The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-03-20
The Great Naval Fight.

We condense the following account of
the naval engagement off the mouth of
James river from the daily papers:
The contest between the two iron-clad
steamers, as seen at a distance by specta-
tors is described as intensely exciting
At one time, when they were graphing
with each other, they were VIII )ily envei-
oped in smoke. Separating again, and
coming out into a bright sunshine, their
iron armor glittered brilliantly, as flash
after fash broke forth, followed by deep
reports like distant thunder. 1t is said
the attempt by the Merrimac to run her
steel plow into the Monitor was a dead
failure. She rebounded without producing
the slightest effect. The experiment was
tried but once.
subsequently the fight was altogether
with the batteries. The sharpshooters on
board the Monitor, aiming from the nu-
merous small gun holes, took advantage,
when the port holes of the Merrimac open
ed TO run out her guns, to pour volleys OF
rifle balls at them, doing, it IS thought,
considerable execution. Occasionally ia
ces could be distinctly seen at these open
ings for short time As soon as the
rifles were discharged they appeared to
fall back. The Merrimac at one time had
careened considerably, and at this juno
ture it is thought two or three balls from
the Monitors guns struck her wooden
works and went through. Immediately
after this she hauled off, abandoning the
contest, evidently disabled. Such is un-
derstood to be Lieutenant Worden's opin-
ion.
l. 81, ~ Iry
eye witnesses Of the contest. At half
past eight o'clock on Sunday morning the
Merriniac, accompanied by the jamestown
and Yorktown, and steam tugs, came in
sight, heading for the Minnesota \ shot
from the Monitor, which had steamed up
to meet the Merrimac, surprised her, and
she seemed to start back, as if finding an
unwelcome assailant. From half past
eight till ten minutes past twelve the
battle raged-the Pigs Point and Sew
all's Point batteries joining the rebel feet
in the assault upon the Monitor and the
Minnesota, which was assisted by the
gunboat Whitehall, once a ferry boat, and
one or two other vessels.
The interest in the contest centered in
the struggle between the two iron clad
vessels, as the rebel wooden boats kept
their distance, and only manifested them
selves by an occasional shell, and the
Minnesota's broadsides glanced off HARM
lessly from tie Merrimac's mailed p,anks
The Monitor for nearly two hours steamed
ronnd and round tie Merrimac, sometimes
at a distance of half mile sometimes
touching her, constantly hammering her
with immense shot from her two guns
The effort was to hit her stern, which was
believed to be the heel Of this Achilles
but the Merrimac, aware of this, kept
turning, also trying to strike the Monitor
with her beak.
Once only the Monitor got into position
behind the Merrimac, but, unfortunately,
the current did not stop rotating at the
right moment, and their shot missed their
work In the course of the fight the
Monitor discharged from eighty to ninety
shots, and the Merrimac, flying as some
officers think, q black flag, some two hun
dred At length the Merrimac retired
with her consorts.