Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-11
This Afternoons Report.
FROM FORTRESS MONROE. .
FORTRRgs MONnop March

The long-expeoted Confederate steame
Merrimae has made her appearance, en-
yesterday afternoon, with the assistance O
two gunboats which came out with he
from Norfolk, make en- attack uoon New
port News and the naval vessels stations
at that place. ~
The Merrimac Was FIST seen from ID
ramparls Of Fortress Monroe, on her va,
TO Newport News, ct quarter before on
o'clock. Two rebel gunbOats followed her
They all carried rebel nag at the stern
RRd had French flag ct the masthead.
The Merrimsc had q flag at her bows
Whieh Uas described BY some as q Commo
dOrs's blue flag, and by others ss q blael
flag. 8 5 slaJ
The sides, bows and stern Of the Merri
mao were covered with sloping iron states
extending about two feet below the water
line, and meeting above like the roof Of &
house. On her bows on the Wster-IiRS
are two sharp iron points, resembling
ploWs sbout six or seven feet apart.
The number Of guns is stated 0titWelve
but she might not have had 50 many. al
her bows were seen two, guns proiec,inp
from long eliptical holes. The design Of
enemy did not become apparent zEin be.
tween one end two, and bg that time the
Minnesota had got under way to the scene
Of action. The Roanoke, Jhe fsg. ship, be-
ing disabled BY the breaking Of hef shaft
some time sinoe,EAs taken TOW by two gun
boats. About the same time, the alarm gun
was fired ct Fortress Monroe, and the
whole garrison promptly turned out
The rebel boats steadily pursued their
way to Newport NeWB,and theT Merrinac
soon turned the point and was lost to view
from the Fortress.
The first shot was fred from The frieaae
Coumberlsnd, at little past two o'clock.
the SeWelPs Point battery then opened on
the Minnesota which was passing, and the
SaWyeaf gun from the Ripraps replied With
few shots ct SeWelfs POinE. 10 5ss
A thick smoke WAS soon seen 20 rise
above NeWpoet News Point, Indicating that
the batteries there IS we'll as the Oumber.
land and Congress were engaged. 500
The details Of the action could not be
seen from the Fort, but telegraph des-
patch Was received announcing that the
Cumberland and Merrimao were in close
qusrters. ~
After firing two guns ct the Cumberland,
the MerrimRo struck her with her sharp
bows, making hole in her st the yater
line, seven feet in extent. The Oumber.
land commenced sinking, when the Merri-
mac, backing s short distance rsn into her
q second time, making another terrible
hole in her, causing the water to run in at
furious rs Q. The Cumberland continued
firing till the water entered the port holes
when she careensd over slowly, and finally
sunk about O'Clock. n
The Newport News battery and the guns
of the Cumberland fred continuously upon
the Merrimsc, but no apparent effect was
produced upon her. ~.
The Minnesota ran aground on the way
up, and could afford but little assistance.
Shortly before three O'clock the York.
town and jamestown arrived from up tie
James River. The former was disabled
early in the afternoon, and put in shore
for repairs.
After sinking the Cumberland, the Merri-
mac turned her attention to the Congress,
and in less than half an hour afterwards q
white flag was hoisted on the Congress. A
rebel gunboal Immediately went along side,
and took the officers and marines prisoners.
The seamen we're allowed to escape 70 the
shore. "
The frigate st. Lawrence arrived here du.
ring the afternoon, and, without slipping her
anchor, proceeded up the river, and followed
the example of the Minnesota and Roanake
in firing on the battery at Sewalrs Point
Like the rest her shot fell short. ~
The gunboat Mystic was also ioWed up
in the afternoon, but ct sundown the Ros-
noke, Mystic and st. Lawrence all returned.
After four clock the Merrimae continued
to throw shells into the camp OF Newport
News, while the Jamestown and other
rebel gunboRts commenced firing on the
Minnesota. The latter replied as vigor-
Ously as possible and the conflict was COM
tinued without any apparent effect until
darE. .rsF soil
During the evening the Congress was set
on fire. At midnight she was blown I'M
making a terrible eTplosi n. During the
evening the Monitor arrived and at once pro
ceeded to take part in the action. During
the night only occasional guns were fred.
Reinforcements of men and ammunition
were sent to Newport News early in the af-
terHoon. But little serious damage was
done, and no one was killed. -i.a
This morning the conflict was resumed
until the presence Of the Monitor was known
to the Merrimac.
The latter was engaged with the Minne-
sofa, and but for the fortunate arrival of
the Monitor, the Minnesota might have
been lost. The Monitor and hsrrimac en-
gagged each other for two or three hours Ct
long and short range, without perceptible
effect -upOu ueither--------- sl
TheyWent alongside ofeaoh other once or
twice, and seemed almost TO run each other
down; but soon appeared again TO renew
the contest. The Erisscon battery finally
succeeded in forcing long hole In The port
side Of the Merrimse, and she retired With
the whole rebel feet to Newport. -
~ At about one iciOUk, the O. 8. gunboat
Oregon was struck By the Merrtmso in her
boiler, and was blown up this morning. q
The 0. 8. gnnbOAt ZOusEe was also Sc
riously damaged, and Was obligedsto re-
turn. -
The principal loss Of life Was on board
the Cumberland, where il Is thought as
many as 100 men mast have been Killed or
drowned.
But BIZ lives were lost on board the hinne-
sofa.
According TO the report of one Of her Of.
6cers, rebel gunboat was cut in two yes
tsrday by the Cumberland.