Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-03-28

slSdo vi "uChoilLfS5 III lioh1 vi Iho l0ba
batteries, they merely gave passing
shot and proceeded in the direction Of
Newport News; which, according to the
news soon circulated in camp, was at
tackled by the rebel iron-clad Steamer,
"Merrlmac." Casting my eyes in that di
rection, l saw large volumes of smoke
rising from about the mouth of James
River.
In the meantime, three companies of
our regiment were "ordered out we
knew not whittier, and before these had
passed from view, those remaining were
ordered tto saddle in all haste. Six
companies of us started for Newport
News. We trotted briskly along until
within three miles of the scene of action,
when we were met by parties ofmen--non-
combatants and sailors, from that place,
who were either ordered away, or panic
stricken, left of their own accord
From these, we first learned of the loss
of the Sloop- of war Cumberland, and
the frigate 'sCongress. We were slow
in believing that two of our best ships
were thus destroyed by the rebels, who
make scarcely any pretensions to navy;
but once in Camp Butler we were com
PEELED to believe the disagaeeab news
of this disaster.
1t was just dark when we cane in.
A few stray shots were yet being fired
by the minnesota and the ''Merri-
mac" 1t was beautiful sight-the
shells bursting, and fragments flying in
every direction. We biviouaced during
the night.
I was agreeably surprised to learn,
that but three were wounded during
the day, inside the camp, while none
were killed. The rebels, with few ex-
eeptions, overshot the mark. Many of
the shells burst a mile from the camp
one of them seriously wouuding a sem
tinel con picket" A she'll left its
mark in the shape ofa hole six feet in
diameter, and eighteen inches deep,
few rods from where we laid during the
night. A shot passed through the
quarters, and within about four feet of
Gen. Mansfeld-as near as I would
want the pesky thing to come to me.
One of the grandest and most mag
nifcent sights ever witnessed, Vas the
burning of the Congress. She was
fired about s o'clock P. M, and was
soon completely enveloped in lurid
mass Of angry, writhing flames.
Pieces of sails, wreathed in the "de-
stroyiug element" would dart quickly
to a hight of several hundred feet, and
then separating in fragments, gently de-
scend to the water, like the sparkling
remains of bursted "sky- rocket. -
Now the destroyer mounts the rigging,
and, for moment, it is all a sheet of
flames; but soon consumed, the masts
alone are seen. pointing to the heavens,
like lofty spires of diving fire." We
watched and waited for the magazine TO
explode, when boom! went a loaded
shell bursting high in the air. Bang!
and a well-charged cannon is emptied
ef its contents, designed to lay low in
the sleep of death, those who raise the
traitor hand gainst the s'ensign of the
free One shot struck schooner at the
wharf, sinking her almost instantly
But what protects the magazine from
the ''grim destroyer?' For four hours
the flames had ragged with unabated
fury, and still that great vault of powder
remained untouched ait must be
drowned" This seemed to be the con
vic,ion of all. The cracklingsof the more
combustible parts, of the ship had ceased.
All was still. The men were nodding
or sleeping around the mouldering fires
of the camp. The midnight hour with
all its gloomy stiffness was just ap-
preaching, when beholdl light, fash
that illuminates the country for miles
around, deafening report that seemed
to shake the earth to its very center.
and darkness and stiffness are masters of
the scene. The magazine had exploded,
scattering ten thousand fragments of
the wreck in all directions. The next
morning showed black line of ribs,
just abJve the surface of the waterfall
that was left of the i'll -fated Congress.
Such is war!
1t was during the. biviouac of Satur-
day night, that we heard of the arrival
of Ericsson's Battery, the 'Monitor -
With mingled feelings of hope and fear,
we passed the night. We had heard of
the "Monitor reputation, as power.
full battery-but was she able to contend
successfully with the "Merrimacr -
Thanks to God, she aoqs equal to the
emergencies of the terrible conflict, to
the glory and honor of the nation.
Sunday morning opened upon us,
lovely, bright and fair. Five com
panies returned to the old camp, while
ours, the sixth, remained here We
were put at once upon picket. About
noon, our advance was driven in by the
rebels, and our company was sent out
to reconnoiter. Three miles from
canon from, eal to 9QQ Caualrr uera