that she sunk i'll Il few minutes.
1t was reported that one hundred and fifty
of those on board were known to have been
saved, but how many were lost was not known
The Merrimac next turned her attention to the
Congress, which had not ceased to fire on her,
and after a short engagement captured her and
al on board. The officers and crew of the
Congress were sent to Pigs Point and the Con-
gress was Immediately manned by Confcderates.
The frigate st. Lawrence was engaged by
the Confederate steamers jamestown and Pat
rick Henry and is said to have been disabled
and run ashore in a sinking condition.
The steam frigate Minnesota left Old Point
to join in the engagement, when the Confeder-
ates turned the guns of the Congress against
her, but she grounded, and was still aground
when the Adelaide left Old Point The Con-
gress, after her capture, was found to be in /;
sinking condition, and her captors fired and
burned her.
The steam frigate Roanoke also started to
take part in the engagement, but the battery.at
Sewal's Point opened against her and so dis
abled her that she was obliged toput back un-
der canvas. Several smaller gunboats also
started towards the scene of action from Old
Point, but withdrew. Capt. Buchanan, for
mery of the United States navy, and native
of Maryland, was in the command of the Con-
iederate fleet. 1t was said by persons who came
up in the Adelaide that the conflict was to have
been renewed yesterday morning.
The Congress and St. Lawrence were first
class sailing frigates, each carrying fifty guns
The Cumberland was q frst-class sloop-ofwar,
carrying twenty-five guns, and the Minnesota
and Roanoke are first class steam frigates each
carrying forty guns, besides which the Mime
sofa carries two heavy pivot guns. The whole
was of but few hours duration.
We have list of the names of the officers
attached several months ago to the u. S. YES
sells which participated in the engagement, but
since it was made out so many changes have
taken place that we omit it until we are able to
give it in a more correct form.
The Congress, which carries so guns, is ofl
/ ,G67 tonnage, and was built at Kittery, Me-,
in 1941
The Cumberland carries "a guns was built
at Charlestown, Mass, in 1912. She is of
!, ,726 tonnage.
The st. Lawrence was built at Gosport, Va,
in 1877. She carries so guns, is of ,726 ton
mage. She is commanded by Capt. Hugh Y
Purviance, of Baltimore, and some time since
engaged and sunk the Confederate privateer Sa-
vannah, off Charleston harbor. She was cngag-
I'd for about six months in blockading Southern
ports but returned to New York on the Sth ult,
Tor temporary repairs
The Roanoke was also built at Gosport in
l655. She is of 3,400 tonnage.