Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-23
IN HAMPTON ROADS.
A Graphic Description of the Engage
mentBefween the Merrimao and the

irOnclad Merrimac and the Federal fleet
in Hampton roads, March and 10. 1862
will be read with interest, although near.
~ quarter ola century intervenes be,
tween the present and the time OF its oc.
currence. Apart from its historic inter-
est, the account VIII be found especially
entertaining to the members OF the Sec,
ond Georgia Battalion, from the fact that
1t was furnished in a private letter of the
lime. by jones keenan,, of Company e.
OF bat.command. He was an eye-wit-
ness of the engagement, and describes il
IN the following letter:
''NoRFOLK BARRACKS, March 10, 1862.
Your favor OF tue 9th came to hand two
or three days ago, but l retraiued from
answering tuntil the present IN anticipa-
tiOn OF the stirring events of the 9th and
10th, ofwhich you have already been in-
formed by the papers.
y told you in former letter, the Mer-
rimac's a success; have had the pleas
IRE Of verifying my opinion by actual OBJ
servation.
"FOrtunately went to town Saturday
morning. At / O'Clock a gun was fired
at the navy yard, which proved to be the
signal for something unusual. In an in
slant the whole city was III an uprOar.
men, women and children running down
toward the river from every conceivable
direction, shouting, The Merrlmac's go
ing downp
"Sure enough, upon approaching the
river, / saw the huge monster swing loose
from her moOrings and make her way
down the river, while the gunboats Beau
tort and Raleigh kept short distance iii
the rear.
THE morning was unusually line, in
pleasing contrast with the miserable
weather With which we have been tor
turod SO long. A good portion OF the Mer-
rimac's crew was on top, and received
the enthusiastic cheers OF the excited pop
ulacc without Il single response. Every
thing Detokened serious business, for the
heavy ships OF the enemy lay but a few
miles below, like sullen bulldogs, ready
TO seize man or beast by the throat at the
slightest provocation.
Just imagine a house 100 feet long
sunk three feet below the caves, pierced
halfway up on each side by three guns,
and three port holes at bow aud stern,
through which two pivot guns work, and
you have an exact picture of the Merrl-
mac, now called the Virginia.
although Hampton roads is large
eXpanse OF water, II is not naVigable for
vessels Of such draught as the Merrimac.
Consequently she had to traverse fourteen
or fifteen miles in keeping the channel,
running down until opposite SewelPs
point, and then turning up the James
river channel, and
MAKING FOR THE BLOCKADING VESSELS
of Newport News, so quietly did the Mer-
rimac go that we could not observe any
stir either among the ships or at Newport
News batteries until one of our little gum
boats took a short cut and fired at the
Cumberland. Then some stir was observ-
hi Il ~.
Congress. Both vessels cleared their
decks for action, and coolly waited for
the nOndescript
The Merrimac never halted or fired
gun in reply to the Cumberland, which /
was firing away with utmost desperation. !
GU may be able to partially imagine the 1
great anxiety which prevailed along the |
shore, now lined with thousands Of anX-
i0fs spectators. Every one said, why |
don't the MerrImac fire. 1.-The Cumber- /
land will sink her," etc. But the Merri. I
mac kept steadily making for her adver- |
sary in a direct line. When she got 4
within few yards OF the Cumberland, |
she fired her bow gun, the shell going |
clean through. Still continuing on her /
course. the Merrimac drove her iron /
prov into the Cumberlandis side, crush /
ing all before it. The crew fought with /
as the vessel went down, the /
last gun being fred when
THE MEN STOOD KNEE DEEP IN WATER. /
After the collision the Merrimac backed |
out and started for the Congress. This |
vessel fired rapidly, but seeing the fate of |
her cOnsort, started to run ashore. This Il
she did, but in the meantime she was so |
riddled with shot that she became per- |
fectly useless and struck her cOIors The !
Beaufort then went up TO her to take of |
the wounded and crew. The sight on /
board was sickenIng Arms, legs, and |
horribly mutilated bodies were lying in |
every direction on this vessel. While our I
men were assisting the enemy fired with |
mimic muskets at friends and foes alike, |
killing several Oftheir own men and ours. |
W hen Capt. Buchanan saw this he began /
firing hot shot into the already surren- 1
1ered Congress. AT this the survivors I
raised a white handkerchief as prOtec- 1
ton against the murderous lire Of the I
Narrimac.
During the engagement between the
ships the enemies SHORE batteries were
Eammering away at the Merrimac, but
Without avail. When the Cumberland 1
has sinking, her captain walked out on
be bowsprit and directed the movements I
\ his crew. The captain OF the Beaufort
pm up within speaking distance and |
%ked hin TO surrender, that be might 4
lake some effort 10 save him and his 4
lew; but he shook his head and said
Nc, neyer" and
uENT DOWN BEARING THE UNITED /
STATES COLoRs.
After dark q boats crew went on board 1
lW Congress and set her on IRE. About |
Mb'Giock her magazine exploded making
y terrible noise and shaking houses for
1iHhy miles around.
while their engagement was going on,
lac Minnesota, st. Lawrence, and Roa-
not e started from Old Point to Newport
NcHs. Passing SeWelPs Point, the bat
lefy opened on them and fred guns which
lad never been hred before. il was quite
,ertain some damage was done them at !
lIe point, but not enough 70 stop them.
nhe Minnesota mistoOk the right channel,
md GOT aground, and the Merrmac paid
Ter Compliments to her by moonlight.
Thus ended saturdays cOnfiict-tw0
destroyed, another aground,
md the Roanoke backing down ~ Fort
'ess Monroe.
Sunday morning we ali repaired 10 the
shore, three miles distant, and stood wait
ng the movements. At $ O'Clock a. m.
he Merrimac started out from under
'ewelfs Point, and attacked two tugs
Hhich were going up 10 get the Mime
sofa on. One shell exploded over one OF
he tugas and sunk here Immediately.
About II o'clock a. m.
THE MERRrMAc GOT AGROUND
md an hou-clad bolung from Fortress