The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-03-19
The Eafe Naval Battle (!

DALI lhOHLs -IsNiN' - ACO--
About noon to-day, the Rebel steam
ship Merrimac and two gunboats were
seen coming around Craney Island, head
ed for Newport News. Halt au hour af-
ter. the Naval look out boat in the Road>
signalled the fact to the Minnesota aud
Roanoke, the latter Capt Marston, being
the flagship. The Minnesota had
steam up; the Roanoke having lain four
mouths with a broken sh2ft, measures
were. taken 10 tow her. 1t was some
time before they were under way, the
Minnesota leading The Roanoke. when
near the Rip Raps, was caught by the
tideand half an hour was speut 10 getting
her head right again.
The guaboat Whitehall also got under
wav. Meanwhile. the Merriuac was
making good time for Newport News,
where the sailing frigate Congress and
the Cumberland were the only naval YES
sels. As the Minnesota passed within
range Of Sewall's Point. that battery or-
ened on her Its fire was returned Wig
oruusly The fire being at long range
40 perccptibie effect was produced In
little more than one hour from getting
underway, the Melrimac was within half
Il mlle of Newport News, when the firing
commenced. simultaneously with these
movements, The Yorktown and jamestown
(rebei steamers came down James Rive;
and Joined their fire with that of the Mer-
rimac upon the Congress and the Cum
berland
The precise movements that followed
| am not at present fully advised of. as
the scene was witnessed from the For
tress, eight miles distant The Merrimac
seemed to proceed past the Congress and
engage the Cumberland which was also
under the fire Of the Y Yorktown and James
town. Our battery at Newport News
opened vigorously on the iroO-clad enemy
ln about half an hour, the masts OF the
Cum berlaud which were visible over the
poiut of land, were seen to list and finally
90 over, proving that she had sunk -
About this time, the Congress with sails
spread, was seen to come down a short
distance aud stop on the Point, apparently
aground
Soou after, the Merrimac re-appeared
and engaged her at short range; AID, af
ter keeping up the contest fifteen or
twenty minutes, the white flag Of surren-
der was seen t. float over the Congress-
deck Meanwhile, as if the day was fat
ed to be one of successive disasters to our
ships, the Minnesota had grounded about
two miles from Newport News, where she
Law making fruitless endeavors to get
clear. The Roanoke, by this time, had
reached within two miles Of her; but,
seeing the current or events, turned back.
The gunboat Mystic. which had also gone
up, being in disabled condition on ac-
count of her boiler giving out, also turned
back, towed by tug.
A negro, states that the Merrimac ran
square into the Cumberland, which im-
ulediately went down The negro states
that some of the crew, who swan ashore,
said the loss on the Cumberland was
about one hundred.
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1862.
The following was received TO night by
Maior-Gen. Mcclellan from Gen. Wool,
dated Fortress Monroe at 6 o'clock this
evening:
Two hours after my telegraphic dis
patch for the Secretary of War. last even
ing, the Monitor arrived She immedi-
ately went to the assistance of the Min-
nesota, which was aground, aud continued
so until a few moments since. Early this
morning she was attacked by the Merri-
mac, jamestown, aid Yorktown. After
a fve-hours' contest, they were driven off,