The Portland daily press., 1863-01-06
BY TELEGRAPH
EVENING PAPERS.
Particulars of the Loss of the Monitor.
FopTpESs MnNpop Ian

FORTRESS MONROE, Jan. 4.
Some particulars of the loss of the Monitor
are gathered from the officers and crew.
''She left here Dec. 29th in tow of the Rhode
Island, with the Passaic in tow of the State of
Georgia. They passed Cape Henry Monday
afternoon over a smooth sea, the Passac little
ahead. Weather continued fine until o'clock
Tuesday evening, when it commenced to blow
from the southwest, with heavy sea running,
making clean sweep ever all. At $50 p. NJ,
Cape Hatteras light bore n. n. W., distant
twenty miles-the gale still increasing. The
vessel labored very heavily, the upper hull
coming down upon every sea with fearful vio-
lenee. Up to this time the pumps, &c, kept
the vessel free. AT 10 p. NJ. several heavy
seas struck the vessel in succession, when
word was sent from the engineers room that
the water was gaining in the pumps. Orders
were then given to start Adams centrifugal
pump, capable of throwing three thousand
gallons an hour. For while the water ap-
peared to be kept under. In a short time,
however, word was passed from the engine
room that the water was again gaining on the
pumps, and was then up to the ash pits, stop
ping in great measure the draft. The water
at this time was standing two feet deep upon
the wardroom floor. All hands then set to
work with every available bucket at hand to
bail The water, however, kept gaining, until
within Il foot of the fires in the furnace. A
CASTOR signal was then fired to call the atten-
tion of the Rhode Island. After much delay,
consequent upon the heavy sea, a boat was
lowered from the Rhode Island and sent to
our assistance. After several trials she got
alongside Of us. The Rhode Island at the same
time, in going astern, caught the launch be-
tween her own side and our vessel, crushing
the boat badly, and bringing her own counter
down heavily upon our side. For a time she
could not move, her engine getting on cen
tire. She finally started ahead, and the launch,
smashed as she was, succeeded in conveying
safely to the steamer thirty Of the Monitors
crew. After the departure of the launch,
those remaining aboard worked at the buck
cts with will. The gale was raging furious
ly, the seas making clean sweep over the top
of the turret The water at this uncture had
risen TO the CRATE bars of the furnaces, and
gradually extinguished the fires. The steam
consequently run down, and the pumps could
not be worked for want of sufficient steam.
Three boats were now discovered coming to-
wards the vessel, and word was passed that
the boats at hand were sufficient to take all
fiom the vessel. The Monitor was now sink
ing. Every pump was stopped, and her deck
was under water. Several in coming off the
turret were swept by the waves 10 the leeward
and must have perished, as no assistance could
be rendered them. The boats then showed off
from the sinking vessel. Although several
times entreated to come down and get into
the boat, several remained standing upon the
turret, afraid of being swept from the deck.
They were supplied with fear. The boats
reached the Rhode Island in safely, and all in
them got on board. A picked crew with
gallant officer of the Rhode Island, Mr..
Brown, then showed off in launch to return
to the Monitor. The moon which up to this
time had been throwing some light upon the
waves, was shut in by dense mass of black
clouds. At one o'clock in the morning the
Monitors light disappeared beneath the waves
! The Rhode Island then started for the spot
| where the Monitor was seen to go down. Cas-
| toms signals were constantly kept burning
and a strict lookout was kept upon all parts of
the vessel to catch glimpse of the missing
| boat AT daylight nothing was seen on the
waters, and with heavy hearts we ran around
the spot, as near we could Judge, where the
| Monitor disappeared, until late in the after
| noon. Several steamers and other vessels were
| spoken, to learn, if possible, the fate Of the
missing boat, but none could be had"
! The survivors reached Fortress Monroe last
night in the Rhode Island. Nothing whatever
was saved except the apparel of the officers
and crew, that they had on. The conduct of
both the officers and men of the Monitor is
beyond reproach. No sign of panic was
visible. Each stood at his post, confident in
his commander, and ii was hard to prevail
! upon the men to get into the boats, each being
willing TO remain by her to the last.
News from Richmond. L. The Fighting at
Murfreesboro'.-Ano Federal Repulse
reported from Vicksburg.
NEW YORK. Jan. ).
| Special dispatches from Washington give the
following IRON Richmond papers of Friday
! The first dispatch is official to the rebel War
! Department:
! Murfreesboro', Dec. 31.-We assailed the
enemy at o'clock this morning, and after ten
! hours hard fighting have driven him from
1 every position except his extreme left, where
he has successfully resisted us. With the ex-
! ception of this point We occupy the whole
field. We captured 1000 prisoners, including
two Brigadier Generals, 81 pieces of artillery
and some 200 wagons and teams. Our loss is
heavy, but that OF the enemy is greater.
| tSgned) BRAXroN BRAGG,
General Commanding.
Charleston, Dec. 31.-Three negroes, said to
be from Sumter district, were arrested last
night while endeavoring to reach the block
aders in an open boat.
The schooner Emma Tuttle, captured by
| Yankee cruiser and put in charge of prize
crew, has been captured by the original Off
GERS and crew. who were confined on board,
and taken back to Nassau with the prize crew
as prisoners
Mobile, Dec 30.-President Davis was sere-
naded tonight. \ large concourse OF people
were in attendance. The President made a
brief speech.
Ficksburg, Dec. 30-A courier has Just ar
rived, who states that the enemy attempted to
storm our lines again this morning, but after
severe combat were repulsed with heavy loss.
No further particulars at present. The loss of
the enemy is said to be about 300 killed and
wounded and 100 prisoners Our loss is about
30 killed and wounded.
No Indication of a Change in the Nom Inter-
vention Policy of Europe-The Mexicans