The New York herald., 1862-04-09
Exploits OF the Merrimso In Hampton
ROads. ttt

Exploits OF the Merrim.o In Hampton
Roads.
OFFICIAL REPORTS TO rHB REBn. ooNsRRse.
(Frosn the Mobile Register or March Isl
We annex below q communication semi INTO CcnsYoas
Thursday by the President with rsfsssnes 70 NJ We.
tory and covering tho oacial report d shs engage
meat'-
YRxsIpENT's xsssAoE.
| To TIxE sE1AIE housE REPRESENTATIVES. o. -
Herewith transmit Of the Secretary Of W
psva between the James river squadron sad
the US fleet at Hampton Roads the 8th INST
ns oceIs aud men ., the navy sns.ssd IN this br,.n.
ahr deserve well H the country and commended 70
th- consideration of Congress-. Tho diaparity Of Ne
focse engaged did not Justify the anticipation sat
upon element whore supposed - be
least able " compete with enemy Special attention.
ing on the rrigate Congress- white Hag and renewing
re from that vessel under the imponity thus obtained
March IL, 1882. JEFFERSON DAVE
c. s. SrR,n RArTuY VIRGINIA.
Or SrwAILs poiSr, March 8, I8c2 I
FLAG OIucfa-ln consequence q the wound OF Flag
Oaccr Buchanan becomes my duty report that the
steamed down the river past batteries and
Newport's News. who're engaged the batteries
ashore and also two large steam saPpossa to be
several small stssDei O. armed with heavy rined guns
We sunk the Cumberland drovo the Congress ashore.
when she hauled down her colors and hotsted tho white
nag; but she fred upon with the white Tag flying,
wornding Lieutenant Minor and several OF We
agsiu opened Are upon her, and she 10 In flames
The shoa water reaching the other rgatss
This with the approach OF night, we think, saved them
from destruction. Our loss IL two killed and eight
wounded. Two " guns have the muzzlee shot OF.
The prov twisted aud the srmor somewhat damaged
The anchor and all sais shot away, and smokessck
ali stsamppe riddod The bearing Of the 0heers
and men was all that could be Wished and in fact could
OF hrve been oherwse after tho noble and daring
Ct OF tho Flag 0icor whose wound is deeply egreted
by u on board. who ud gladly bave SACRIFICED them
In order TO him. We were accompanied from
the yard by the Beaufort Lieut.. Parker and Raleigh
q eit Alsxander) and IL discovered mp
tho james river that the action had commenced
rrcd by the Patrick Henry (Commanfer 1ucker), the
jamestown (Iieut Barnoy) and the Teazer Sergeant
Womb, al which actually engaged and rendered
very elective service Enclosed send tho surgeons
port OF casualties have the honor be- sir very
'pe'''"' '''' ' cATESBY Ap r. JONES'
Executive and Ordnance OGeer.
rbe oalc,.i report OF the naval battle in Hampto,
Roa read. Tho accompanying letter Of the Sec
ret Of the Navy states that Flag Officer r. Bnchanan
was disabled near the close Of the engagement by
painful wound, though not very dangerous 1he report
was made by the executive ocer, pou vh m ilss cum
innnd dcvoived. Lieuienant jonas. The Confederate
ysssels engaged were tho soop virginia, OF
guns; The Patrick Bcury, Cmmander Tucker, OF SIX
guns the jamestown. lieutenant Commandor Barney,
OF two guns the Raleigh. Lieutenant Commanding Alex
ander. the Be,nf IT. lieutenant Commanding Parker;
M Teazer lieutenant Commanding Webb, each OF one
Gun With this .uf-e (twenty gunsl Flag 0loer Bu-
shnnan engaged the spcnys 1est consisting Of hs fri
cato Cumbs o. tweh'y.tour guns; the Congress- Of
ny guns the 81. lawrsn o, OF nfty guns; tho steam
frirafe Minnesota Of frty gurs the enemys batteries
AT %ewperts News and several small steamers. armed
with heavy rifcd guns. ..i
The engagement commenced AZ nan -p&st tpree r. N
and al four NJ Captain Buchanan had sunk the Cumbcr
Ind captured and burned the Congress, disabled ana
d. ven the Minnesota ashore and defeated tho 81 Law
= GO and Roapoke which ourh shelter under the gups
of Fortress Monroe Two OF the euemys sma steamers
we're blown up, and she two transport steamers
captured.
opy remaining above water, but many OF her people
were saved BY boats from the shore.
The a.g OF the Congress and the sword OF tho ofcer
commanding the OF her surrender al the Navy
Department.
ihe report concludes follows
To the dasbinx courage the patriotism and emf nent
ability Of Flag oGlccr Buchanan aud 70 the cheers ana
mon II his sau ron our coantry - indebted for this or
liant achievement, which will hold Conspicuous place
among the heroic contests of naval history.
s. T. MALLORY, Secretary OF tbe Navy