Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-19
BATTLE oEIHE Batteries.

AT early dawn this morning, the Merrl
mac, jamestown, Yorktown, and nun
te. Der of other Rebel craft were seen draw
up off Sewall's Point; apparently waitin
for the smoke and have to lift before re
suming the contest. The Monitor hat
taken her station to the left and in ad
vance of the Minnesota, and our othe
gunboats were in the neighborhood of tn
frigate. Shortly after eight o'clock tn
Merrimac began to move up toward tn,
Minnesota, about three miles Distant
Her path lay across the bows of the Mon
ltor, whose presence or real character 1t i
probable she was not then aware Of
When within about mile, the ball wa
opened by the Monitor firing a shot
which struck the side of the iron-hided
monster, the Merrimac at the same time
slackening her speed. Her intention evi
IDENTITY was to make directly for the Min.
nesota and serve her as she had served
the Cumberland and Congress. But sud-
denly she found 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 toward her antag-
onist, delivering her fire deliberately and
with precision. The Merrimac, six times
her size, and with an armament equally
a distance of a quarter of mile or less,
both opened their terrible batteries-the
Merrimac firing much the oftenest of
course. 1t was the first trial of an expert
ment in fearful ordeal The scene was
witnessed by those who crowded the ram
parts and lined the docks with almost
breathless interest. 1t would not have
disappointed many at that moment had
it become apparent that the unpretend-
ing Monitor was unequal to the contest.
By this time the two iron-clad combatants
seemed to touch, fghsing at close quar-
tiers, delivering their shots seemingly in
to the muzzles of each Others guns But
so far from being unequal to her adversary,
the Monitor moved around her, planting
her shots where she would.
The contest was so hot that for a time the
smoke obscured both the Monitor and the
Merrimac. As if realizing that she had
found her match, if not her superior, the
Merrimac drew off towards Craney Island,
the Monitor pursuing, planting her shot
with the same deliberation which had
characterized her movements from the
outset. After keeping up the pursuit for
half an hour the Monitor returned toward
the Minnesota. should haye mentioned
that shortly after this engagement COM
menced, one of the Rebel gunboats, ap-
parently the Yorktown, steamed out
and boldly engaged the Monitor. A shot
through her, which must have done seri- |
Gus injury, sent her back again, and she |
did not venture within range of the guns, |
of the new conner during the day.
Asifhaving rested from the tirstround and |
recovered from the bewilderment resulting
from finding such terrible antagonist in
so small one, the Merrimac, returned to
the contest, and as before, was met fear
lessly by the Monitor. The Merrimac be-
ing now within range of the Minnesota,
delivered several of her laundering broad
sides, and showers of solid shot went crash
ing against the side of the iron monster.-l
The gunbouts also went into the fight gal
lantly. Though the Monitor again sought
close quarters, the Merrimac, having al
ready had taste of th:t sort of thing,
kept at a prudent distance. For more
than an hour the battle was kept up with
out either side showing damage, when
at about III A. NJ, the Monitor retired ;
beyond the Minnesota to allow her guns
TO cool. The contest now ragged between
the Merrlmac and Minnesota and the gun
boats. The terrible broadsides of the
irigate, chained to the bottom as il were, !
shook the earth, and the solid shot glanced
IN every direction from the sides of the !
Merrimac.
Having given her guns an hour to cool, !.
he Monitor returned to the contest, and .. .
he Merrimac was apparently ready for !;
her, for she did not retreat but stood her 7
ground, Nothing could exceed the accur- .
ICY of the firing on both sides. After
keeping up the contest for half an hour
It range OF half or three quarters of !
nile, the Monitor began to advance on !
Ter antagonist, who awaited her with ap- :.
'arent confidence. Delivering her fire :
With deliberation and unerring precision :
he Monitor went straight ahead and at
ull speed for the Merrimac, till the men =
N both boats, if they had not been hid 7
len by the iron covering, might have en- .
aged in a hand to hand fight. Now fol- !.
owed one of the most remarkable and :
xciting scenes ever witnessed in naval =
Farfare. The vessels touched, and deliv- =
ring their broadsides simultaneously, the
hot crashed on the sides of both, either .
lanclng off and falling into the water, or :,
rumblIng into atoms. As if determined =
hat the combat should have an end, the =
lonitor moved around the Merrimac at =
istance of only few yards, plunging her = =
hots into her sides. With well directed =
i'm she planted one into her hull below =
er iron coating and below her water y
me.
Three Gaping holes now appeared in =;
er iron coating. Passing deliberately 81 p
Ound the stern of the Merrimac; the y
tonitor aimed shot at her screw, and :"
sveral others at vital points. The Mer- -
mac now began to make off toward the e
owe fanking Craney Island, and as it be- =, n
anne apparent that she was disabled, :,
heers went up from the ramparts and W
ne shore. The Monitor did not pursue, % %
robably on account of the heating of her :, :,
uns or some other equally good reason u u
fter laying for a short time near the o
lore, the Merrimac slowly rounded out, II y
nd turned her PROV toward the place ~
le was seen in the morning, where the "'
her rebel boats were assembled, specta- r
'rs of the fight. They gathered around ~ ~
er like the hackers of a whipped bully r
t this time it was the general opinion of = =
lose who had the best of means for OBJ ~ ~
irving, that the Merrimac had sunk at "
asst two feet; and that she was going =
OWN. Her deck was thronged with her w :"
ew. She gave no sign of steam or smoke. ~ ~
nall boats put off from her, and tug ~
bats came to her sides, as if to render
sistance. As soon as arrangements could "
: made for doing so, the boats took her 'i
tow, and about three-quarters past IL,
lie Merrimac, the Yorktown, the James
wn, and the other rebel craft, either U De
wing or pulling the former, might be =
en: constituting il0urniul procession, 10
they passed into the dim distance under
raney Island.
!. OTHER PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE. cO
Assistant Sec'y of War Fox, at Fortress 10
~ Monitor in her nert enoarement tn
IN sinI, the Marr;n,ac Mr. Fov con- ar
ms the report that the Merrimac was
,J;n;oT that onofber fgbt batween tbe 70
- ,,ossaIs i certo;,, a1d tbat the con. in
" fCooCAo - SCl e<-AA, oAAN eA~e VIZ WI IL.