Year: 1862




about fourteen miles from where the Congress
the bottom.


The day closed indeed with sadness in the hearts of
our officers, besides having the fact resting their
minds that the hostile machine that had just made such
murderous work had only retired apparently recruit
ITSELF and then return complete the destruction
she had auspiciousy commenced having the
floating vessels here at her mercy. While des-
| tendency settled many brows, and conjec-
| lures were rife to where the Merrmac would
| direct her attention the day, a CLEAN Of hope
At eight O'Clock in the evening bright movable


light was discovered seaward coming from the direction
OF Cape Charles light 1t being known that the Ericsson
Patery had left New York few days previous surmises
were rife that this light might proceed from the deck
The best night telescopes brought into requston
and in less than half hour after it first hove in
| sight the fact circulated that the Ericsson
| Battery coming up the Roads The news spread
like wildfre; the ramparts in the fort soon
lined with troops At nine O'Clock the Monitor anchored
of Fortress Monroe. Lieutenant Commanding Worden
Immediately reported to Flag Officer Marston, and sub
sequently to General Wool. 1t at once determined
by those officers send the battery Newports News,
to protect that port also defend the Minnesota, which
was still on Shore Before she started her mission
additional supply Of ammunition placed board,
and at half past eleven O'Clock the Monitor went on her
mission to await the appearance Of things the following
day. The arrival Of tho Monitor was indeed providen
tial.


This day Sunday the day broke fair As the
broke on the horizon slight haze visible on the
waor which prevented extended vision. At hapast
six o'clock A. NJ. this haze cleared away. Looking TO-
wards Sewas Point there appeared the Merrimac and
the rebel steamers Yorktown and Patrick Henry They
were satonaryihe Merrmac to the right of the others,
blowing of steam Their appearance the cause Tor
second alarm. The rebel craft seemed deliberatipg
what to do-whether to to attempt the
destruction of the Minnesota which yet aground
move to the Union fleet anchored the Rip Raps.
Tho appearance of the Merrimac this second visit
caused great precipitation in the removal Of trans
port fleet safe harbor mile two up the Chesa
peake Bay. At seven A. N. plan seemed to have boon
adopted. and the Merrimac steamed in tho direction Of
the Minnesota which still aground The Yorktown and
jamestown crowded with troops and steamed slowly
after tho Merrmac Tho plan of the latter seemed to be
to destroy the Minnesota and then proceed to she'll out
the Union camp Newport's News and land and take
possession Of tho Union Camp with their troops.
The Msrrimac steamed along with boldnsss until she
within three miles Of Minnesota, when the Monitor
essayed from behind the latter and proceeded towards
| tho Morrimac At first the rcbel craft seemed non
| pussed, and hesitatcd, doubt in wonderment at
| the queer looking machine approaching her.
The Merrimac then closed the distance between hor
and the Monitor until they within mile of each
other. Both batteries stopped. The Merrmac fired
shot at the Minnesota 70 which no reply was made The
rebel craft then fred at tho Monitor the latter replied,
hitting the Merrimac line. The Merrmac
then commenced firing very rapidly, first from her stern
gun the Monitor and then her br0adsde guns occasion
ally firing shot at the Minnesota. The fight went on in
this way hour both vessels exchanging shots
pretty freely. Sometimes tho Merrmac would retire
followed by the Ericsson, and rice While the
| Hyh bet WI ba
solid nine inch shot up from Fortress Monroe
tho the Minnesota. At quarter
past ten O'Clock the Merrimao and Monitor had come
into pretty close quarters the former giving the latter
two brOadsdes in succession. It promptly re-
piled to by the Monitor. The firing so rapid
that both craft obsoured In columns Of
white smoke for . moment moro. The ram
parts Of the fort the rigging the vessels in port,
the houses and the bend were all crowded with sail
ors soldiers and civilians. When the rapid firing aud
cd to place. these spectators singuarly silent
as il doubtful to tho result. Their mpatiencc
by tho full figure Of the Monitor with the
Stars and Stripes flying her sern steamng around the
Merrmac, moving with tho ease Of duck on the water
The between the vessels forty feet In this
circuit the Monitors guns not idle, she fired shot
after shot into her antagonist two of which, 1t is alleged
penetrated the Merrimac's sides.


At eleven A. NJ the Minnesota opened fire. and assisted





inch solid with good accuracy but with apparently
little effect. Tho Merrmac returned the 1re. firing
she'll which struck and exploded tho boiler of the
gunboat Dragon, which alongside the Minnesota en-
deavoring get her or BY this unfortunate affair JOS
Mcdonald sailor seriously scalded For the hor
the battle ragged ercely between the Morrmac there
bel side Union vessels tho Monitor Minnesota
Whitehall, but with particular result. The Minnesota
being the bol mark for the Merrimac, the latter fired
her frequently, alternately giving the Monitor shot
The Merrimac made several attempts to at full spoed
past Monitor attack and run down the Minnesota.
All these attempts parred, it were, by
the Monitor. In Of these attempts by the
Morrimuc she her plough or ram with full
force against the side of the Monitor but it only had the
eject ca;eeung the latter vessel in the slightest do
gree The rebel beats Yo ktown and Patrick Henry kept
at "a distance from the Monitor. The former vessel
the beginning of the tight, had the tcmerity to
within respectable range Of the Monitor. The latter
fired one shot her entering her pilot house carrying
it away and, doubt killing number of rebels. She
retired out o range.


The fight ragged hotly both sides, the opposing bat
tercs moving around each other with the skill,
dextorty of expert pugss. The Merrimac though the
strongest did not with the doxtery antago
mist; hence the Monitor had the advantage Of taking
choice position. At quarter before twelve o'clock
noon. Lieutenant Hepburn, tho signal officer on tho
parts Fortress Mono reported 10 Gener Wool that
the Monitor had pierced the sides OF the Merrmac
a few minutes the attor in full retreat he ,ding
Tor Sewas Point. and chased for few minutes by the
Monitor. Tho Mcrrimac had evidently suffered
extent and thought at one ne that she sink
ing After she got safely under the guns of the rebel
battery at Sewas Point she stopped and signaed for
holp from her is, who beating retreat
Subsequently two tugboa.s, gunboas, alongside
and and proceeded to Norfolk. This
the engagement.


Tho Merrimac evidently came cut in the morning with
the expectation OF meeting obstacle more than
The preceding day. aud doubt the Of the Mon
tor when 1t struck her view sudden and wholly
expected.


Tho Monitor was handled with unsurpassed skill, de-
and coonsss for which all praise should be given