Year: 1864

were compleeIy shrouded in thick white SMOKE which


lay upon the blue, rippne glancng waters IKE thun


Of the fierce conflict behind but columns OF snowy
spray rising successvsy in long lines as the balls rico,
lift the just in time TO disclose The red flashes Of
broadsides from the enemy or the et Of lurid FIRE


which proceeded Of the sonorous metallic voices OF
1 the iron monster.


Now one Of the enemy largest vessels has withdrawn
from the fight and steams rather slowly behind Sandy
Point. where she still lies at this moment, badly Grip.
ped the ram meanwhile steadily pursuing her


towards Roanoke river and firing eisurey moves


The fire Of the enemy hat sackens and only the


swo remaining large vessels continue the pusuit Pre-


senty they stop and wait for two smaller boats coming


mp, and while the are lying in group as if in con.


suaton, distinctly hear the dull crash Of ball the


ram az y bures itself in one Of the wooden huks As
retreatiDg Monitor, who nears the rivers mouth


Away in the distance the battle RACES furousy


and long after ceased to distinguish the the


flashes Of flame were visible till the gathering gloom OF
evening put end TO the fight The gus as well as


the rst as fred BY the Albemare she entered the
Roanoke.


So ended the first memorable engagement on Abo
marie Sound The next day inteIgencs direct from
Plymouth that early in engagement one OF the Abe
mares two guns was disabled in consequence OF which
she returned but she had subse
qucny crippled and sunk of the enemy vessels
We had seen one OF the steamers withdraw apparently
crippled but the sinking Of the others
and tho ateness OF the hour prevented detinct vson
done to the enemyspliners and large fragments Of
sneathng copper fastened portions OF window SASH with
bs Of glass and putty sti aahering pieces Of panueug
anu other ornamental work cabins saloons
raj fine launches two Of which badly shot to pieces
oars gun rammers. window shutters, cabin DOORS hatch
ments, ragments Of ane furniture and Of little
articles or toilet and table furniture with hundreds
other little proofs OF the destruction wrought by the gun
rather than the guns, OF the ram.


Inc Datte ended on side with the capture OF the
Bombshell, and the retreat of the with damage
tring as to seem almost miraculous when consider
the great superiority Of the enemy speed numbers
Hence, no doubt, the Herald will blazon gre It naval
victory in It's most exaggerated capitals and the
hood Will be loudly re echoed by the whole Northern
press But have told what have well heard
and as further evidence OF this victory the enemys
boats, somewhat reduced In numbers, have lain ever
since the fight In position, at the respectful distance
OF eight or ten miles from the mouth Of the Roanoke
content, 1t would seem, with the glory they have ac
quired instead OF going to annnate the monster
they doubtless thought TO have DONE


This would appear to be pf the most astonishing
naval battles on record At the lowest cuation fifty
guns were bearing at once upon the RAM many OF them
throwing one hundred pound shot and shell, as the nu
merous ammunition boxes constantly floating ashore
testify and some of them probably OF still greater cali
bre Nine gunboats engaged the at once and that
she should have sustained for four hours their terrific
IRE with but one Of her guns playing sinking
Gripping several Of them, without other injury the
loss OF fifteen OF her outer plates the loss OF her Flagstaff
and the perforation OF her smoke etack whilst not a
leak was sprung man killed-ths sounds utterly
Incredible. But there the facts II s not difficult
to determine on which side rests the honor Of victory