Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-08

sIsKISo or THE CUMBERLAND.
OF all the vessels only the Cumberland
1 was silent, and Captain S., after survey
ing her for moment, exclaimed eA-
| citedlyi
Look that vessel is sinking!"
The frigate was lying with her broadside
| 10 us, and glnnce sufficed TO show tnst
| the long black line OF her hun had slightly
lost its level. Her prov was visibly SINK
| ing. yet she had not surrendered. Tor the
stars and stripes were still floating at Der
masthead, With s strange feeling OF awe
watched the stately vessel, as ike the
dying gladiator. her tall masts DROPPED
gradually low" until her deck touched the
water. Then the mssts quivored, rs IN
death agony there was an unsteady iurch,
and with sudden plunge the great Tessei
with oil her long ranges of guns wen.
down. and the waters closed hlssing ana
foaming over her. Yet the tip OF the msin-
mast remained above water. the star anu
stripes still floating defantly from II,
marking the place Of her burial
THE BRAVE rrAzER.
BY this time the JAMESTOWN and Patrick
Henry had Joined the Nerrimac, taking
position which concealed her from our
view. We were told afterward by Federal
officers that the little Teszer Commanded
by Captain Webb pushed her way IN be-
tween the Patrick Henry and jamestown,
and advancing close to tho. shore
fred her one gun in the face OF
the battery OF sixty guns. Prooa-
bly, her insignifcance saved her. for now
every shot seemed concentrated upon the
Merrimac, and the air and the very
ground where we stood seemed trembling
with the roar of shot and shell. so dense
was the smoke that we could discern no
thing except that the Confederate vessels
/ - hai
front OF the 2eet, which was now lying
close In shore.
BURNING OF TIE CONGRESS.
This must have continued for about
half-hour. Once in this time there was
a lull in the firing but then 1t was renew
] ed with what Captain s. called ire
mendous broadsides." mingled with vol
| leys of musketry. Then came an explo-
sion, transport steamer blown mp; and at
| length deep and lurd glare lighted mp
| the clouds of smoke which hung like
| heavy canopy above the scene. This was
| the Congress, which. we afterwards learn
| ed, the Merrimac had set on fire. when her
| crew, after surrenderipg, had fred upon a
| boat sent to her, as did also the soldiers on
shore.
WITHDRAWAL OF THE MERRIMAc.
After this the firing gradually ceased and
| all became quiet as the sun set, large and
| blood-red, above the battle scene. When
| the smoke lifted the Confederate feet had
| disappeared. hidden from our view by the
projection of the shore at Newport News.
| But soon there came again the sound OF q
| cannonade-sharp, rapid, and brief. ms
| was when the Monitor and her fleet attack
| ed the Merrimac with the design of de-
stroying her and intercopt1ng the York
| town and Patrick Henry. That she did not
succeed was evident, when, after the sun
had quite disappeared and tho sky
| was mass of flame. colored cloud, we be-
| held far away on the CLASSY waters, which
| looked like sea of mingled blood and
molten Pold, the Merrinac slowly and
steadily pursuing her way back to SewelPs
Point, followed in line by her little feet OF
| FIVE vessels. We could distinguish them
| only az black specks against the. glowing
ali safe. Then for the first time cheer
broke from our party and from the men at
the picket, at least two of them, for the
third. we were told, who had been at inter-
walls fervently praying, could only utter
Thank the Lord" while the tears poured
down his cheeks. Further on the bluf
brilliant group of mounted officers had
stood motioness watching the battle and
making no demonstration. Generals Nc
Laws and Gregg were amongst them.
FIERY NIGHT-sorsEs.
On this night we found 1t impossible to
sleep, and about midnight | arose and
opened my window. What a scene was
presented to my view The calm and
lovely day had given place TO stormy
night A heavy rain was falling, peals OF
thunder echoed in the inky sky, and forks
of vivid blue lightning darted straight
downward above the late battlefield.
Between us and Newport News the de-
serted mansion Of Captain Pembroke
Jones' late of the United States navy, was in
flames. His son. Lieutenant Catesby APP
Catesby Jones, had on this day command
ed the Merrimac after the wounding of
Admiral Buchanan. At Newport News the
Congress was still burning, sending up
pyramid of flame, blue lights. and rockets,
while at intervals the report of her guns
was heard as the fire reached them. Then
her magazine exploded and q deep-blue
column of flame shot high in the air like
the eruption Of volcano, after which
all was pitchy darkness and death-like
stiffness.
MAGRUDER's MARCH.
Upon this silence presently arose q
strange low thrill and murmur, becoming
| gradually louder and more distinct. 1t was
| o tramp, tramp of Msgruder's army, 1000
strong, coming up from Yorktown. BY
| daylight the fields and roads presented
mass of dingy gray. sprinkled with white,
rs of a shower of new-fallen snow, the lat
ter appearance caused by the white cloths
! and paper bands worn about the caps of
| the Confederate soldiers in lieu of uni
forms. Cleaning artillery numbered past,
! and troops of cavalry and infantry pour
ed onward like living stream up
the road towards Newport News. Some of
| the companies were in bright new uni
forms. but. the greater part looked much
| as the Yankees afterwards described them,
like ragged scarc-crows." yet their step
was firm and their eyes bright after the
| twenty miles march through the stormy
| night. All. indeed, was eager anticipation
Of the coming fight, and when later in the
| day, as the troops were actually forming
in line of battle opposite Newport News,
| il became known that no attack would be
made, tho disappointment was such that
some of the men threw down arms and re-
| fused to return to camp.
MAaRUDEs AT LUNCH.
| General Magruder doubtless had his own
good reasons for changing his plans. He
had expected TO make the attack by land
| in concert with the Merrimac, but had not
| been properly informed Of her movements.
| and it was only upon hearing the guns that
| he had hastily started, and to his disap-
pointment arrived too late. He and bis staff
took hasty lunch with US on this day. 1t
was the first and only time that ever
saw General Magruder, and as he rode mp
to tho house in glittoring uniform, tall.
erect. and with an indescribable
air of easy grace and dash, he ap-
peared the beau ideal of military CON-
mander. Captain S. told me how at
table he regretted having no wine or spirits
to offer his guests. when one Of the staff
observed that he had q canteen of tolerably
good brandy and would send for it. Gene
raj Magruder, turning sharply and bring
ing down his hand on his knee, exclaimed:
mol emphatically mol There shall be no
drinking today"
He said in the course of conversation
that this contemplated attack on Newport
News was merely TO keep the men
quiet" the long winter of waiting and in
activity having rendered them very impa-
tient and discontented. lie" knew OF o
certainty that there wer> not above 5000
troops at Newport News" II was after
wards informed by Colonel Christensen.
provost marshal at that place. that the
actual number was not above 1000, and
that on this day they stood in marching
order ready for retreat TO Fortress Monroe
in case of an attack Magruder added:
q an N oonn he hot xvcrk and al nftrh