The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-13

10th inst. we copy tAS IWaoWinB A1SA ~
account Of the great naval battle ofsths SIN
We have 70 resord today . slikht revere
combined with q 1eactionaey success OF m
Union Navy, at Newport News, on tne
Lanes river. 1hs feverSe recounts the 90.
struction Of two Of oar old wooden sailing
frigasss BY the rebel naval mons rnhoe. In
snccsss includes the subsequent defeat Of the
whole rebel force, and the disabling OF the Mer'
rimae by cur new Erlceeon battery ana IRON.
clad gun MonitSr Tns ias.s - e .aid
20 b commanded BY Capt. bucnanans la,s %
the washing ton Navy Yard, came out OF NOT
folk on SatuId sy morning, and, toeetnek VII.
the rebel iron, clad Tsxpo n
Newr, where the frigatss Camberland ana
Congress were lying. Signals we1e ~ oncs
displayed for assistance from the stenmSI I
Mirneoota, Roanoke and st. Lawrence Ine
frizates being selling vessels we're compl
at the mercy of the monster Merrlmac so
her attendant iron mailed gunboafs. Inc
NerYimac made IN attack on the Gum ceriano
with her iron Prov, and fairly cnf nef open
then dra v ing off she gave her broadside an
dashed into Ter again. The Gum bstland in .
TO sdi atsly went down under this terrinc
81 eek, and 1t Is said that about hundred
of her crew of five hundred Wero lost
The Nsrrimao, Yorktown, and Jamestown
then engaged the Congress with heavy IRE,
our batteries Of Newport News playing orisK-
ly on the. rebel boats meanwhile ana the
enemy returning with shell. TIE O0nsrees.
though she fought calamity, had to succumb
to the superior force OF the enemy, ana sur
rendered. Her officers were taken priso nsrs:
the crew was allowed to es.ape IN ooa1, ara
tn q frlgats was then burned by the enemy -
The steamer going mp to assist the frigatss,
al though they opened severe fire on the
enemy, unfortunately were unable to 0p-
proach near enough TO disable thsm Tho
Minnesota also went aground. Darkne 50
coming On, tina progress OF TINS nSot conio nos
xvell h0 0hNarV0d.
The following morning, however, chang
the features Of the conf ct. for the Ericsson
battery. (gunboat No liter. which left New
York on Thurs lay, arrived 1t Fortress Mon
ros ct 10 O'Clock Saturday night, and at DAY.
Itxht Yesterday NOR Etnk STE went "a 'lantly
into action with the whole three rebel steam.
ers, having herself only two heavy guns.
The fight continued for five hours. Part OF
the time the Monitor and Merrlmac were ac-
tually tone hing each ether. that Is 70 say,
from O'Clock Ia tho NOR, ing until noon,
when ths Merrimac drew OF and was towed
towards Norfolk in q sinking condition The
little Monitor ie said 10 be unin.ur ed, and
ready to repel another attack At any mo-
nent. She went to Fortress Monroe merely
on an experimental trip. and it would ap.
pear that thu experiment proved quite sac.
csssful.
rHx rRws AxD IFS ByPxcTs IN wAsHlHeroN.
WASHINGTON, March s-This has been day
Of alternate gloom and sunshine, but has
closed with a glorious burst of brightness for
the ULion cause. The news from Fortress
Monroe about noon cast deep gloom over
the whole community. The achievements Of
the rebel iron-cl steamer Msrrimac wers
the topic OF every conversation. Fears were
expressed that she would come up the Poto.
mae and wipe ont our Potomso hotlia, and
perhaps set nre to the city OF Washington
and re.irs with impunity, as she Yves repre-
ssnted to be totally invulnerable. This even.
Ing the wind set in the other quarter.
a dispatch from the Assistant Secretary Of
<hA Nav NJ mr. . nr n
roe, shows tina. the little iron clad Erricson
guLboat Monitor, with her two guns, ts more
than match for the rebel iron monster that
spread such CONSERVATION among oar wooden
ships at Newport News Point yesterday.
The dispatch was received here at u O'Clock.
The telegraph line to Fortress MoLrcs was
completed al O'Clock to-day.
The dispatch has created the wildes. OF /.
citsment in our city; which has been stu
more fnflamed by the intelligence that the
rebels had burned the steamer Page In Aqua
creek, set IRE TO their camp equipage. aud
abandoned all their batteries along the Poto
mae. Our 6otilia has landed forces and
taken possession Of the batteries , and the
Stars and Stripes are now floating over them.
THE vsssxLs LOST.
It will be observed that the Herald speaks OF
the vessels lost as "two old wooden seilins
frigates ;" but the sans paper. in another
column gives the following description Of
them:
THE cUh BRKbAED.
The Cumberland was a sloop- Of. war OF
725 tons burthen, and carried twenty.four
guns. She was built in l842 It the Charles.
town Navy. Yard, and was consequently
twenty years old. She was lately attachs TO
the Home squadron, and has done most eHsc.
tive service in helping to rressrvs tho block
ade. She Was sunk, according to our advices,
by being run down by the Merrimac. What
portion Of her oGeers. If any have been lost,
hov1 U0t VQN n iva atoY
ton. The following 10 the last lis. Of the Of.
Acers that we have received: