Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1862-03-26

on Sunday morning, about halfpas. 8
O'Clock by the jamestown, and several
of our gunboats, firing in to the Min
ncsota and St. Lawrence. At high wa
ter We expect the Virginia will pay her
respects to these vessels
Since the above was written, We have
been enabled to gather some additional
particulars
Some detention occurred on board
the Virginia on Sunday morning. we
learn, or she would have commenced
the engagement much earlier than half.
past s o'clock at which time she, to-
gether with the Patrick Henry, James
town and other gunboats, opened fire
on the Minnesota, which still lies hard
and fast aground. The tide being at
the ebb, the Virginia did not take tie
channel where the Minnesota lay, prob.
ably Tor fear of grounding, but getting
in good rarge of her, she opened fire
with terrible effect, completely riddliug
her, aud rendering her constant ezcr-
ton atthc pump necessary to prevent
her from filing
Early in the morning, the Ericsson
battery noT called the Moniter, was
discovered off Newport's News Point,
she having gone up there during the
night A shap encounter soon took
place between her and the Virginia, du,
ring which time they were frequently
not more than thirty or forty yards
apart. Unfortunately, the Virginia ran
aground, and the Ericsson using her od.
vantage poured shot after shot into her
but without doing any serious damage.
In short while, however, the Virginia
succeeded in getting off, and putting on
full head of steam, ran her bow into the
Ericsson, doing, as it is thought, great
damage.
We are rejoiced to say, that notwith;
standing the firing was much heavisT
than on Saturday, there were no casual
ties on either of our vcSsels-not a
man being in the least injured by shots
from the enemy or otherwise.
Several Of the enemys gunboats be-
ing within range, they we're favored
with a shell or two from the Virginia,
with telling effect, aud in every case
disabling or sinking them. One Of
them laying alongside the Minnesota,
had a shell thrown aboard Of her which
on bursting tore her aSunder, aud sent
her to the bottom.
Having completely riddled the Min.
nesota, and disabled the St. Lawrence
and Moniter besides, as stated above,
destroying several Of the enemy's gun.
boats--in a word, having accomplished
all that they designed and having no
more material to work upon, our noble
vessels left the scene of their triumph
and returned to the yard, where they
await another oportunity of displaying
their proves.
The enemys loss, killed and wound
ID, during the two days cOufict, is cx'
,eedingly large, and estimated at from
Xix to twelve hundred. The scene
lrouud the Congress is represented as
being heart sickcning The objects Of
he Beaufort, who ran alongside of her
IN Saturday night and who borded her
or the purpose of removing the wound I
d aboard her, and who were brutally
ired upon by the enemy while engaged |
n this work Of mercy TO their own kitE |
nd kin, represented the deck Of the I
esseI as being literally covered with
he dead dying and wounded. Que OF $
hem assures US, that as he went from c
orc to aft, his shoes we're well nigh bur. t
led ia blood and brains, Arms, legs a
nd heads were found scattered in every b
icectiou, while here and there, in the II
rouies Of death, would be found poor u
eluded wretches with their breasts torn e
out e
Of the crew of the Cumberland. but n
Nv survived to tell the tale. AS she
,ent down, her crew went down with \
sr excepting some few who were ta- o
en- as prisoners by us, and few 9th Il
S who escaped to the shore. Out OF al
io five hundred aboard Of her, it is es Of
mated that not over a hundred at most
caped, the remainder either being
lied by our shot or drowned as the
,ssel went down, all
Of course, the greater part of those cit
board the gunbOats were also drown. Ia
|, as there was not sufficient time for ha