The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-16
Norfolk Day---Book's Story of
Monitor ---Menimac Fight

Ing the Confederate noet-are all
numbering away. We steam down
and speak the first: we hear a report
OF the casualties: We shake hands with
friends. we shove OFF. cheer and
steam toward the Swash channel.
Presently. through tho thickening
gloom of tho evening. We SEQ q rod
glare: II grows larger. and brighter,
and fuller and reddor: II orecps high
er and higher. as the Congress, SGT
ahre By the virginia hot shots burns.
and now gun after gun booms on tho
Still night as tho fire reaches them
the batteries OF tho Congress dis
charging across the .Iatcr In harm
less thunder.
1T was grand Sigh, to see. and
BY. tho light of the burning ship we
nade our way back 10 Norfolk. At
half-past IL the act of retribution
was complete. for at that hour. with
great noise. the Congress blew up.
The Second Days Fight.
The virginia lay at anchor off
SewelHs Point that night after the
engagement OF March s. and Mt $3.50
o'clock the next NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
getting in good range she opened fire
on the L. 5. Is. Minnesota. which twas
stu aground. completely Kidding her,
and rendering constant exertion at
her pumps necessary to prevent her
from filling.
Early in the morning the Ericsson
battery. now called tho Monitor, was
discovered off Newport News Point.
sha having arrived and COMO up there
during the night. = sharp encounter
soon took place between her and the
Virginia, during which time they were
frequently not more than thirty or
forty yards apart. Unfortunately, the
virginia ran aground. and 4he
Ericsson. using her advantage. poured
shot after shot Ito hor. but without
doing any serious damage. InA short
while. however. the Virginia succeed
cd in getting Off. and. putting on full
head OF steam. ran her bow into tho
Ericsson.
I'VE are rejoieed to say that not
withdrawing the firing was much
heavier than on Saturday there were
no casualties on either OF our vessels
not man being 1.-The least injured by
shots from the enemy or otherwise.
Several of the cncmy's gunooats
being within range they were favor ed
with a she'll or two from the Virginia
with telling effect. and In every case
disabling or sinking them.
One OF these lying alongside the
Minnesota had aNshell thrown aboard
OF her which. on bursting. tore her
asunder. and Hen, her TO the bottom.
Having completely riddled tho Stin-
Eesota. aLd disabled tho st. Lawrence
and Monitor. besides. ms stated above,
destroying several o. the enemy's gun
'boats--in word. having accomplished
all that they designcd-and having no
more material to work upon. our
noble vessels left the scene of thelr
triumphs and returned to the navy
yard here. where, they await another
opportunity OF displaying their PROV
ess
The enemy's loss. killed and wound
cd. during tho two Gays battle. is
exceedingly large and estimated at
from six to twelve hundred. The
scene on the Congress is represented
as heart slckening. The officers OF tho
Confederate gunboat Beaufort. who
ran alongside OF her on Saturday. and
WHO boarded her for the purpose of
removing the wounded, and who were
brutaliy fired upon by the enemy
while engaged ain this work of mercy
to the Federals kith and kin. repre-
sent the deck of the ship as being
literally covered with deadt and dying.
One OF them tells us thatps he went
from fore to aft his shoes were we'll
nigh buried in blood and brains; ithat
arms and legs and heads were cat
tered in every direction. while here
and there. in the aBonies OF death.
were found poor wretchcs with their
pFalnS torn completely out.
The Federal Loss. Heavy.
'Of the 500 aboard the Cumberland
ii is estimated that not over 100 ut
most escaped. On our side the loss
was indeed small. On the Virginia
there were two isilled and eight
wounded. the Confederates' total
ca casualties In the swo days fight being
seven killed and seventeen wounded
The Congress was set anre with
h1t
OF the firing into our boats while she,
the Congress. had a flag OF truce fly
ing, after she eAld struck her colors
and surrendered to us.
"On the arrival OF the Virginia at
the navy yard, after the Awo days
battle. her mon were mustered and
addressed by tho commanding officer
In terms of praise for their noble
bearing during the engagement. They
responded with hearty cheers. and ex-
pressed desire to again re- enact the
scenes through which they had just
passed.
THE officers Aof the Virginia are
said to have acted with the utmost
courage and bravery during the con-
flict. 1t is related that Captain
buchanan during tho thickest of tho
night remained on the Virginia's deck
and discharged at the enemy musket
after musket as they were handee up
to him.1
Andrew j. Dalton. a printer, who
left our ONCE few days since. to
join the Virginia, and whot was at
the honbardment of Fort Sumter. and
who has participated in several other
engagements OF the war. ate learn was
ono of the wounded on board that yes
sell"
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