Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-03-14

armament equally out otSproporlon. awaa \
her at rest. AT 4 distance of n ouar,a
a mile or less, both opened thcir ,s,.1
batteries 1.-The Merrimac firing mnsh
oltene.t Of course. Il, was The tifs, H., y
an experiment in fearful ordeal ~
scene was witnessed by those who crowa
the rampalts and lined the docks with
mostl breathlrss interest Il would No, i.
disappointed many at that moment baa
become apparent that the uupreena.
Monitor " rs unequal to the contest p,~&
time The Two iron-clad combatants so ~ II
10 touch, fighting at close quarters. ,lel;rs 0
Ing their shots /, cminsly into The mp..l
OF each others guns. But far frop, Il e, !.
unequal TO her adversary, The NM
moved around her, planting her shots NV
she would. The contest was 81 H., y
for time the smoke obscured bo,h w
Monitor and the Merrimac. Az ;f ra.p
ing that she bad found at least her ma,d
II not her superior, The Merrimac drew !
toward Canary Island, the Monitor na,,'
ing, planting her shot with the same An
bera,ion which had characiised ber n.y. ~
ments from the outset. Alter keebin.
the nersut for HALF IN hour, The Mat,
turned toward the, Minnesota. / sloau
have mentioned that shortly after tbis 4
sasemeut commenced, one Of the ReSd
gnnboats, apparently the Yorktown. sto..s'
ed out, and boldly engaged the AIoa,o.
A SHOT through her, whica must have III.
serious injury, sent her back again. md n.
did not venture within range Of the guns
the new conner during the day.
As if having rested from tile FIRST roo,i
and recovered from the bewilderment resuS
ing from finding such terrible antarops
In 50 small one, the sIerrimac returns
TO the contest, and, as before, was met eps,
lessly by the Monitor. The Merrimac i.
ing now within range of the Minnesota Il.
lvered several of her laundering broasI
sides, and showers Of solid shot went Grad,
ing against the side Of the monster. Tb.I
gunboat also went into the fight calIanily
/ Though the Monitor again sought elas.
quarters, the Nerrimac, having ALREADY IN
taste Of that sort Of thing, kept al d pu.
dent distance. For more than an hopr II.
battle was kept up without either N.
showing damage, when, at about ii A.W
the Monitor retired beyond the 4nnneso,a
TO allow her guns to cool The eontes
row ragged between the Herfimac and AIir.
nesoia, and the gnaboats. Tile terrible
broadsides of the frigaie, chained 10 M
bottom rs il were. shook tie earth. and tts
solid shot glanced IN every direction fran
the sides OF the aIerrimac.
Having given her guns M heur to cool,
The Monitor turned TO the contest. and III.
1ierrimae was apparently ready for her.
for she did not retreat bat stood her ground
Nothing could exceed the accuracy Of the
firing on both sides. After keebfne IN The
contest for half sn hour at d fanne of balf
Or three quarters Of d mile, the Monitor ID.
gan TO advance on her Antagonist. who
awaited her with apparent couilerce.
Delivering her fire with deliberation and
unerring precision The Mentor went
straight ahead and At full speed for he
Mernmac, I'LL the men on both boats II thew
had not been hidden by the iron covering,
! might have engaged ID a hand-to-land fight.
Now followed one DC tile most remarkable
and exciting scenes eeer Witnessed in naval
warefare. The vessels touched. and de-.
livering their btoadsiies simultaneously. Tia
shot crashed upon the sides Of both. either
glancing eff and falling into the water. .
crumbling to atoms. As If determined tina
the combat should have an end. The Monte
moved round the Merlinfae at distance q
oniy few yards, plnnging her shot into he
sides. With well directed aim she plunge
one into her hull below her iron coating. M
below her water line. Three gaping hole
now APPEARED in her iron coating. Passis
deliberately round the stearn of The .Trt
imae, the Monitor aimed shot al her sore,
and several others at vital points. TIL
Merrmac began to make off. toward III
cove flanking Craney Island, and rs ii 81
came apparent that she was disabled. chez
went up from The ramparts and the shor
The Monitor did not persue, probably i
account OF the heating Of her Guns. or SON
other equally good reason. After living e
a short time near the shore. the Gerrimf
slowly rounded out, and turned her nro
toward the place where she was seen IN II
morning, where the other Rebel boats wol
assembled spectators of the fight. The
gathered around her like The hackers Of
whipped bully. At this time ii was ii
general opinion of those who had the be
4 means for observing. that the Metrimac he
sunk at least two feet, and that she Il,
fast going down. Her deck was t,ronro
with her crew. She gave no signs of steaI
or smoke. Small boats put off from hei
and tug boats came to her sides. as If /
render assistance. 5ssgss
Thus ended probably the most remarka
Bile naval engagement on record certainl,
the FIRST between two iron-ciad Antagonists
The timely appearance of the Jono
was the salvation Of the Minnesota, an
/ probably most of the shipping in the Road
and perhaps ether property besides. Ha
she come a day sooner, she. would hav
saved two. Of The noblest frigates il the sel
/ vice, hundreds of lives. 80RYnN36
Our loss in this engagement ii is imposs
bic to give now. On the Cumherlani il
! known to be iiG our whole loss Will prc
i badly Feaeh goo. On HE Minnesota v
had killed and Ii wounded. On iii
White Hall 3 Killed. On the ATopao
none killed OF seriously wounded.
The Merimac did not make her annea,
anee on Monday. The Monitor was bor
nfed with saiuies and cheers, both from til
fort and the feel. Everybody was d
thnsiastic in her praise for the good service
9 = sunday gaHr