The Twentieth New York Regiment was despatched to the “Brick House,” where it threw up entrenchments and remained during the night. The enemy expected that our entire fleet would be destroyed in this fight, and with the “Merrimack” on the river and a large force in front, they hoped for an easy victory; but finding that our fleet still existed, they concluded not to attack, and toward night retired.
The repose and quiet which had reigned so constantly during the long winter of 1861-62, in Camp Butler, were ended by the tragic occurrences of these two days. As long as the regiment thereafter continued to remain at Newport News, scarcely a day passed without its exciting incident; and not infrequently the slumbers of the men at night were rudely broken by the ominous sound of the long roll and the sudden screech of a shell thrown from the “Teaser,” an insolent little nondescript of the enemy’s fleet, which sailed down the river occasionally, and amused herself by firing into our camp.
Ever after the 9th of March, the mails were irregular, the “Merrimack” at times blockading the mouth of the river, and rendering water communication between Newport News and Fortress Monroe difficult and hazardous. The passenger-boat “Express,” which had run regularly twice a day between the fort and camp, was obliged to suspend her trips during the time the “Merrimack” remained at the mouth of the Elizabeth, as she could not enter the James without the risk of being blown out of the water by the terrible guns of the iron-clad, and a small boat of light draught was put on the route in her place. Even this little steamer was obliged, in passing the Point, to hug the shore closely in order to avoid the enemy, and to make her trips after nightfall or before daylight in the morning. In the course of a few weeks our naval force in the Roads began to increase considerably, and the Confederate ram withdrew farther up the river, only occasionally showing herself, and then rarely below Craney Island.
An affair occurred on the 11th of April that was very humiliating, and caused great indignation and alarm throughout the North. During the forenoon of this day, the “Merrimack,” “Jamestown,” and “Patrick Henry” steamed slowly down the Elizabeth into Hampton Roads, directly under the guns of Fortress Monroe and some dozen large Federal vessels. Near the mouth of Hampton Creek were anchored a brig and two schooners, supply-vessels. The Confederate steamer “Jamestown” deliberately ran up to these vessels, boarded them, and towed them off toward Norfolk without the slightest opposition being made by the navy or the fort; and while this disgrace was being visited, unrebuked, upon our flag, several of the sailing-vessels of our navy were hoisting sails and making all possible haste seaward, actually running before they were hurt.
A crowd of highly-exasperated soldiers were looking upon this scene from Newport News, filled with amazement by the strange and unexplained conduct of our navy, and of the Commander of Fortress Monroe. It was impossible that men who had witnessed the brave fight which the “Cumberland,” about a month before, had made with the iron monster of the enemy,—who had seen our noble ship go down with the flag flying, and who had exposed their own lives to save those of her crew,—who had themselves manned the land-batteries, and done whatever lay in their power to destroy the foe,—could look upon this scene without having their soldierly pride stung to the quick, and their feelings of love for the flag severely wounded.
The enemy’s fleet lay in the Roads till near dark, inviting an attack from our vessels, but not venturing to make one. Just as the “Merrimack” was leaving, she bade our fleet good night by firing three shots into it, which were replied to by the “Naugatuck” and “Octorora.”
Not long after this, an attack was made by our fleet upon the enemy’s shore-batteries, extending all the way from Ocean View to Sewall’s Point, a distance often miles or more. The shore was heavily wooded, and these works, in which were stationed small bodies of troops, were erected in the edge of the timber, commanding all the available landing-places. At Sewall’s Point, where there was a large Confederate camp, were several very powerful works, containing one or more bomb-proofs. The movement began about one o’clock in the afternoon, and the line of battle, which was led by the “Monitor,” was made up of about twelve vessels. Beginning near Ocean View, the fleet commenced raining a shower of shot and shell upon the beach and woods. Presently a puff of white smoke was seen rising among the trees, and at the same moment a huge shell exploded just over the masts of one of the gunboats. This was followed by another and another in rapid succession; but the fire from the boats was too severe for the little sand-battery: its guns were silenced and its garrison dispersed in less than fifteen minutes.
While this battle was in progress, some of the leading vessels had stirred up several other works, and a fierce contest ensued, ending, as did the first, in the course of a few minutes. In this manner, the fleet continued along the shore, silencing every battery as it was reached, until it came to the end of Sewall’s Point, where it encountered the bomb-proofs, and met with a more determined resistance. Here the chief part of the fighting was done by the “Monitor,” which, being of lighter draught than the other vessels, lay in near the beach, and shelled the forts at comparatively close range, while the other boats shelled the woods and camp.
The view of this battle from “Signal Station Point,” so called (Newport News), was very grand. The large shot of the “Monitor” would strike the sides of the earthworks, and throw up vast columns of dust and sand high into the air, while the shells from the frigates and gunboats were exploding rapidly among the branches of the forest-trees, tearing away great pieces of their trunks, and scattering the fragments in all directions. At short intervals, a long flash of flame and column of smoke would dart out of the embrasures of the hostile works, showing that the enemy was not disposed to yield his position.
After this bombardment had been going on for an hour or more, the “Merrimack” was seen coming down the Elizabeth, and when within a mile of the Point, every vessel of the Federal fleet turned suddenly and went toward the fortress. The ram attempted no pursuit, but sailed down toward the Point and remained stationary for a few moments; when, as suddenly as they had retreated, the Federal vessels began to return, whereupon the “Merrimack” retired, and the bombardment of the land-batteries was renewed, continuing till well into the evening, but with no decisive results.