The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-03-13

own and Yorktown attacked our fleet.
nd sunk The Cum berland aud took the
congress. - ~ ''' .t
The Minnesota was aground when the
Fortress Montos boat left. f5y''' ss-.'
The Stars ane Stripes wave over Cock
Dit Point. About 2 P. N. to-day tie
-eLcIs CONNIE need to FIRE their tents and
other property difficult Of removal. They
also bni ned the steamer Paige aud oil
the other crafts in the creek. a
Our guDboats opened Ere on the Cock,
pit Point battery, at three O'Clock p. NJ,
and at half past lour landed, and ran up
the old flag. |
ANOTHER AccoUNT-HuLL DETAILS,
FoRrREss NJ, NRoE, March, 8 The
dullness Of Old Point was startled at 10l
o'clock to-day by the announcement that
a mysterious vessel. supposed to be :Se
Merrimac, looking like submerged
house with the roof only above waller, was
moving down from Norfolk BY the chan.
mel in front Of Sewell's Point battery
Signal guns were also fred by the Cum.
berlaud aud Congress TO notify the Min
nesols, St. Lawrence and Roanoke ol the
the approaching danger, and all was ex
citcment in andIabout Fortress Monroe.
There was nothing protrudiDs above
the water but the flagstaff flying The reb'
el flag and q short smoke stack. She
moved along slowly. and turning into the
channel tending TO Newport News, steam.
ed direct for The frigates Cumberland
and Congress which were lying at the
mouth Of James river. AS soon as she
came within range Of the Cumberland,
she opened on her with her heavy guns,
but tie balls struck and glanced of, hay
ing no moro effect on her than peas fron
a popguu. Her ports were all closed and
she moved on in silence, but with full
head Of steam. In the meantime, as the
Merrimac was approaching two frigates
on one side, the rebel iron clad steamers
Yorktown and Jamestown came down
james river and engaged our lrigatcs on
the other side. cautogsl.Ha
The batteries at Newport News also o
pened on the jamestown and Yorktown
and did all 10 their power 10 assist The
! Cumberland and Congress, which, being
sailing vessels were at tthe mercy Of the
approaching steamer. The Merrimac in
the meantime kept steadily on her course
and slowly approached tie Cumberland
when she and the Congress, at a distance
Of 100 yards, rained full broadsides OF
the Merrimac. The shot took no effect
glancing upward and flying off. having
only the effect Of checking her for a mo
ment Alter receiving the 6rst broad
side Of the two frigates, she ran into til
Cumberland, striking her about midslip
and literally laying open her sides. Sh
| then drew off, fred broadside into th
disabled ship, and again dashed seains
her with her iron clad prov, and, knock
ing 10 her side, left her to sink. while sh
engaged the Congress, which laid about
quarter of mile distant. The crew o
: board Of her, seeing The hope!essnesS q
resisting the iron clad prov, at ono
struck her colots.
4 Her crew had been disShrrgod severa
!. days since, and three companies Of Ih
naval brigade had been Put on board ten
porarily until she should be relieved b
the 81. Laurence, which was to have gon
h up on Monday to take her position as ou
4 biockading vessel at James river. On th
Congress striking her cUlors the James
> town approached and took fIom on boar
of her ali the officers as prisoners. but a
!. lowed The crew to escape in boats. I'll
vessel being thus cleared was fred b
the rebels when the Merrimac and hi
two iron. clad companions opened wit
0 shell aud shot on Newpor, News batterie
y The firing was brisEly returned.
J Various reports have been receive
: principally from the frightened sutier
!. clerks, some Of them represented that Il
u garrison had been compelled to retire
r from their guus. In the meantime Il
J. steam frigate Minnesota, having part
h got up steam. was towed up 10 the rell
'l of the TWO frig gates, but did not get up I
Oi too late to assist them. She was also K
= lowed up by the frigatc 81. Lawrenc
Is which was taken in tow by several OF 4
W small harbor steamers. 1t is, howevC
10 rulnored that neither OF these vessels b
"a pilots on board, aud after short engal
a ment both seemed TO be. In the opinion
10 pilots, on the point to be aground.
., The Minnesota either Intentionally
e, from necessity engaged the three steamt
a, about mile distant with only her t.
ID bow guns. The St. Lawrence also po,
Ca cd in shot from all the guns she oou
an bring to bear, and il was the impressi
r. Of the mos, experienced naval officers
It the Point tina. both had been cousideral
NJ damaged. ....t 81:
on These statements il must be borne
IN mind, are all based on what could be 81
by a glass at q distance Of nearly eiI
miles and by few panic stricken n,
combatants who fed at almost the q
ii, gun from Newport News. In the mel
in lime darkness approached, though
%. moon shone out brightly and nothing
10 occasional flashes Of the guns could
'ps seen. The Merrimhc was also believ
in to be aground, as she remained station
at distance of mile Of the MINES
of making no attempt TO attack or mo
Ia. her. -.i' '..'
is Previous TO the departure ofthe ste'
rps or for Baltimore, no guns had been q
IN. for half an hour. The last one was q
Ia Al. -.