The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-14
TIL E w AR.
A NAVAL BATTLE!
TWO UNION SHIPS CAPTURED
nDDARTI-N
AN OPPORTINE ARRIVAL.
UNION IRON THE STRONGEST
FORTRESS MONROE. MARCH 3.

~
The dullness Of Old Point was startled at
10 O'Clock to-day by the announcement that
mysterious vessel, Supposed to he the Me:-
rimac' looking like submerged house. with
me Fool only above water. was moving down
from Norfolk by the channel in front of Sew
all foint batteries. Signal guns were also
ffed by the Cumberland and Congress TO no.
tliy the Minnesota, st Lawrence an! Roam
oke of approaching danger, ana all was ey-
citemen; in and about Fortress Monroe.
az, 'i"Tr :ir. ~ c-tal4., arc
a short smokes,ack. She moved along Slow
y. and turning into the channel leading to
Newport News steamed directly for the f-ig-
a,es Cumberland and Congress, which were
lying at the mouth Of James river As soon
as she came viii in range o. the Cum berlanI
the latter opened on her with her heavy guns.
but the balls struck and glanced oil. having
no more effect on her than peas from pop
gun. Her ports were all closed and she.
moved on i'll silence. but with full head O:
steam.
In the meantime. as the Merrimac was an
preaching our two irlgates on one side. the
lron-clad steamers Yorktown and jamestown
came down James river and engaged our fris-
ates on the other side. The batteries at
Newport News also opened on the James
town and Yorktown, and did all in their
power to assist the Cumberland ard Con-
gress. which. being sailing vessels. were a;
tht mercy Of the approaching steamers.
The Merrimac in the meantime kent stead
lily Oh her course, and slowly approached the
! Cumberland, when she and the Congress, a,
distance of 100 yards ,rained full broadsidts
on the iron-clad monster. The shot took 10
effect. glancing upward and flying of. having
the effect only to check her progress for the
moment. After receiving the first broalsi,ie
Of the two frlga'cs she ran into the Cumb,r-
land. striking her about midships and literal
ly laying open ter sides. She then drew off.
fired broadside into the disabled shin, and
again dashed against her with her iron clad
PROV. and knocking in her side. left her 10
sink. while she engaged the Congress. which
lay about quarter of a mile distant.
4 The Congress in the meantime kept up a
sharp engagement with the Yorktown and
jamestown, and having no regular crew on
board OF her. and seeing tie hopelessness of
resisting the iron-clad steamer, at once struck
her colors. Her crews had been discharged
several days since, and three companies of
the Naval Brigade had been put on board
temporarily until she could be relieved BIZ
the St Lawrence, which was to have gone up
Monday to take her position as one of the
blockading vessels of James river. On the
Congress striking her colors the jamestown
approached and took from on board her all
her officers as prlSoners.but allow ed the crew
to escape in boats. The vessel being thus
cleared. was fired by the rebels.
The Merrimac and her two iron-clad COM
panions then opened with shot and shell ON
Newport News batteries, which brisklv re-
turned the fire.
! Various reports have been received, princi-
pally from frightened suffers and clerks .som-
OF whom represented that the garrison lad
been compelled to retreat from the batteries
to the woods. 1t was also reported that the
two smaller rebel steamers had been com
PEELED to retreat from the guns of the bat
terieS.
In the meantime, the steam frigate Mime
sofa, having partly got up steam, was being
towed to the relief OF the two fripates. but
did not get up until too late to assist them.
She was also followed up by the frigate ST
Lawrence, which was taken in tow by sever
al of the small harbor steamers. 1t is. how
ever, rumored that neither of these vessels
had pilots on board them, and after short
engagement both of them seemed to be, in
the opinion OF pilots. on Sewall's Point a.
ground. The Minnesota, either intentional
ly' or from necessity. engaged the three
steamers at about mile distance with only
her two bow guns. The st Lawrence also
poured in shot from all the guns she could
bring to bear, and it was the impression of
the most experienced naval officers on the
Point that both had been damaged consider
ably.
These statements, it must be borne in
mind, are all based on what could be seen
with glass at distance of nearly eight
miles, and by few panic-stricken non-com-
batants, who fled at the firing of almost the
first gun from Newport News.