Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-03-13
Parsicuiars Of The Naval Engagement.
Fort Monroe, March 3.

Norfolk by the channel in front Of the Sew
ellis Point batteries
Signal guns were fred by the Cumberland
and Congress to notify the Minnesota, st.
Lawrence and Roanoke of the approaching
danger, and all was excitement in and about
Fortress Monroe.
There was nothing protruding above the
wator but flag staff, flying the rebel flag,
and short smoke stack.
She moved along slowly, and turned into
the channel leading to Newport News, and
steamed direct Tor the frigates Cumberland
and Congress, which we're lying at the mouth
| OF James river.
As soon as she came within range of the
Cumberland the latter opened on her with
her heavy guns, but the balls struck and
glanced oil, having no more effrct than peas
from pop-eun. Her ports were all closed
| and she moved on in silence, but with a full
head of steam.
In the meantime as the Merrimac was APP
preaching the two frigates on one side, the
rebel ron-clad steamers Yorktown and
jamestown came down James River and en-
gagged our irigates on the other side. The
batteries at Newport News also opened on
tuG OihtO"k duu cu"CotNNhf ohN "'a ee''
in their power TO assist the Cumberland and
Congress- which, being sailing vessels, were
al the mercy of the approaching steamers
| The Merrimac in the meantime kept steadily
on her course and slowly approached the
! mhelland, when she and the Congress at
a distance of one Hundred yards rained full
| broadsdes on the ron-clad monster, that
I took no effect, glancing upwards and flying
oil having only the effect of checking her
progress for moment After receiving the
first bro~dside of tie two frigates, she ran on
the Cumberland, striking her about mid
sh,, and literally laying open her sides
She then drew off and fred broadSide
no the disabled ship, and again dashed
against her with her iron clad prov, and
knocking in her side, left her to sink
She then engaged the Congress, which
laid about a quart Of mile distant. The
Congress had in the meantime, kept up
sharp engagement with the Yorktown and
jamestown, and having no regular crew on
board of her, seeing the hopelessness of re-
sistiDg the iron-clad steamer, at once struck
her colors. Her crew had been discharged
several days since, and three companies of
the naval brigade had been put on board
Temporarily, until she could be relieved by
| the St Lawrence, which was to have gon
up on Monday TO take her position as one of
the blockading vessels of the james River.
On the Congress striking her colors the
jamestown approached and took from on
board OF her all her officers as prisoners, but
allowed the crew TO escape in boats. The
vessel being thus cleared, was fred by the
rebels, when the Merrimac and her two iron
clad companions opened with she'll and shot
on the Newport News batteries. The firing
was briskly returned
Various reports have been received prnci-
pally from frightened suffers clerks Some of
them represent that the garrison had been
compelled to retreat from their guns. In the
meantime the steam frigate Minnesota having
fairly got up steam, was being lowed up to
the relief of the two faigates, but did not get
up until 1t was 100 late to assist them. She
was also followed up by the frigate st. Law
renee, which was taken in tow by several of
| the small harbor steamers.
1t is however rumored that neither of these
vessels had pilots on board them, and after
short engagement, both of them seemed to be,
IN the opinion of the pilots on the point,
aground The Minnesots either intention
ally, or from necessity, engaged the three
steamers at about mile distance with only
her two bow guns. The ST Lawrence also
poured in shot from all the guns she could
bring to bear, and it was the impression e
the most experienced naval officers on the
point that both had been considerably dam
aged, These statements it must be borne in
mind are all based on what could be seen by
a glass at distance OF nearly eight miles,
and few panic stricken non combatants. who
fled at almost the first gun from Newport
News. In the meantime, darkness approach
ed, though the moon shone out brightly, and
nothing but the occasional flashing of guns
could be seen. The Merrimac was also be-
lleved to be aground, as she remained sta
tlonary at distance OF mile from the Min
nesota, making no attempt to attack or mo-
lest her.
Previous to the departure of the steamer
for Baltimore no guns had been fired for half
an hour; the last one being fired from the
Minnesota. Some persons declared that i'm
mediately after this last gun was fred dense
volume OF vapor was seen to rise from the
Merrimac, indicating the explosion of her
boiler. Whether this il so or not cannot be
known, but it was the universal opinion that
the rebel monster was hard aground. Fears
were OF course entertained for the safety of
the Minnesota and st. Lawrence in such an
unequal contest, but if the Merrimac was
really ashore she could do no more damage.
1t was the intention of the Minnesota with |
her picked and gallant crew TO run into close
quarters with the Merrimac, avoid her iron
Prov, and board her. This, the Merrimac
seemed not inclined to give her an opportu-
nifty to do. |
AT eight o'clock when the Baltimore boat |
lett, fleet of steam tugs were being sent nj |
TO the relief of the Minnesota and the ST. |
Lawrence, and an endeavor was to be made |
to draw them off the bar on which they were
aground.
In the meantime, the firing had suspended,
whether from mutual consent or NECESSITY
could not be ascertained. ef. E
se The rebel battery at Pig Point was also
enabled to join in the combined attack on
the Minnesota, and several guns were fred
hpr