Important naval operations.
Yankee accounts of the recent movements in the Roads.naval attack on Sewell's Point.
The New York Herald, of May 10th, gives an account of the recent naval operations in Hampton Roads and vicinity. As a matter of course, there are falsehoods in the statement; yet it will be nevertheless read with interest: ‘ Fortress Monroe, May 8.--Shortly before noon to-day the Monitor, Naugatuck, Seminole, Susquehanna, Dacotah and San Jacinto, in the order in which they are named, steamed up towards Sewell's Point, Captain Lardner, of the Susquechanna, in command of the expedition. As soon as within range fire was opened with shot and shell against Sewell's Point.--Most of the shots were good ones. It was nearly half an hour before a reply was made from the Point. The Rip Raps next opened fire, and then the Naugatuck for the first time. Several shots were fired from the single gun on the extremity of the point, when one from the Monitor struck in the vicinity, doubtless disabling the gun, as it has not been fired since. The position of the Monitor was far in advance of the rest of the fleet, and she continued in motion until within a mile or two of the Point, when considerable execution must have been done by her accurate firing. The Naugatuck kept in the background, the range of her Perrott gun enabling her to do so. The Sewell's Point battery replied briskly. The Rip Raps fired occasionally, and a continual fire was kept up from the gunboats. The affair was comparatively uninteresting from this point of view, on account of the distance; so details cannot be given. The Monitor about this time returned from her advanced position and joined the fleet.--In the distance nothing of her could be seen but a small square dot in the water. At about half-past 2 o'clock the Merrimac made her appearance, when the fleet returned, with the exception of the Monitor. The Merrimac is still (five o'clock) off the Point. The Monitor is ready to attack her. The Seminole has returned to the Lower Roads. There is no prospect of a fight at present (half-past 5 o'clock). The Monitor has returned. The Merrimac is in the same position. Fortress Monroe, May 8--This has been a most stirring and exciting day at Old Point, and all are anticipating the early fall of Norfolk. At eleven o'clock the steamer Naugatuck was observed raising steam, and about twelve o'clock she moved out by the side of the Monitor, which vessel had also cleared her decks for action, taken down her awning and pipes, and stood forth in full fighting trim. Half-past 11 O'clock.--The gunboat Dacotah has just moved up in line of battle with two little batteries, followed by the sloop-of-war Seminole and the San Jacinto. The flag-ship Minnesota is also under steam. Twelve O'clock.--The Naugatuck has moved up towards Elizabeth river, followed by the Monitor and Dacotah in line of battle. The San Jacinto follows slowly. Heavy firing can still be heard from the direction of James river, where, as you have already been informed by telegraph, the Galena and other gunboats have gone. The side-wheel steamer susquehanna has just moved up, passing the Seminole and San Jacinto. In the meandme, the Dacotah, Monitor and Naugatuck had reached the channel and taken a position off Sewell's Point, and the Dacotah fired a shot towards Craney Island. A second shot from the Dacotah struck the beaca at Sewell's Point. Half-past 12 O'clock.--The Susquehanna moves up and takes the lead of the San Jacinto and Seminole. No answer from either of the rebel forts, and the Dacotah and Monitor are steaming up the Elizaneth river. The Nangatuck is lying off towards the mouth of the James river. Presently the Dacotah and Monitor approach Craney Island and Sewell's Point. The Dacotah fires every few minutes alternately at Sewells Point and Craney Island, the enemy making no reply, although all the balls reach their interded destination. The Monitor is now taking the lead, but has not fired. In the meantime the Seminole and Susquehanna open on Sewell's Point, and two shots are fired from the point, the latter falling short of the Monitor, which is now a mile above the other vessels. Forty Minutes Past Twelve o'clock,--The rebels are firing rapidly from Sewell's Point, principally at the Monitor, while a continued succession of shells is being poured on the enemy from the Susquehanna, Dacotah, Seminole, and San Jacinto, broadside after broadside. The Rip Raps also throw occasional shells into Sewall's Point. Fifty Minutes Past Twelve o'clock--The Susquehanna, Dacotah, San Jacinto, and Seminole, are pouring hells, and the Monitor threw her first two shells from a point fully a mile and a half ahead of the other vessels. The guns from Sewell's Point fall short of the regular fleet, and many of them explode high in the air at half distance. The Monitor is still moving forward firing an occasional shot, while the Rip Rap and a float, lying in line of battle, are still firing steadily. One o'clock P. M.--The Monitor is now within a mile of Sewell's Point, moving slowly forward and firing. The enemy are also firing briskly from Sewell's Point at the Monitor, and shells are falling thickly around her Craney Island is also joining in the fight, and has just thrown several shells at the Monitor. One of which exploded directly over her. The Monitor moved steadily forward, occasionally firing and receiving shells and shot from the rebel batteries with parfect indifference. Two o'clock P. M.--During the past hour there has been but little if any change in the progress of the bombardment. The Monitor has fullen back and lays alongside of the Susquenanna, probably for the purpose of communicating with her. The Naugatuck, in the meantime, has been throwing shells into Pig Point, and the fleet have also thrown's a number of shells in the same direction. Quarter past Two O'clock P. M.