Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-06-23

the lower end Of Chesapeake bay and the
mouth Of James river. The Confederacy
occupied the southern shore with batteries.
the North the northern shores with forts
and batteries and war vessels at anchor
W hen the Merrimac steamed into the
Roads five Union vessels lay Just across
the main channel, the 30-gun siOop Cum
berland and the 5o-gun frigate Congress AT
] Newport News, and six miles east, of
/ Fortress Monroe, the 4O-gun frigates Min
nesota and Roanoke and the JO-gun frigate
st. Lawrence. They were wooden ships
like all navies in those days. and on March
I, in anticipation Of the Merrmac's raid
an order had been dispatched from Wash
lngton for these vessels TO make all haste
into the Potomac river for safety.
This order hadn't reached its destination
II noon OF the sth. aud on board the Cum
bertrand and Congress the sailors washed
clothes were drying in the rigging and
their boats We're swinging from the boonis
when the ram hove in sight 1hiat~
changed in a twinkling however. when
pillar of black smoke was seen rising ont
of Elizabeth river and a strange craft
steamed from under the Confederate bat
teries and headed for Newport News. A
swift sailing Union picket boat ran out to
reconnoiter, and fired few shots to warn
friends inshore that the stranger cana not
in peace but for war The Congress aud
Cumberland and the shore batteries. AZ
gregating 100 guns, opened on the ram al
three-tourths of a mile distance. Commo
dore Buchanan, AN old navy officer. was
aboard the Merrimac and decided 10 make
short work Of it and strike the Cumberland
n la 20 a
Merrimac passed the Congress- aud received
from her full broadsde. AT the same
time the pivot gun of the ram was fired AT
her intended victim. and one guns crew cf
the Cumberland was swept away Then
the ram struck with her powerful beak
almost at right angles. close 70 the Cum
berland's forerigging. making hole that
horse and cart" might pass through.
The forward rifle gun Of the ram al the
instant of collision delivered a shot that
killed ten men at one gun on the Cumber
land. Then the Merrnac backed away.
leaving her iron beak broken oil in the
sides Of the luckless frigate, and quickly
turned upon the Congress with raking
stern fire.
The Cumberland continued in action
nearly an hour. Waen hailed TO strike
colors her commander Lieut.. Morris.
shouted, "Never, I'll sink alonssider She
was leaking badly all of tbs time and her
crew was driven by the rising water to
the upper A,cks and there continued firing
from the deck guns. A sailor on the roof
of the ram was cut in two by shell from
the Cumberland just MS she went down.
She sank in fifty-four feet of water and her
flag noated from her topmast above the
waves. The crew saved themselves by
jumping and swimming ashore.
The Congress tried TO avoid the fate OF
her consort and escape. but she grounded
and the Merrimae ran up to within 200
yards and ridded her with shells. Her
commander, Lieut. j. r. Smith, was killed
her scuppers ran blood, her crew was being
slaughtered with no chance to etaliate
and her officers displayed the white flag
The lieutenant in charge made a formal
surrender and went on board Confederate
gunboat, but the Union troops on shore
continued TO fire upon the Confederates,
the Congress colors were not struck, and
Commodore Buchanan directed that hot
shot be poured into her While she was
burning her crew jumped into the water.
and two southern officers lost their lives in