Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-10

up by the Whildin and in small aboatl
brought to the shore. They (the Merrimacs
fired on the Whilldin and put two BALI
through her, one through her boilers.
The old flag still floats at her lthe
Cumberland's, mast head as it sticks up
out Of the water. About 100 Of the crew
Of the Cumberland were lost, (killcd IN
action.
The Congress still kept up her fire on
her (the Merrimac) and then she went Tor
the Congress. by this time the York
town and Jamestown had come down the
James river to Newport News. As the
Merrimac went up to the Congress they
tried to turn the Congress around, and got
her aground. The Merrimac then placed
her bow under the stern Of the Congress,
she still firing on the Merrimac and asked
the Congress il she would surrender.
The reply was No, neverl
As she lay in this position the Congress
could only bring two guns to bear on her,
and they were small ones. She (the Merri-
mao) then opened her batteries on the
Congress siismantling both her tthe
Congress'l guns and killing about 25 men.
She then gave her a second broadslde,
killing about 25 more and blowing the
Congress all to pieces, and set her on fire.
The old Congress then surrendered.
Then the Mcrrimac was joined by the
jamestown and Yorktown and com
mcnoed shelling Newport News. II was
then about 4 o'clock p. m. Then they ail
three started down the river for the Min
ncsota, where she lay aground. There
the water was not deep enough for the
Merrimac to 60 nearer than three-quart-
ers Of mile As they oamo down the
Minnesota opened on the three OF them,
throwing shot and shell at terrific rate,
striking them almost every time. and they
returning it. II WAS the finest sight ever
saw. The Minnesota poured it on them
so heavy, mounting 81 guns, that they
dropped back about two miles, she still
kept pouring IL on them that distance,
hitting them almost every time until the
jamestown and Yorktown withdrew and
went up under Pig Point battery, leaving
the Merrimac alone with her (the Min
nesota). II was now about Il o'clock and
the Minnesota kept her (the Merrimacl nj
bay until $ o'clock, when the firing ceased
until morning, the Minnesota firing .he
last shot, showing that she was not whip
ped.
never saw anything fight SO in my life.
and nothing could get TO her 10 render her
any assistance. The 81. Lawrence started
TO assist her but she also got aground. The
Merrimac then withdrew To Craney Is
land for.the night along with the James,
town and Yorktown, they having gone
up there.
knowing that all our ships were ia
great danger ON account of being aground,
they worked all nioht with the small gun
boats to get them off. They succeeded IN
getting the Roanoke and St Lawrence of
and towing them down, but the Minnoso-
ia they could not get off. so they worked
at the rest of the night carrying her shot
and shells
About Q o'clock on Saturday night the
Ericsson battery made its appearance
and they sent her directly TO the Minneso-
tn. As she approached the Minnesota the
Minnesota hailed her saving:
"Whst comes there"
She replied: The Ericsson battery,
was sent TO assist you!"
The Minnesota replied: 81 am very
happy 70 see you; come alongside OF us
until morning."
The Ericsson battery known suhse-
duently as the Monitorl, the first IRON
clad ship from the North Is about 100
feet long and about one and ono half feet
above water.
At sunrise on Sunday morning the
three steamers came down from Craney
Island towards the Minnesota and opened
fire on her. She responded to every call
with hroadsidc.
At last the little battery started towards
them, they Cthe Confederate ships tax
ing no notice of her. She met the Merri-
mac, passed by her without firing at her
and ran down between the Merrimac and
the jamestown and Yorktown. She then
commenced 10 fight with the two ships
and after striking them several times she
started for the Yorktown, bow on to sink
her. The two ships finding that she WAS
not to be fooled with, took TO their heels
and ran. She the Monitor chased them
until they got out of her reach, leaving the
Minnesota and Merrimac fighting at
terrific rate for about two hours.
After she ran the two ships to Craney
Island she (the Monitor) came down and
ran within 25 feet of the Merrirnae and let |
her have one gun. The commander of the |
Merrimsc put his head out of the port |
lole and hailed her the Monitor saying: |
Where did you come from; did you |
,ome from hell or where"
Her reply was another gun.
The fighting then commenced between |
lcr (the Monitor) and the Merrimac and /
asted FIVE hours, when she (the Monitor) /
succeeded in running the Merrimac UP to I
Sraney Island; she fired after her until /
he could not reach her and then came /
pack to the Minnesota a victor.
The Minnesota is now of the bar and /