Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-13

from the lower deck jumping out of the
portfolios. The Cumberland Commenced
sinking soonafter the Merrimac had COLI
ded with her, md those of the crew that
did not attempt to save themselves by the
boats or swimming took refuge in the rig.
gtng after the hullhad disappeared beneath
the water. The steam propeller Whilden
which was at the wharfat Newport News al
the time, was Immediately dispatched Ia
rescue these men, by order of BriSadier
General Mansfield. Out of two hundred
and nlnety-one men on board the Cumber-
land it is reported that one half were either
killed, drowned or wounded.
The MerrimaC, after completing the de.
struction of the Cumberland, turned her
attention to the water battery ON shore.
throwing shell with great rapidity into the
Union camp. Some of these missiles went
a mile over the camp. Que shell explOdedin
the light artillery stables back of the camp,
shivering tLem to atoms. Fortunately,
the horses were absent with their battery.
The Merrimac, in engaging the water bRt-
terry, posted herself under the bluff, and
the guns of the battery could not be suf-
hoiently depressed to have any effect on
the rebel battery. After shelIing the canp
for about haitian hour with litlletor no eff
feet, and with no considerable list of Woun-
ded, the Merrimac then proceeded towards
the frigate Congress-which was then en-.
gaging the rebel gunboats Patrick Henry
and Yorktown-which were anchored II
few hundred yards from where the Gum
berlRnd was. The first shot fred by the
rebel steamer at the Congress struck her
in the stern, passing through the cabin,
killing Lieut.. JOS Smith, the executive Of
ticer of tho ship, and three sailors. The
two vessels then became hotly engaged,
which continued for thirty minutes, when
the Congress, being riddled with solid
shot and shell, struck her colors, and hoist
ed the white flag. The Nerrimac then
turned her attention to tue other vessels of
our fleet engaging them all Seriatim. Af-
ter the Congress surrendered, arebel steam
er, the Jamestown, came alongside and
took all the Union officers, prisoners, but
allowed the crew to so free, they having
/ no room on board for them.
The frigate Minnesota had early got on
| shore at place called the Horse Shoe
bar, about two miles from Newport News.
The Merrilnac hotly engaged the Minne-
sofa, after destroying the Cumberland aud
Congress, but on accout of the support
given by other vessels of the Union fleet,
| the MerrimaC gave her wide berth. The
fight continued, with no particular results
except those before mentioned, until long
dlLeT X
AS the night approached the flashing OF
the guns and bursting bombs were terrific.
AT seven o'clock p. NJ. the rebel fleet, with
the addition of the Patrick Henry and
Yorktown. which had come down from
Richmond, proceeded to Norfolk. During
the day, from the time the naval battle
commenced, Major General Wool made the
most perfect preparations, in case a land
attack was made by the rebels frcm the
direction of Yorktown. What those pre-
parations Were,it would not be permissible
to state. The frigate ST. Lawrence, in tow
of the gunboat Cambridge, both of whom
had just come in from sea after the battle
commenced, proceeded directly for the
scene of action. She remained holly en-
gagged until tue fight ceased, and returned
o'clock p. n. The Roanoke, which left
her anchorage off the fortress at the same
time the Minnesota did, got aground mid
way Newport News aud Fortress Monroe,
and did not participate in the main en-
gagement. All the Union war vessels on
their passage from Fortress Monroe to New
port News went within range of the re6cl
batteries at SeWall's Point. Both sides
opened FIRE with rapidity, but no material
damage was done on either side but the
fact was disclosed that new rebel mask
ed battery of six guns is on the extreme
portion of the point. The troops at the
Rip Raps, under the command OF Major
Holiday, engaged this battery, using
large rified cannon, throwing the Sawyer
projectile The rebel battery was COM,
pletely silenced after spirited cannonade
on both sides. The frigate Roanoke was
turned to her anchorage of the Rip Raps.
She received three shots from the rebel
battery, but doing no injury 10 the crew.
The Minnesota remained still aground
after the engagement, Notwithstanding sew
eral tugs were sent to he assistance. Capt.
Grier TalImRdge, tho efficient Quartermas-
ter at this post, subsequently proceeded by
special steamboat conveyance to the
Minnesota, and to learn what, if anything,
was needed in the way of assistance. He.
succeeded in taking off the money chest OF
the Minnesota, in which was one hundred
rnd fifty thousand dollars, and brought it.
in safety to the fort. lea
In the evening, the horizon was all of a
sudden brightly illuminated. We soon as
certained that the noble frigate Congress
WAS in a blnZe. The rebels having so dis
abled the vessel compelling her to surren-
dor, determined Gen. Mansfield to destroy
the vessel rather than to let the accnrsed
rebels huye one plank of her. BY his Or
dershe was set on fire, and she sank near
the spot where she had been driven ashore
IA monument to rebel atTOcity. The
sight of the burning vessel was a most
fearful and sublime spectacle. The night
was. clear and beautiful, the bay without u
ripple on, its surfVce. At first the flames
appeared in small body, but gradually
they spread ait, and iu about two hours
time from the commencement of the con ;
fsgretion the Congress was one mass of
flames. Slowly and gradually did the de-
vouring element encircle the tarred rig
ging, until every stick of5wood and every.
ply of hemp was environed by the fiery
element. The water being very calm, the
reflection of the burning mass was terribly
grand. The fire ragged with great fury un-
til about half past twelve o'clock, Sunday
morning, when all at once a shock and ex-
plosion resembling the eruption of u vol
cano, was heard, shaking the staunch old