The Virginia's second trial.
[From the Norfolk Day Book, of Saturday.]
We expected to be able this morning to lay before our readers the result of an engagement between the
Virginia and the
Monitor, but owing to the evident cowardice of those in charge of the latter vessel, we are not permitted to do so.
Our fleet left the Barcot about six o'clock yesterday morning and proceeded to the On its appearance there was a great commotion among the
Federal vessels, all of which, including the
Monitor, proceeded without delay to place themselves out of danger.
In vain did the
Virginia endeavor to prevail on the
Monitor to leave her place of retreat, under the guns of
Fortress Monroe Proudly she sped to and fro through the waters — challenging her opponents to come forth and do battle, but the challenge was unheeded.
Still the
Virginia was not altogether unemployed.
The material to work upon, it is true, was scant, yet, wherever it presented itself it was properly used; and although hoping for something better, we were satisfied with our first dispatch by the air-line telegraph, which reached as about 10½ o'clock, and ran as follows:
‘
"The Monitor is afraid of the
Virginia, and remains under the guns of
Fortress Monroe.
"We have just captured three prizes--two brigs and a schooner"
’
The following were the vessels alluded to:
‘
Brig
Marcus, of
Stockton, N. J.; brig
Saboah, of
Providence, and schr.
Catharine T. Dix, of
Accomac.
The two brigs were loaded with hay--one of them having stalls for the accommodation of horses.
The schooner was not loaded.
The crews of these vessels were made prisoners, with the exception of a portion of the crew of one of the brigs, who escaped to Camp Hamilton by means of their small boats.--The vessels were brought up and anchored in the river between
Craney Island and this city, and the prisoners taken off by the steamer
Raleigh and brought up to the
Navy-Yard about 2 o'clock, and placed in safe-keeping.
The prisoners numbered thirteen in all--eleven while men and two negroes.
The latter, as also three of the while men, hall from the Eastern Shore of
Virginia.
The fleet returned about 8 o'clock and came so anchor between Fort Norfolk and
Craney Island.
Shortly after their return, two Federal steamers, which had been caught at Newport News, and which remained out of sight while the
Virginia was in the
Roads, embraced the opportunity afforded them by her withdrawal to advantage, and proceeded at once to
Old Point ’
The only shots fired.
The Virginia, after backing and filling in
Hampton Roads all day, endeavoring to coax the
Monitor out, and finding her efforts unavailing, finally concluded she would not leave the field without firing a shot or two.
At 4 o'clock precisely she opened on a large gunboat and a small tug, with a large gun on her, both of which kept lurking around the shore, close into
Hampton creek, in the immediate vicinity of the Chas speak Female Seminary.
At these she fired three shots, which were promptly responded to by each of them.
The first shot the
Virginia fired seemed to us a splendid ricocheted shot, as it appeared from the position the writer occupied to have hit the water and passed right over the tug-boat, going over on the land.
The gun on board the small tug-boat seemed to have a much longer range than that on board their larger consort, the shot from which fell short each time as far as the little tug's gun overshot the mark.
This battle was carried on at long range, be it remembered, as these vessels kept their position in shallow water, where they knew it was impossible for the
Virginia to get at them.
Several of the shot from the little tug passed away over the
Virginia, and as we thought came in very uncomfortable proximity to the
English and
French vessels lying in her rear.
In fact, it was suggested by some present that It appeared the
Yankees wished to avail of that opportunity to give
Bull and craped a ‘"sock,"’ to appease a little of jonathan's arise against those two amiable gentlemen.
There were some nine or ten shots exchanged on this occasion, and the
Virginia finding it impossible to get the
Monitor out, retired to her anchorage near the city.
For the last month, or ever, since the
Virginia's trial trip, the
Northern papers have been ‘ "blowing"’ away at a terrible rate endeavoring doubtless to keep up their courage; telling their readers a thousand lie about the ‘"Monitor beating the
Virginia off. why don't the
Virginia come out; the
Monitor is waiting for her,"’ &c., &c. Here was one of the finest opportunities in the word.
I the
Monitor was anywhere about she had a good chance to test her metal if she was not entirely satisfied with the first test.
Now, it maybe the
Monitor was not at the
Point; and we confess that we were unable to see her if she was there, though we had a good view of all the shipping there with an excellent pair of glasses.
Still, the sails of the vessels there being spread out or hoisted to dry may have obscured her. And we may here mention a rumor, as coming from one of the prisoners captured, that a fleet of gunboats had left the
Point and gone round to
Yorktown to operate with
McClellan.
If this is so, and the
Monitor was not at the
Point really, she may have accompanied this fleet.
There was a very large fleet of mostly large war vessels, anchored outside of
Old Point. --They appeared to be drawn up in battle array, probably awaiting the passage of the
Virginia past the
Point, though we rather suspect if she had gone out these valiant wooden walls would have been speedily ‘"taken with a leaving"’ either for the bottom or to other parts.
