Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-03-19
THE wAR-INcIDENTs AND NEWS.
Official Reports Of the Naval Fight.

Official Reports Of the Naval Fight.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-The official report
OF Lieut. Pendergrast. of the Congress, address
ed to Commander Marston, has been received
at the Navy Department. He states:
That, owing to the death of the late COM
manding officer, James B. Smith, it becomes
my painful duty to make report to you of
the part which the U. S. frigate Congress took
IN the efforts of our vessels at Newport News
to repel the attack of the rebel fiotila on the
oth March. When the Merrimac, with three
smali gunboats, were seen steering down from
Norfolk and had approached near enough to
discover her character, the ship was cleared
Tor action. At TO minutes after 2 O'Clock the
Merrimac opened with her bow gun with grape
passing US on the starboard side at distance
OF about 500 yards, receiving our broadside
and giving us one in return. After passing the
Congress she into and sunk the sloop- Of
war Cumberland. The smaller vessels then
attacked us, killing and wounding many Of our
crew. Seeing the fall OF the Cum erland we
set Jlb and top-sail, and with the assistance of
the tug boat Zouave ran the vessel ashore. At
3-past the Merrmac took a position astern
OF US at n distance OF about one hundred and
nifty yards, and raked MS fore and aft with Shells
while one of the small steamers kept uc fire
on our star arboard quarter. In the meantime
the Patrick Henry and the Thomas Jefferson,
two rebel steamers, approached us from mp the
James river, hring with precision and doing
us great damage. Two stern guns were our
only means OF defence. These were soon dis
abled-one being dismounted and the other
having its muzzle knocked away. The men
were knocked away from them with great ra-
pidity and slaughter by the terrible fire of the
enemy. l first learned of the death of Lieut.
Smith at Il O'Clock, the death happened ten
minutes previous. Seeing that our men were
nfa linf
from the Minnesota, which vessel was run a.
shore IN attempting to get TO us from Hamp-
ton Roads, and not being able to get single
gun TO bear upon the enemy, and the ship be-
ing on fire in several places, upon consultation
with Com. W m. Smith, We deemed it proper
to haul down onr eolors without any further
loss of life on our part. We were soon board
ed by an officer of the Merrimac, who said be
would take charge of the ship. He left short
ly afterwards and small tug came alongside.
whose captain demanded we should surrender
and get out Of the ship, as he intended to burn
her Immediately. A sharp fire with muskets
and artillery was maintained from our troops
on shore upon the tug, having the effect of
driving her off. The Merrimac again opened
fire on us, although we had a peak to show
that we were out of action. After hav ing fir
ed several shells into us, she left us and
gagged the Minnesota and the shore batteries,
after which the wounded were taken ashore in
small boats, the ship having been on fire from
the beginning of the action, from the hot shot
fired by the Merrimac.
The following extracts from the report of
Com. Purviance of the U. S. frigate st. Law
rerce in regard to the action with the rebel fio-
tilla at Hampton Roads, is also OF interest
Al half past we got under way in tow of
the Cambridge, and when abreast of the rebel
battery at SeweH's Point, the battery opened
fire, one of the shells exploding under the lore
foot of the st. Lawrence doing, however, no
material injury. The fire was returned and it
is believed with some effect. The Cumber-
land had at this time gone down, having been
run into by the Merrimac, and the Congress
had surrendered after terrible slaughter of
her men, and when rendered perfectly power
less by the fire OF the enemy. The Minneso-
to was aground, and was engaging the enemy,
whose fire consisted of the rebel steam ram
and fonr or five side wheel gunboats. When
near the Minnesota the ST. Lawrence ground
ed, and at that time opened fire, but her shot
done no execution. The armor of the Merri-
mac proved invulnerabe to her comparatively
feeble projectles. Taking advantage of these
portentuous circumstances the Merrimac di-
rected her attention to firing several projec-
tiles of formidable dimensions, one of which
an eighty pound she'll, penetrated the star
board quarter a bout four inches above the wa
ter line, passed through the pantry and the
guard room into the state room of the assist |
ant surgeon, on the port side, completely de- |
mollshlng the bulkhead and then struck a
gainst strong iron bar which secured the
bulls eye of the port, then returned into the
ward room where it expended 1t fortunately |
dld not explode and no one was injured. The |
damage done by this shot proved the power of
the proJecties which she employed, and read |
lily explained the quick destruction of our
wooden and antiquated frigates. Our position |
nf yiafv Syya
ground. The tug Young America came along !
side and got us off, after which a powerful |
broadside from the spar and gun deck of the |
st. Lawrence, then distant about half mile, |
thrown into the Merrimac, induced that vessel
to withdraw, but whether from necessity or |
discretion is not known.
The report of Captain T. ]. Van Brent, in
command of the Minnesota has been received |
at the Navy Department. He states:
The Monitor came alongside the Minnesota |
at two O'Clock on the afternoon of the 9th of |
March having arrived the night previous. All
on board, at her appearance, rejoiced that they |
had found friend that would stand by them |
in their hour of trial. At six O'Clock on that |
day, the enemy again appeared when the crews
were beat to quarters, bnt he ran past the Min |
nesota and the tugs. AT this time the Minne- |
sofa being aground, ordered some of the spar |
deck guns to be thrown overheard, and sent |
half the crew board tug to tighten the |
ship, after which superhuman efforts were
made to get her off. After succeeding in get
ting her half mile she struck again, for the
tide had fallen much that there was not wa
ter enough to float her in the channel. At
length, however, she was towed out of the mud
into deep water, and at the time of writing the
report, the Minnesota was at anchor opposite
Fortress Monroe.
Fleet Surgeon Wood, of the Minnesota re-
ports killed and Is wounded.