The New York herald., 1862-03-11
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN NEWBURGH, co.
G QE THE TENTH N Y "


Capt Newburgh, company G., Tenth regiment of the
", makes the following statement He says that
a two O'Clock P. NJ he deserted the Merrimac steaming
down the ship channel from Norfolk by Sewas Point
channel. After making turn in the channel she in
company with several rebel gunboats following her.
steamed in the direction Of Newpors News. The rebel
fleet under full head of The Merrimac had
black flag flying at the fore flag staff and the rebel
flag at the stern. At half past two O'Clock the
rebel fleet being within easy range Of Newports News
and the frgates Congress and Cumberland, lying at
anchor off that point. The first ball fired by the Mcrri
fell short Of the Cumberland against which it
directed The shot the Congress directly
in the stern. The Merrimac, during this time,
steamng directly for the Cumberland the latter vessel
all the time firing at the Merrimac and her
The Aerrmac then continued directly for the Cumber-
land and when within fifteen or twenty yards she ireda
broadsde, riddlng the Cumberland through through
The Congress all this time engaging the rebel
Yorktown and Patrick Henry.
The Union water battery, while the Merrmac engaged
the Cumberland was firing very rapidly, hitting the for
mer vessel almost every tme but the balls glanced of
like India rubber balls The Merrmac after thoroughly
riddlng the Cumberland, to complete her work Of de-
struction, backed off and up under full head Of
steam, with her bow the side Of the Cumberland
striking her the Cumberland) with her RAM careen
ing her over staving hole in her sde and causing her
to sink in few minutes. The Of the Cum
berand who were not killed. seeing their help
less condition. jumped overheard and swan for
the shore; but many Of the poor fellows met
a watery grave. The Cumberland had two hundred and
ninety persons board, about onehalf of whom
were killed. She sunk in thrty-6ve feet Of water.
Some Of the took refuge in the rigging and
rescued by the steam transport Whden The Merrimac
next engaged the water battery land throwing shell
of infn
the Union encampment wounding, providentialy, but
few of our troops. Some of the shell went mile be.
yond the camp Our water battery replied briskly but
not being sufficiently able depress the guns the shot
had little effect the Merrimac. The first shell
from the latter vessel against the wator battery struck
the stables Of Captain Howard's light artillery
battery, tearing it to pieces Fortunately all but
few horses out with the battery. Captain How
ards battery then located themselves the bluff near
the margin OF the river, and bazed away with his
Parrot guns into the rebel boats This practice did good
execution many Of the balls entering the Merrimacs
portfolios After the Merrmac had shelled camp
an hour she then directed her attention the fgate
Congress, few hundred yards of. The Congress, by
the aid Of the tugboat Zouave endsavorng to get
out Of the range Of the Msrrmac, but failed having
grounded Immediately The first gun the Merrimac fired
at the Congress entered its cabin killing the First Lieu
tenant and three sailors The rebel vessel continued to
fire for thirty minutes whom the Congress struck her
having been pretty thoroughly up. One Of the
rebel eanbc. ran alongside Of the Congress- and
the ofncers them Captain McIntire-but
they allowed the to 60 free II is sstmste9 tnas
hfty snen killed the Congress Capt Rudford Of
tbesatter vessel not board, he being absent at
Fortress Monroe official business. The Merrac after
disabling the Congress, then down for the steam
frigate Minnesota about two miles off, where the latter
was aground, an. q; four y that vesse! was in a
very precar5ds condition The nghting was continued
after dark. The rebels had the Merrimac, Yorktown,
Patrick Henry and three other boats engaged while our
Hotla consisted of the frgates Minnesota St. Lawrence
sunboats Rescue, Ranger whitehall zouave and one or
two others whose names are unknown.