, 1862-03-10
THE CUMBERLAND sJ.1.K
The Congress Captured and
Burned,
i Terrible Fight Between
the Monitor and the
Merrinac,
TEE l1EBRIWAQ REf8EAF8 IM
4 DAMAaKD CONDITION,
CAPTURE OF LEE88UR9H AND
COCKPIT POINT,


r1mae Wa6 61gnatied this morning moving
down the channel from Norfolk In front Of
Sewelrs Point Battery. All was excitement
about Fort Monroe ut this news, and the Cum
be1land, Congress, Minnesota, St. Lawrence
and Roanoke exchanged signals Of danger.
The Merrimae had nothing above water but
her flagstaff flying the rebel flag and smoke
stack. She moved slowly and steamed direct
II for the Cumberland and Congress, lying at
the mouth Of James River. The Cumberland
opened On her with heavy guns, but the balls
glanced of, having no effect, at the same
time the rebel iron clad boats Yorktown
and Jamestown came down James river and
engaged cur bigates on. the other side. Our
batteries ut Newport. News--opencd on the
gunboats to assist the Cumberland and Con
gress, which being sailing vessels were Of the
mercy''of the steamers. They both rained heavy
broadsidcs On the 1fer1inac, which was
slowly approaching, but all effect visible was
to slightly check her progress. 1she then ran
against the Cumberland; striking her .abont
mid ships literally taying open her side. She
then drew off and fred into the disabled ship,
and again dashed against her with her iron
clad Prov and knocked in her side, left
her to sink, and started for the Congress,
laying quarter Of q mile distant, which WAS
engaging the Yorktown and Jamestown. She
having no regular crew aboard, and bcins only
partly manned by three companies Of the
Naval Brigade, seeing the helplessness Of con-
Timing the fight, struck her colors. The
Jamestown then took from her all her
officers as prisoners. Her crcW escaped in
boats, The vessel was fired BY the rebels.
After this the Merrimac and two gunboats
opened with shot anu shell on Newport News
batteries. Some accounts say the garrison
have been compelled to retreat to the woods.
Others say the gunboats were obliged to re-
treat. The Minnesota did not Jet have steam
up in time to aid the two frjgatss. She Was
followed bF the St. Lawrence, and from neccs
eity engaged the rebel vessels at 2 distance Of
mile. It was the impressions at the point
that both were considerably damaged, but
these statements are based on what could
be seen with glass ut a distance Of eight
miles. The Merrimac Was also believed to be
aground. When the boat left she lay milo dis
tant from the Minnesota, making 10 attempt
to mo}est her. After the last gun was fired
from the Minnesota, persons declare they
saw dense volumes Of Taror rise
from the Mcrrimac, indicatingan explosion Of
some Eort It is not known, if this is So,
bnt it is believed she. was aground. 1t Was
the intention of the Minnesota to run to close
quarters and avoid the iron Prov Of
the Merriinac, and carry her By boarding.
To this the Merrimac didn't seem inclined to
give opportunity. As the Baltimore boat left
Old Point at o'clock, she met the Erics-
son and steamer Monitor going in.
LITER.
FORTRESS MosRoE, March 9.-Thc Monitor
arrived at 10 o'clock last night and immedi-
ately went to the protection Of the Minnesota,
aground below Newport News. At : O'Clock
| today the Merrimae, jamestown, York
town.. and several tugs, went towards
| the Minnesota and opened fire. Tie Mon
! itor met them and opened fire, when
| the cnerny's vessels retired, excepting the
Merr;mac These two iron clad vessels then
fought from eight O clock till noon, part Of the
| time touching each other, when the MerTimat
tetreated The Monitor was commanded BY
Lieut.. Worden, and was handled with grea1
skill, assisted by Chief Engineer Steiners. Tht
Minnesota was somewhat Injured, but kept NJ
a continuous fire. The Monitor is uninj
and ready for another attack.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Gen. Mcclellan
rcceivcda dispatch from Gen. Wool, datet
this evening, confirming the above; also stat
ing that the Minnesota had got OF, and til
Merrimac WIS driven off in sinking condition
towed By the jamestown, Yorktown and 9th
er bouts towards Norfolk, probably to get he
in dry dock. A dispatch was also receives
by the Secretary Of the Navy from Assistan
| Secretary Fox, saying in addition the above
that the Merrimac retrcated, but it Is impossi
bic to say whether injured or not. Lieut.
Worden, Commander Of the Monitor was il
jurcd By cement from the pilot house bein
driven into his eye, but probably not scr
ously.
NEW YORK March 9.-The Tfi5Ane's Fo,
Monroe special, statea that the frlgate Cuu
berland had crew Of 500 and nearly half wet
lost. 4 negro who swam ashore reports th
loss about one hundred
4 OFFICIAL REPORT
| WAsHIsGToE, March 9-7f. M.--(By Tell
graph from Fortress Monroel-The E5icsso
arrived LAST night OF early this morning. sh
J. was sttacked by the Merrimac, JamestoW
and Yorktown. After an hours contest, the
| were beaten of, the Mersimac in sinkin
condition. This Is official.
ANOTHER HANDsoMK VICTORY
Capture Of LeeabaFxh, Va, wit
MANY Rf1&QuAFNs Stores, &C.