--The Monitor and Dacotah are moving along again slowly up the mouth of the Elizabeth river. A dense black smoke has commenced to rise from Sewell's Point, indicating that our incendiary shells thrown there have fired the barracks. The Dacotah continues to throw her shells directly into the Point, the explosions of which can be distinctly seen. The splash shells from the Point mostly fall short and splash along in the water or explode in the air, the constant changing in position of our vessels destroying the range of the rebel gunners. They are, however, making quite a determined fight from their works, giving our fleet almost shell for shell and shot for shot, Sewell's Point is almost enveloped in smoke from the constant explosion of shells and the smoke from its own guns; and the fire raging in the vicinity must make it a hot place for suffering humanity. Half-past 2 o'clock P. M.--The Monitor has laid out of action for nearly an hour. She is probably cooling her guns. Four large vessels throw occasional shots, all of which appear to enter the woods of the enemy, or explods within the works beyond. The Rip Raps has also kept up a constant cross fire, throwing a large number of shells in the rear of the Point batteries. The Rip Raps battery has the range of Sewell's Point perfectly. Quarter to Three o'clock P. M.--The rebel monster Merrimac now makes her appearance on the acene. She has just passed from behind Sewell's Point, and running down slowly towards the Federal fleet. Her black hall can be seen moving slowly along shore in front of the Craney Island batteries. Simultaneously with the appearance of the Merrimac, the Monitor started up from behind the wooden vessels and moved up to meet the enemy. Dense volumes of smoke ascended up from the pipes of the Merrimac. The Monitor, with only a puff of white steam escaping, looks in the distance like as atom on the surface of water. The larger vessels have drawn aside and left. The Monitor and the Naugatuck are now in the approaching path of the Merrimac. The contestants are yet six miles apart. Three O'Clock, P. M.--The Minnesota fires her signal gun and the long roll is being beaten in the fort. The Minnesota is starting to come up from her anchorage below the fort. The vessels of the fleet had been lying quietly at anchor for the last half hour, when the signal from the flag ship ordered them all to return. The Susquehanna led the way, followed by the San Jacinto, Seminole, Dacotah, add the Monitor bringing up the rear, all appearently using the greatest speed towards the fort. To spectators this seemed rather mortifying; but as they moved down in line the Monitor was observed to halt, and the San Jacinto and Dacotah also followed her example, leaving the Susquehanna and Seminole moving ahead. The four steamers and the Monitor having taken their positions, the Merrimac also halted, and the five vessels stood thus, not more than a mile and a half apart, the Merrimac apparently not willing to come further down, and the Monitor unwilling to go further up. The Minnesota also steamed up in front of the fortress wharf, followed slowly by the Vanderbilt, when both stopped. After lying in this position awhile, the Minnesota turned round and steamed back, and the Vanderbilt, without turning, backed water slowly down the river. Whilst all this manœuvring was going on firing had entirely ceased from all points. Forty Minutes Past Three o'clock P. M.--The Merrimac now turns round and steams back towards Norfolk, with her rebel flag flying impudently. The Baltimore steamer Georgians has laid out in the stream with steam up, all the afternoon, ready to escape from danger at the earliest moment.--The Minnesota and Vanderbilt have gone back to their anchorage. The Dacotan again proceeds up towards the Merrimac, and the Monitor starts towards the mouth of the Elizabeth river. The Dacotah is now within an easy range of Sewell's Point, but the batteries there do not open on her. She and the Monitor have both stopped, and the Merrimac is lying stationary, about a mile in advance of the Craney Island batteries. (There commenced an important movement which cannot be made public just yet.) The Vanderblit and Arago have now steamed up in front of the wharf, and have again halted. The Merrimac has run back under the guns of Craney Island, and the Monitor is steaming off towards her at full speed. The Minnesota is also coming up again at full speed, the effort being to draw the rebels out again. Quarter to Five O'clock P. M.--For the past hour the fleet has been moving back and fortward, but the Merrimac still lies under the guns of Craney Island. The Monitor is lying about a mile and a half from the Merrimac, and the Dacotah, Susquehanna, and Seminole, are still in the rear. The Naugatuck is also moving up towards the Monitor. The Minnesota, Arago and Vanderbilt have gone back to their anchorage, and there is no prospect of a fight to-night. The troops are going on board the transports, and the war vessels, including the Monitor, have all returned to their anchorage. The President viewed the action from a tugboat, lying about a mile in the rear of the fleet. He has just returned, and as he passed up the wharf was vociferously cheered by the troops. The Latest.--Our fleet having retired the Merrimac is again steaming out. The Monitor, Decotah and Naugatuck are still, however, in position off Sewell's Point. An officer of the Seminole states that the rebel flag-staff on Sewell's Point was twice shot away during the bombardment. The first time it fell it was picked up, and a rebel in a red shirt jumped on the ramparts, with a stump of the staff and the flag, and waved it, when a shell struck him, killing him, and it is supposed others near him. Of the many shots fired at the fleet by the rebels not not one struck any of our vessels. Some went over their masts, but most fell short. The rebels could be distinctly seen from the vessels carrying off their dead and wounded. ’
