The Merrimac poured broadside after broadside into her, until the officer in command and many of the crew were killed.The lieutenant who succeeded to the command, seeing there was no prospect of help, and that resistance was hopeless, hauled down the flag.A gunboat was sent alongside, with orders that the crew should leave the Congress and come on board, as the ship was to be burned.But the troops and artillery lining the shore now opened fire on the little gunboat, which consequently hauled off.
The Merrimac, after firing several more shells into the Congress, moved away to attack the Minnesota, and the survivors of the 200men who composed the crew of the Congress were conveyed to shore in small boats.The vessel was set on fire either by her own crew or the shells of the Merrimac, and by midnight blew up.
Owing to the shallowness of the water the Merriruac could not get near enough to the Minnesota to use her own small guns to advantage, and the gunboat was driven off by the heavy ten-inch gun of the Federal frigate, and therefore at seven o'clock the Merrimac and her consorts returned to Norfolk.The greatest delight was felt on shore at the success of the engagement, and on riding back to Norfolk Vincent learned that the ram would go out again next morning to engage the rest of the Federal fleet.
She herself had suffered somewhat in the fight.Her loss in men was only two killed and eight wounded; but two of her guns had the muzzles shot off, the armor was damaged in some places, and most serious of all she had badly twisted her ram in running into the Cumberland.Still it appeared that she was more than a match for the rest of the Federal fleet, and that these must either fly or be destroyed.
As the general had given him three days' leave, Vincent was able to stay to see the close of the affair, and early next morning again rode down to Sewell's Point, as the Merrimac was to start at daybreak.At six o'clock the ironclad came out from the river and made for the Minnesota, which was still aground.The latter was seen to run up a signal, and the spectators saw an object which they had not before perceived coming out as if to meet the ram.
The glasses were directed toward it, and a general exclamation of surprise was heard.
"What is the thing? It looks like a raft with two round turrets upon it, and a funnel." A moment's consideration, and the truth burst upon them.It was the ship they had heard of as building at New York, and which had been launched six weeks before.It was indeed the Monitor, which had arrived during the night, just in time to save the rest of the Federal fleet.She was the first regular ironclad ever built.She was a turret ship, carrying two very heavy guns, and showing only between two and three feet above the water.
The excitement upon both shores as these adversaries approached each other was intense.They moved slowly, and not until they were within a hundred yards distance did the Monitor open fire, the Merrimac replying at once.The fire for a time was heavy and rapid, the distance between the combatants varying from fifty to two hundred yards.The Monitor had by far the greatest speed, and was much more easily turned than the Confederate ram, and her guns were very much heavier, and the Merrimac while still keeping up the fight made toward the mouth of the river.
Suddenly she turned and steamed directly at the Monitor, and before the latter could get out of her way struck her on the side;but the ram was bent and her weak engines were insufficient to propel her with the necessary force.Consequently she inflicted no damage on the Monitor, and the action continued, the turret-ship directing her fire at the iron roof of the ram, while the latter pointed her guns especially at the turret and pilot-house of the Monitor.At length, after a battle which had lasted six hours, the Monitor withdrew, one of the plates of her pilot-house being seriously damaged and her commander injured in the eyes.
When her foe drew off the Merrimac steamed back to Norfolk.
There were no men killed in either battle, and each side claimed a victory; the Federals upon the ground that they had driven off the Merrimac, the Confederates because the Monitor had retreated from the fight.Each vessel however held the strength of the other in respect, the Monitor remaining as sentinel over the ships and transports at Fortress Monroe, while the Merrimac at Norfolk continued to guard the entrance into the James River.
As soon as the fight was over Vincent Wingfield, greatly pleased that he had witnessed so strange and interesting a combat, rode back to Norfolk, and the same evening reached Richmond, where his description of the fight was received with the greatest interest and excitement.
