Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 1.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[599] still more terrible; from time to time her port-holes would open and a few shells be discharged against the sides of the Cumberland. During the manoeuvre one of her guns was broken, and many of those serving them, by a shot in the embrasure, were wounded. This accident did not stop her progress. Having at last arrived within a few metres of the Cumberland, Buchanan ordered all the port-holes to be closed, and steered right for the enemy's vessel. A moment after, the beak of the Virginia penetrated slowly but surely into the hull of the Federal sloop; then, immediately reversing her engines, she withdrew, leaving an enormous gash in the side of her adversary, into which the water rushed with great violence. On her part, the Virginia had sustained some serious injuries; the point of her steel beak was broken, and the engines, which had not been stopped in time before the encounter took place, received such a concussion as to render their management extremely difficult. But these accidents did not at first attract any notice. As soon as he had drawn off, Buchanan, placing his vessel at a distance of a few metres from the Cumberland, and presenting her broadside toward the latter, poured a volley from his four large howitzers into her. This was more than enough to destroy that unfortunate vessel, which the water was already filling, while the enemy's shot carried death and destruction into every part of her hull that still floated above the waves. Braving this twofold danger, her valiant crew worked at the pumps, in order to keep the vessel, which was pitching heavily and ready to sink, at least a little while longer afloat. Without allowing themselves to be discouraged by the uselessness of their fire, which could not pierce the armor of the Virginia, the gunners suffered themselves to be killed one after another by the side of their guns; the dead were immediately replaced. In the mean time, the water was gaining; it had filled the powder magazine, drowning several cannoneers who would not abandon their posts; the space between decks was submerged, and all the wounded who happened to be there met with a frightful death. Shortly after, the battery placed on deck was submerged; a single gun still rose above the water; it was fired by the last surviving gunner, and the ball, skimming the surface of the sea, had scarcely struck the sides of the Virginia, when the Cumberland, with one hundred