Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-03-19

The Merrinac was originally a frst-clas.
steam slGop- Of war, and when the Government
officers and employees were obliged to aban-
don the Norfolk Navy Yard, she. with otbe,
national vessels was scuttled, and left to sink
The Rebels raised her, and placed her upon
the dry dock, when they proceeded to con.
vert her into an iron-clad war vessel. They
covered her with an entire slanting roof OF
railroad iron. This additional weight nearly
broke down upon the dry dock and they
found almost as much difficulty in launching
her as was found in launching the Great East
ern. Owing two mistake in calculation. on
being launched she was found to sink four
feet deeper than before, so as to take in water
80 she was again taken out, being hDgged in
the operation and otherwise SO strained that
the Southern newspapers pronounced her a
failure, and 1t is more than probable that with
no opposition she you'd never dare go to sea .
She is probably very good floating battery
Above the waters edge she is said to present
nothing but her roof of railroad iron. with a
smoke stack rising few feet above it. From
the accounts which we have of the fight he r
rate OF speed is very moderate. She mounted
lo 100 pound Armstrong guns, which are re-
ported TO have mashed through iron mail as
thick as that of the Warrior and Black Prnce
bat which do not appear to have made any
impression on the Monitor.
Sr. LOUIS, March I3.-OPP1oIAL: Our ar
tillery and cavalry yesterday attacked the enc
my's works, one and half miles west OF Paris,
Tennessee. The enemy were driven out with
loss of one hundred Killed, wounded and
prisoners. Our loss is Capt. Bulls, of the
artillery, and four men killed and five wound
ed. cavalry force, sent out from Lebdnol !,
Missouri, attacked one of Prices guerilla par
ties Killing thirteen, wounding five and cap
turing twenty prisoners, among them Brig.
Gen. Campbell.
WARRINGTON, March l3.-It appears that
Centrevilie was evacuated by the rebels some
time before intelligence of the event was re-
ceived here. A civilian from Massachusetts,
went out as far as Centreville on Sunday,
found the place deserted, hoistcd a rag on the
earthworks, for want OF flag, and came back
totell Gen. Mcclellan that he had taken pos
session. This fact was brought out yesterday
in evidence taken by the Congressional Com
mittee on the Conduct OF the War
CAIRO, March l4.--The rebels evacuated New
Madrid last night, leaving quantity of guns
and stores which they were unable to carry
away. Some fighting took place yesterday
between their gunboats and our seigc batter
les, In which We lost twenty killed and wound
ed. shot from one of their guns dismount-
ed one of our "a FOUNDERS. killing four ar FIVE.
Capt. Carr of the 10th Illinois killed on
Wednesday night, while placing pickets. The
loss of the enemy is not known, as they car
ried of their dead and wounded. They we're
supposed to number 5000 men. Island No.
10 is reported evacuated. The official dis
patch sent TO the Secretary of War says: After
several days skirmishing, and a number of
attempts of the enemy's gunboats TO dislodge
Gen. Pope's battery at Point Pleasant, the
enemy has evacuated his fort and eutrench-
ments at New Madrid. leaving all his artillery.
ceid oa:'efiss, feass, TAg9as, mules, &c.. AMI