The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-01
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
tFron the n. Y. rnsune.-l
account of the Duel between the
Monitor and the Merrimae.
FORTRESS MoSEoE, Sunday, March 9.

FORTRESS Monroe, Sunday, March 9.
ECRSISG OF THE coSCRESs-PEAYERs FOR The
COMING OF TEE MoSIToR-sHE APPEAKs-
Taking up the narrative ut the conclusion Of
nv dispatch last evening, | will say that ut about
8 O'Clock in the evening the Congress, II New
port News, was set ON IRE by rebels, ri and in a
short time was a pyramid OF fame-a spectacle
at once splendid beyond description, and well
calculated TO fill loyal hearts with patriotic in
dignation. She continued TO burn for hOurs,
witnessed by the whole country around Gen.
Wool made every preparation IN view OF the
probability Of a land attack, either ON Camp
Hamilton or Camp Butler, ut Newport News.
The Minnesota was still aground midway between
the fortress and the latter place, and arrange
ments were made to relieve her 1T the ensuing
food tide, which would be about midnight.
Arrangements were made, likewise, in case the
Merrnmac or any Of the rebel boats should pay US
n visit or attempt To go out during the night, to
give them a proper reception. During the day,
while the bloody scenes ON the Cumberland and
Congrsss were in progress, the prayer OF all
hearts was that the Monitor (the Ericsson. rather,
rs everybody persists in calling her-the only
name Ineligible here,) would come. rs if in
answer to that prayer, in company with the
Curritu6k and Sdrhem, about lOi o'clock, she
entered the Roads, with a mOdesty little denOting
the terrible thing she really was. The satisEac-
ton with which her arrival was hailed may be
AZ thAiN1 AHS Oay ~ WIZ thNN 0< ~ ~
come II hours sooner. Preparations were imme-
dia,ely made for placing her in condition for the
terrible contest which, untried, and an expert
ment as she was, she would have to engage in
within the next few hours. At about il the
magazine Of the Congress, whose flames illumined
the Roads and Bay, blew up. The cIncussion
shook the earth like an earthquake. The glare
for an instant made the night almost rs light as
day. The gloom that followed seemed an appro-
pirate closing scene to the work of carnage.
DID, .-.,.,a.-TxI g. . e. roIaazo IL A.
sofa by a number Of tugs, nothing else of mo
ment occurred during the night.
THE MONITOR AND THE NERRMAc.
At early dawn this morning, the Merrin,ae,
JdmesoWn, Yorktown, and a number of other
rebel craft were seen drawn up off Sewall's
Point, apparently waiting for the haze and smoke
to lift before %resuming the contest. The NOM
tor had taken her station to the left and in advance
of the Minnesota, and our gunboats were in the
neighborhoOd of the frigate. Shortly after 8
O'Clock the Merrimac began to move up towards
the Minnesota, about three miles distant. Her
path lay across the bows of the Monitor, whose
presence or real character it is probable she was
not then aware of. When within about 4 mile,
the ball was opened by the Monitor firing a shot,
which struck the side of the iron-hided monster,
the Merr1Uldc at the same time slackening her
speed. Her intention evidently was to make
directly for the Minnesota, and serve her as she
had served the Cumberland and Congress. But
suddenly she found u lion in her path. The firing
was kept up for some time at the distance of about
one mile, when the Monitor began To move to-
wards her antagonist, delivering her fire deiiber-
ately and with precision. The MeTTimac six
times her size. and with an armament equally
out of proportion, awaited her at rest. At "a dis
tance of n quarter of n mile or less, both opened
their terrible batreries-the MerTiaae firing much
the oftenest of course. Ii was the first trial of an
experiment in a fearful ordeal. The scene was
witnessed by those who crowded the ramparts
and lined the docks with almost breathless
interest. IL would not have disappointed many
nc that moment had il become apparent that the
unpretendiug Monitor was unequal to the con-
test. BY this time the two iron-clad combatants
seemed to touch, fighting at close quarters, deliv-
ering their shots seemingly into the muzzles of
each others guns But 50 far from being unequal
to her adversary, the Monitor moved around her,
planting her shots where she would. The contest
was 80 hot that for a time the smoke obscured
both the Monitor and tie MerriHac. As il
realizing that she had found at least her match
it not her superior, the MsrThndc drew of toward
Craney Island, the Monitor pursuing, planting
her shot with the same elaboration which had
characterized her movements from the outset.
After keeping up the pursuit for half an hour,
the Monitor returned towards the Minnesota. |
should have mentioned that shortly after this
engagement commeucsd. one of the rebel gun
boats, apparently the YOrktotcn. steamed out,
and boldly engaged the Monitor. \ shot through
her which must have done serious injury, sent
her back again, and she did not venture within
range OF the guns of the newcomer during the
day.
As IL having rested from the first round and
recovered from the bewilderment resulting from
finding such n terrible antagonist in SD small a
one, the MITIDlac returned To the contest, and,
as before, was met fearlessly by the Monitor.
The MerrbHac being now within range of the
Minnesota, delivered several of her thunder
broadsides, and showers of solid shot went
cra.f tnO avQInSt the side nf the Irnu monster
The gunboat also went into the fight calamity.
Though the Monitor again sought close quarters,
the Merrimac, having already had a taste of that
sort of thing, kept ut n prudent distance. For
more than an hour the battle was kept up with
out either side showing damage, when, at about
ii A. NJ, the Monitor retired beyond the Mn
Hesota to allow her guns to cool. The contest
now ragged between the MerTInac and Minnesota
and the gunboats. The terrible broadSides of the
frigate, chained to the bottom. rs it were, shook
the earth, and the solid shot glanced in every
direction from the side of the MerrimGc.
Having given her guns an hour to cool. the
MONITOR returned To the contest, and the Me7ri-
mac was apparently ready for her. for she did
not retreat but stood her ground. Nothing could
exceed the accuracy of the firing on both sides.
After keeping up the contest for half an hour at
n range of half OF tbree-9uarters of a mile, the
Monitor began to advance on her antagonist,
who waited her with apparent confidence. De-
livering her fire with elaboration and unerring
precision the Monitor went straight ahead and
at full speed for the Merrimac, till the men on
both boats, If they had not been hidden by the
iron covering might have engaged in a hand-to-
hand fight. Now followed one of the most re-
markable ard exciting scenes ever witnessed in
naval warfare. The vessels touched, and deliver
ing their broadsides simultaneously, the shot
crashed upon the sides of both, either CHANGING
of and falling into the water, or crumbling into
atoms. As If determined that the combat should
have an end, the Monitor moved round the Mer-
rimae at Il distance of only a few yards, ~plunging
she planted one into her hull below her iron
coating, and below her water line. Three gap
ing holes now appeared in her iron coating.