Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-03-13
Naval Fight Opposite Ft.
Monroe. -
The Merrimac Alta cks Our vessels, Sinks
One and Captures Another.

One and Captures AnOfher.
Tho steamer 4Nerrimac is powerful
iron clad vessel, which the rebels have
been some months engaged in fitting for
service. She has been reported failure
on several occasions, but her operations OF
9Th inst. don't indicate it. She belonged
10 the United States Government and was
sunk in Norfolk Harbor at the time the
Navy Yard was burnt. The rebels after
wards raised her and proceeded to render
her formidable floating battery. The
Merrimac made her first appearance on
Saturday last. In the morning she was
signaled moving down the channel from
Norfolk in front of Sewell's Point Battery.
Considerable excitement was created at
Fortress Monroe. The Cumberland, Con-
qyess, Minnesota, st. Laurence and Ro-
anoke exchanged signals of danger. As
the Merri;mac moved down there was little
of her ,isable above water except her flag
staff, with rebel flag flying, and her
smoke stack. She is rooted over with
plates of iron of immense weight. She
moved slowly and directly for the Cum
5erland and Congress lying at the mouth
of James River. The Cumberland opened
on her with heavy guns, but the balls
glanced harmlessly off her iron back. The
rebel gun boats Yorktown and jamestown
came down the James River and engaged
nor frigates on the other side, when our
batteries at Newport News opened on the
gun boats. Both the Cumberland and
Congress rained heavy broadside on the
Merrinaac, but with no visible effect, save
checking her progress slightly. The Mer-
rimae ran against the Cumberland, stri-
king her about amidships, laying open her
side. She then drew off fred into the
Cumberland aud again dashed against her,
knocking in her side and leaving her to
sink. She then started for the Congress
which was engaging the gun boats York
torn and jamestown and being Inefficient
ly manned the Congress struck her colors.
Her crew escaped in boats. The officers
were taken off as prisoners by the James
toacn, and the Congress was fired. Flush
ed apparently with their success and burn
ing for still further achievements, the Mer-
rinaac with the two gun boats opened with
shot and she'll on Newport News batter
les. One account says that the garrison
was driven into the woods, while another
account says the gun boats we're obliged TO
retreat. The Minnesota did not get up
steam in season to aid the frigates Cuna-
Jerland and Congress, but afterwards,
with the st. Laurence, engaged the rebel
vessels at a distance of one mile, without
any particular effect. Further hostilities
seem to have been suspended until morn
ing.
The Ericsson iron-clad steamer Monitor
arrived at 10 O'Clock Saturday night and
proceeded at once to the protection of the
Minnesota, which had got aground at
Newport News. At 7 o'clock Sunday
morning The Merrimac, Yorktown, James
toUn and several Tugs went towards the
Minnesota and opened fire, the Monitor
engaged them, when all the enemys vessels
except the -Merrimac retired, leaving the
two formidable vessels to fight it out
1t was as when two belliggerent forces
stand still and witness hand to hand
contest between their most powerful cham
pions, leaving the fate of battles to the
issue of a single contest. These two ves-
sells fought from o'clock until noon, part
of the time touching each other, when the
Merrimac retreated. The Monitor is
said to be uninjured and ready for another
fight. She was commanded by Lieut..
Warden, who handled her with great skill,
assisted ty Chief Engineer Sliners. One
report says the lherrimac was beaten off
in sinking condition. Another says it is
impossible TO say whether she was injured
or not.
There is no doubt that the Merrimac is
formidable craft, but with the Monitor
to look after her there is lil,le cause for
apprehension. The rebels have built great
hopes on her, believing that she would
clear Chesapeake Bay and vicinity Of Fed
eral We. sells of war, take Fortress Monroe
and accomplish great many things
Their iusolence has been reproved by an
efficient Government Monitor it appears.