The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-03-19
THE GREAT NAVAL VICTORY.



Nodoss. Va. Msbao. lsea.
A tiule before high noon on Saturday last
cha floating battery. Virginia. formerly the
MAirfmsc. left her mornings at the Navy
Yard for Hampton Rosda and vicinity.
The cities Of Norfolk and Portsmouih
were hrimfull 10 running over with pleasur.
shle excitement a. they Witnessed unmistak.
lie Indications thar the steamer was about
q Veieh anchor and "set cat to seek her
foGnns. and the whafxes were thronred A
= lAs shs beean 70 speed Der elephsntise
fnne rspidly. gracefully and quietly down
ths river. Shout after shout and volley af.
ssr volley Of cheers and jub,Iant huzras
krsetsd her from the spectators on shore. bur
%, ward of response nor wave of hat or
handkerchief from the earnest yoyaeers un.
on the deck of the Virginia, they procerd.d
silently to the great work before them. and
that they performed il well, history will
hereafter write in letters of light upon her
proudest page.
The frs, exploit on reaching the roads
was ths running into and sinking, ,n about
fifteen minutes. the frigate Cumberland. the
some time bugbear OF Norfolk womeR and
children. The whole crew. consisting Of
$50 men. went down with the sinking shin.
but the commander. q nephew of The re.
nowned on Pendergrast. was saved. The
Cumberland could no, bring single gun 10
bear upon our battery. though she fought
gallsntly, even to sinking. Her armament
was the heaviest in the Yankee navy.
NEXT came in the Congress for share of
attention. which frigate succumbed in the
space of an hour. hauled down her colors
and ran upon the beach. The white flag
was hoisted. and while our men were enrar.
ed in taking OF prisoners and in caring Tor
their wounded. party Of Cavalry upon The
shore at Newport News, with characteristic
Yankee bravery. fred into the Congress,
killing some Of her men aud slightly wound.
Ing one Of ours. The Captain of the Con.
gress-to his hanor be il said severely
deprecated this breach Of amnesty. and spg-
gested to the Confederate officers to turn The
guns OF the Congress upon set so regardless
of all military and moral rule.
When our men boarded the Congress, the
decks were said to be slippery with the blood
and brains Of thase who had per,shsd in the
conflict, and thar as she careened. the gpry
tide ran in terent out her scappers!
The light was general one. While the
Nirginia was in close contact with the Con.
.gress. she poured shot and shell into The
shore batteries az Newport News, while in
the background the Minnesota, which had
come out IRON Old Point 70 lend hand in
the contest. was well attended to BY the
SevelPs Point battery. as alec by the steam
en Patrick Henry and jamestown. who had
-sdected reRnion with the Virginia in the
Roads.
A prisoner tells rs that single discharge
from the bow gun OF the Virginia espsized
two Of the guns Of the Congress. killed SIX
teen OF her men, severed the head Of Lieu
tenant Smith from his body. and completely
demolished the frigate. Her final demise
came OF NJ midnight. when she was blown
up By our forces. exploding with ircmen-
dous crash which literally wakened the sIerp.
ers OF Norfolk and vicinity.
The ST. Lawrence, u is said, entered the
ARRAY to assist the Minnesata. which our
forces had run hard and fast aground, but
was backed out 10 little time badly damag-
ed.
The Minnesota is completely riddled with
our halls. and should the Yankees succeed in
getting her Of the shoal, will 90 down At
once.
On Sunday morning the Ericsson Battery
came TO lend hand. bat our Virginia, pat
ting on full steam. ran her bow full into ,he
Errieson. manning her serinusly, il Is thought.
Thousands Of shot and she'll fell upon orr
battery during the engagement. b.Ih on sa-
turdsy and Sunday, slightly indenting the
iron. but with 10 damage whatever!
On Saturday evening the schr. Reindeer.
one Of our prizes. was brought up to Nor
folk laden With prisoners. and three or four
gunbosts similarly freighted were sent a.
shore a. Pigs Point. and Yesterday. At about
II o'clock. our feet having exhausted al
material which the blOckaders could furnish.
came stesming il up 10 our Navy Yard.
The enemys loss is from |. 200 to 1000.
while ours in killed aud wounded 10 not over
twenty. Truly. one might almost think. 10
comparing the odds. that the days Of mirac-
plous in,erposition had come again Among
our wounded are the yirginia's gallant com.
msnder. Franklin Bnchsnsn. and lst Lieut..
Minor. the former slightly. the latter more
seriously. though u is thought that few
weeks csrefsl nursing will restore him 10
health. Previously 70 the setting onl Of The
Virginia. on Saturday. capt. Buchanan mad,
Q thrilling address 10 his men told them Of
che work which lay before them. Of his de
termination. by their help. 20 accomplish il
Gioriously. /" s0ns Dfuy ef sdns rSDr0chs. and