"Frightfully ugly," Vincent agreed."She may be a formidable machine in the way of fighting, but one can scarcely call her a ship.""She is a floating-battery, and if they tried their best to turn out the ugliest thing that ever floated they could not have succeeded better.She is just like a Noah's ark sunk down to the eaves of her roof.""Yes, she is a good deal like that," Vincent agreed."The very look of her ought to be enough to frighten the Federals, even if she did nothing else.""I expect it will not be long before she gives them a taste of her quality," the man said."She has got her coal and ammunition on board, and there's nothing to prevent her going out this evening if she wants to.""It will be worth seeing when she does go out to fight the Northerners," Vincent said."It will be a new experiment in warfare, and, if she turns out a success, I suppose all the navies in the world will be taking to cover themselves up with iron."The next morning, which was the 8th of March-a date forever memorable in naval annals-smoke was seen pouring out from the funnels of the Merrimac, and there were signs of activity on board the Patrick Henry, of six guns, and the Jamestown, Raleigh, Beaufort, and Teazer, little craft carrying one gun each, and at eleven o'clock they all moved down the inlet on which Norfolk is situated.The news that the Merrimac was going out to attack the enemy had now spread, and the whole population of Norfolk turned out and hastened down toward the month of tbe inlet on horseback, in vehicles, or on foot, while Vincent rode to the batteries on Sewell's Point, nearly facing Fort Monroe.
He left his horse at a farmhouse a quarter of a mile from the battery; for Wildfire was always restless under fire, and it was probable that the batteries would take a share in the affair.At one o'clock some of the small Federal lookout launches were seen to be at work signaling, a bustle could be observed prevailing among the large ships over by the fortress, and it was evident that the Merrimac was visible to them as she came down the inlet.The Cumberland and Congress men-of-war moved out in that direction, and the Minnesota and the St.Lawrence, which were at anchor, got under weigh, assisted by steam-tugs.
The Merrimac and the fleet of little gunboats were now visible from the battery, advancing against the Cumberland and Congress.
The former opened fire upon her at a distance of a mile with her heavy pivot guns, but the Merrimac, without replying, continued her slow and steady course toward them.She first approached the Congress, and as she did so a puff of smoke burst from the forward end of her pent-house, and the water round the Congress was churned up by a hail of grape-shot.As they passed each other both vessels fired a broadside.The officers in the fort, provided with glasses, could see the effect of the Merrimac's fire in the light patches that showed on the side of the Congress, but the Merrimac appeared entirely uninjured.She now approached the Cumberland, which poured several broadsides into her, but altogether without effect.The Merrimac, without replying, steamed straight on and struck the Cumberland with great force, knocking a large hole in her side, near the water-line.Then backing off she opened fire upon her.
For half an hour the crew of the Cumberland fought with great bravery.The ships lay about three hundred yards apart, and every shot from the Merrimac told on the wooden vessel.The water was pouring in through the breach.The shells of the Merrimac crushed through her side, and at one time set her on fire; but the crew worked their guns until the vessel sank beneath their feet.Some men succeeded in swimming to land, which was not far distant, others were saved by small boats from the shore, but nearly half of the crew of 400 men were either killed in action or drowned.
The Merrimac now turned her attention to the Congress, which was left to fight the battle alone, us the Minnesota had got aground, and the Roanoake and St.Lawrence could not approach near enough to render them assistance from their draught of water.
