The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-05-30

buhutSu yhNo. 1uo SumOeiihu'
returned the fire. The whole broat
side Of the Cumberland was fred q
once, which somewhat staggared
the Merrimac, without doing AM
material damage.
She then continued to fire be-
bow gun as che passed tn, Cum5er
land, and then wore round to port
But three shots were fred by the
bow gun up to the time she ran int
the Cumberland.
The Cumberland was then sink
ing when the Merrimac poured hel
bro idside into her and left her,
The order was then passed to "ceast
firing" The Commodore then said
"Boys, we've destroyed the hatec
Cumberland; sho is fast seit.ing."-
During this time there was no noise
or excitement on board the Merri
mac, but each man Kept his position
the guns being admirably worked.
At the time the Merrimac backed
out, after striking the Cumb 4rland
shell from the latter struck gur
No. Q on the Merrimac breaking
about two feet off the muzzle of the
gun, killing the first loader, and
wound;ng two others. At the com.
mencement Of the action with the
Cumberland the broaiside from the
latter carried away two boats haul,
ed upon the side Of the Merrimsc -
Directly after the loader was killed
at gun No. Q, the first sponger Of the
bow gun Eas killed by the sharp
shooters oi the Cumberland, who
were on the rigging. During this
action a shell from the Cumberland
struck the chain cable, directly in
the hawse'pipc. cutting it III two,
and dropping the anchor. Pieces
OF the chain struck by the shell
wounded two of the men On the
Merrimac, the shock knocking down
aud stunning every man standing
near.
No attempt was made by Conmo
dore Buchanan to save any portion
Of the crew tho Cumberland. Al.
ter leaving the Cumberland the
Commodore Of the Merrimac came
down from the spar deck and said:
Boys we have finished one OF them
now =. bring your guns to bear on the
Congress.
Shc then proceeded in the direc'
ton Of the Congress and commenced
firing at her. The Congress was
then aground. Lieut.. Jones kept
along the deck repesting:
''Depress your guns! Load with
white cross she'll" and paasnd the
word to the men having charge of
the hot shot guns "to load with hot
shot for the Congress"
The Mcrrimac took position
sbou, ono hundred ynrls from the
Congress, and C ntinued 10 pour In
broadsides on the devoted vessel I'M.
til she struck her colors. The Com.
modore then came down and direct.
I'd the men to cease firing on the
Congress, and direct their guns to
the batteries on shore, saying: The
Congress has surrendered +; cease
firing" At this time. one Of the
men proposed three cheers, which
were about to be given when the
Commodore stopped them, and first
Lieutenant shouted, mo noise (;
stand by your guns" As the Mer.
rimac was hauling off from the bat
teries on shore whict were playing
on her, the Commodore said. the
Congress is hard and last aground.
We cannot get her OF. ! have sent
Lieut.. Minor, the flag officer, with
orders to burn her." At this time
he Beaufort. a reLel gunboat, was
,ignalod for to 60 on board and Sc
cure tho prisoners.
As the Beaufort was approaching
he Congress, the riflemen on shore
opened fire on her, and also a small
boat belonging to tho Merrimac,
containing the flag officer, the re.
suit OF which was that Lieut.. Minor
was badly wounded, an another
lad his eye shot out. The Commo'
lore then became very much excited,
'an down among the men and said:
Direct your batteries on the Con-
,ress again" She then steamed
,lose up to the Congress, and fired
. terrific broadside, a white flag be'
ng displayed all the time from the
Congress, and an officer waving a
white handkerchief from the deck OF
he vessel. 1t was just then that
Commodore Buchanan got wounded
n the lett thigh by a riflemcn from
The shore; he was then carried be.
ow without making any remark
Before being wounded he is report
ID to have said-"I have q brother
IN the Congress, and would like to
get him in my power"
At this time the Minnesota and
st. Lawrence were seen approach.
.ng, and commenced firing on the
yunboats Patrick Henry and James,
own. just then Lieut.. Jones came
On deck and said: "Boys, | am
sorry to say the brave old Commo-
lore is wounded, but the doctor says
,ot mortally; and no says continue
fighting, and he hopes to be with
you before the fight is over YETI
The Merrimac then advanced to