Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-03-20

material to work upon, our noble
vessels left the scene of their tri-
umphs, and returned to the yard,
where they await another opportu-
nifty of displaying their prowess.
1heenemy's loss, killed and woun-
ded, during the two days battle is
exceedingly large and estimated
at from SIX to twelve hundred
The scene around the Congress is
represented as being heart-sicken-
ing. The offit ers Of the Beaufort,
who ran alongside Of her on Sat
urday night, and WHO bearded her
for the purpose CT re moving the
wounded aboard Of her, and who
were brutally fired upon by the en-
envy, while engaged in this work
of mercy 10 their Cwn kith ard
kin, represented the deck of the
vessel as being literally covered
with the dead and dying. One of
them assures us that as he went
from fore to aft, his shoes were
we'll nigh buried in blood, and
brains. Arms, legs, and heads
were found scattered in every di-
irection, while here and there in the
agonies Of death, would be found
poor deludcd retohos, with their
breasts torn completely out
Of the crew OF the Cumberland,
but few survived to tell the tale.
As she went down her crew went
with hef; excepting some few who
were taken prisoners by us, and a
few others who escaped TO tie
shore. Out Of the FIVE hundred
aboard of her, it Is estimated that
not overa hundrt d at most escaped,
the remainder either being killed
by our shot or drowned as the YES
sci went down.
OF course the greater part of
those OH board the gun-boats We're
also drowned, as there was not
sufficient time for them to have
made their Escape. Added 10 this
very m"ny i'll tLecaInps OF the en-
envy ut Nowport-News were killed
by tie shells which the Virginia
threw among them.
On our size TIE less was indeed
small, and wien We consider the
storm Of shell to which, at times,
they were subjected, we can but
wonder while we rejoice that 80
few of them suffered injury.
On the Virginia there were two
killed andeiehl wounded. Among
the wounced, We regret to men
lion Capt, buchanan and Lieut.
Minor. 1 hese wounds, however,
we are happy 10 state, are but
slight.
On the Raleigh, Midshipman
Hutter was killed, and Capts. Tay-
lor aud Alexander wounded, tie
first mentioned quite severely.
On the Beaufort. Gunner Rob
inson aud two seamen were woun-
dcd. This Wis all the damage
sustained by this vessel among her
mon. Two Yankee prisoners
aboard OF her were struck by the
balls Ut their friends. one of them
killed and the other severely
wounded. The former was stand
ing Ill tie door of the W rdrobe at
the time the Peau.ort was along
side the Congress. and one of the
shower OF balls sent by the enemy
Oh shore tiom their Minnie mus
kets, struck Lin on the forehead,
penetrating his lJain aud killing
linn almost Instantly.
On the Teaser, one man wound
died very slightly.
On the Patrick Henry, four men
were killed and three Wounded
While the loss Of the enemy is
counted by hundreds; ours, as will
be seen from the above, amounts
to only seven killed and seventeen
wounded.
This loss ON our part, as small as
it is, was not the work of the enc
my's shots from the vessels, but
the result from the most part of the
fire of muskets from the shore.
During the contest, the main
mast OF the Raleigh was carried
away. The flag stats OF the Vir<
ginia were also cut down.
The report that the Congress
was fired by the Federsls to pre-
vent her falling into our hands. is
without shadow of truth. She
was fired by hot shot from the Vir-
ginia, for firing into our loats while
II