New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-10

Ilhy dttompt w w Out w o'N to-hiBph
ratous have been made accordingly.
The Minnesota is still aground.
Tho St. Lawrence and the Whitehall are
lying pear here. 1t is represented that the
shells that struck the Merrimac had no effect
on her, but glanced of like pebbeA
Special Dispatch to The N. Y Tribune
The telegraph line from Fortress Monroe
was completed this afternoon at a o'clock.
The first dispatch sent over it was by the AS
sistnnt Secretary Of tho Navy, as follows:
FORTRESS MosRoa. Msrch 9-6:spm m.
O. WxILHs, Secretary Of the Navy.
"The Monitor arrived nj 10 p. m. last night, snd
vert immediatelyo the protection Of the Minnesota,
lying sground just below Newport News AT ~.
m. to-day the Merrimsc. accompanied by two wooden
steamers and several tugs, stood out toward the in
pesota and opened fire. The Monitor me. them and
opened her fire, when all the enemys vessels re-
tired except the Msrrmac.
These two iron-cad vessels fought part Of the time
touching each other from O. III. to noon, when the
Merrimac retired. Whether sho is injured or not it
is impossible to cay. Lieut.. j. l.. Worden, who
commanded the Monitor, handled her with great
skill and assisted by Chief Engineer Sinners. Lieut.
Worden was injured by the cement from the pilot
house being driven into bis eyes but trust not &C.
riously. The Minnesota kept up continuous fire,
and is herself somewhat injured. She was moved
considerably to-day, and will probably be of to-
night The Monitor 10 unipjured, and ready at any
moment to repel another attack.
O.y. FOX Assistant Secretary.
To the Associated Prsss
FosrKns moyHos Saturday. March 8, 1852
| The dullness Of Old Point startled to-day by
the announcement that Suspicious looking vessel,
supposed to DO the Merrimac, looking Ike sub
merged house with the roof only above water was
moving down from Norfolk, by the channel in front
of the Sewslls Point batteries. Signal guns were
also 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 protrudng above the water but
flag staff flying the Rebel flag, and short smoke
stack. She moved along slowly and turned into the
channel leading 10 Newport News, and steamed di.
rect for tie frgsies Cumberland and Congres,
which were lying at tho mouth of James River.
| As soon IA she came within runge Of the Cumber-
land, tie latter oIened her with her heavy guns
bu, the ball. struck and glanced Off having no more
efec, than peas from pop-gun. Her ports were all
closed, and she moved on in silence, but with fall
head Of steam. In the mean time, Is tho Merrninc
was approaching the two frisstes on one side, the
rebel iron-clad steamers Yorktown aud jamestown
came down James River and engaged our gatss Oh
the other sids The batteries at Newport News
al.o opened on the Yorktown and jamestown, ard
did all in their power to sssst the Cumberland and
Cong,ea, which, being sailing vessels, were at the
mercy Of the approaching steamers. The herrimne
in the mean tine kept steadily on her oourse. and
slowly approached tue Cumberland, when she aud
the Congress, at distance Of 100 yards, rained full
brosG-ides on the iron-clad monster. that took 10
effect. glancing upward and flying Oh, having only
the effect Of checking her progress for moment.
After receiving the fret brosdside Of the two
frigaes she ran on to the Cumberland, striking her
about mdshps aud literally laying open her sides
Size then drew of and fired broadtide into the die
aLled ship and again dashed against her with her
ironclaa Prov, and, knocking in her SIDE len ler
TO sink, while she engaged tho Congress, which
lay about quarter Of Il mile distant. The Congress
Lad. meantime, Kept up sharp engagement with
/ the Yorktown and JsmesOwn, aud having no regu-
lar crew on boerd Of her, seins the hope'essness Of
resisting the ion-clhd steamer at once struck her
color.. Her crew had been discharged several days
since, and three companies OF the Naval Brigade
had been put board temporarily, until she could
be relieved BY the ST. Lawrence, which WAS T. have
gone up on Monday to take her position "a one OF
the blocksding vessels Of tho james River.
! On tho Congress striking her colors, tho James
town approached and took from on board of her all
her officers as prisoners, but allowed the crew to
escape in bcng. The yessel being thus cleared, was
tired by tie Rebels wi cn the VI rfimac and her TWO
iron-clad companions opened with she'll and shot on
the Newport New, batteries. The firing was brishly
returned. Various reports have been received,
principally from frightened suffers clerks. Some Of
them represent that the garrison had been compelled
to retreat from the batteries to tho woods. Another
was that the two smaller Rebel steamers had been
compelled to retreat from their guns
In the mean lime tie steam irigate Minnesota hsv.
ing partly got mp steam, Was being towed up TO the
relief Of the two frgstes, but did not get up until
il was TOO late TO as,st them. She was also followed
up by the lngsie St. Lawrence, which was taken IN
tow by several OF the small harbor steamers. II 10,
however, rumored that neither Of these vessels bad
pilots on board them, and after short engagement,
both Of them seemed to be- in the opinion Of The pilots
on tho Point, aground.
The M nnesota either Intentionally or from neces-
atty, engaged the three steamers at abont mile dis
lance with only her two bow guus The 81. Law
renee also poured in sho from all the guns she could
bring to bear and 1t tie impression Of the most
experienced paval officers Oh the Pon! that both had
been considerably damaged These statements, IL