gress, then opened a heavy fire upon that ship. Ere long the Merrimac's projectiles pierced through the frigate's wooden walls, and caused such destruction on board that her commander was obliged to strike his flag and surrender. 6. Captain Buchanan then ceased firing, and signalled the gunboat Beaufort, ordering Lieutenant Parker, her commander, to go on board the Congress and receive her flag, and to bring away all the officers and crew. Captain Smith and Lieutenant Prendergast, of the Congress, in reply to this latter summons, requested permission to remain on board their ship, in order to take care of the wounded, which was readily granted by Captain Buchanan. 7. At this juncture, however, the land batteries most injudiciously again opened fire upon the gunboat Beaufort, and although no casualty ensued therefrom, Captain Buchanan was so incensed that he ordered red-hot shot to be fired into the Congress to effect her total destruction. Just about this time, however, he was struck on the foot by a Minié bullet, and was obliged to hand over the command to his first lieutenant, Jones, to whom he gave stringent orders to sink the unfortunate Congress. The lieutenant executed this command to the letter; and, in spite of all the efforts of the enemy's frigate Minnesota, and of the Roanoke and Lawrence, to assist their stricken consort, the Congress was utterly destroyed. 8. Meanwhile, a feeling of prodigious excitement pervaded the crowd of spectators on shore. Two of the enemy's formidable frigates had already been destroyed by our iron scourge, and the next day, no doubt, she would effect the demolition of the enemy's remaining ships. Our sanguine people already indulged in pleasant anticipations of a re-opened intercourse with Europe. So certain, indeed, did many feel of the realization of their hopes, that they at once set about taking measures for the opening of the port preparatory to various mercantile speculations. They complacently dilated, too, upon the consequences that might be expected to ensue from the triumphal progress of the Merrimac to Washington, not doubting that she would destroy everything in her way thither. Probably but few were composed enough to sleep that night. Thousands, indeed, encamped on the shores of the bay, eagerly awaiting the dawn of day and the recommencement of the naval battle. 9. The day broke at last, and discovered an enormous assemblage of people awaiting the coming event in eager expectation. The enemy's frigates Roanoke and Lawrence had sought protection under the guns of Fort Monroe, but the colossal frigate Minnesota still lay quietly at anchor in the bay. Alongside of her, however, was to be seen a curious little craft of no particular form, resembling more a capsized whaler than anything else. By and by, the Merrimac steamed out into the bay toward her antagonist, amidst the vociferous cheers of the thousands collected on the shores. 10. Captain Buchanan had sent his gunboats Jamestown and Yorktown ahead to reconnoitre the strange-looking little craft. They approached her with the utmost caution, and, as they gradually drew near, she fired two shots at them from the enormous guns that now peeped from the turret on her deck, by way of welcome or warning; they received the compliment in the latter sense, and hastily retreated. The Merrimac now put on full steam, and bore down on her little enemy with the object of running her beak into her so as to sink her by sheer weight. 11. She had already got to within thirty yards' distance, and was preparing for the fatal thrust, when the Monitor twisted suddenly round, like a fish, and at the same moment discharged one of her heavy guns point blank at the Merrimac, to let her know that she had now to encounter a foe as formidable as herself. The Merrimac then slowly ranged alongside her diminutive antagonist, and both opened fire with ordnance of a more destructive character than had ever before been employed in naval encounters; 100 and 120 pound Armstrong and other equally powerful guns, discharging their fire at a distance of one hundred and fifty yards. But it was to little purpose, the balls glancing off equally from the iron sides of both ships. This useless cannonade continued for more than two hours, when another attempt was made by the Merrimac to run down her enemy; but the Monitor again skillfully avoided the intended shock, and managed, moreover, to send a shell through one of the port-holes of her antagonist, spreading death and destruction among the crew. The Merrimac now continued her fire with redoubled fury, but it was steadily replied to; and the commander of the Merrimac, seeing the impossibility of seriously damaging his opponent, at last veered round, and steamed away toward Norfolk, leaving the Monitor in possession of the waters which had been the scene of this unparalleled conflict. War-Pictures from the South. The Last Broadside.-Elizabeth T. P. Beach. [These verses were written to commemorate the heroism of the crew of the "Cumberland," who bravely fired a last broadside while the ship was sinking, in answer to the gallant hero, Lieutenant Morris, who shouted: "Shall we give them a broadside as she goes? "] SHALL We give them a broadside, my boys, as she goes? Shall we send yet another to tell, In iron-tongued words, to Columbia's foes, How bravely her sons say Farewell? Ay! what though we sink 'neath the turbulent wave, "Tis with DUTY and RIGHT at the helm; And over the form should the fierce waters rave, No tide can the spirit o'erwhelm ! For swift o'er the billows of Charon's dark stream We'll pass to the immortal shore, Where the waters of life in brilliancy beam, And the pure float in peace evermore. "Shall we give them a broadside once more, my brave men ?" "A broadside! A broadside! we'll give them again! "Haste! Haste!"—for amid all that battling din No blanching!-no faltering!-still fearless all seem; A flash! and a "Broadside!" a shout! a careen! The "Star-Spangled Banner" still floating above! Our Ensign of Glory, proud streaming in love, Bold hearts! mighty spirits! "tried gold" of our land! All honored, the noble-souled Cumberland band! So true in Columbia's need! Victories on the Mississippi.-The Union forces at the West, under General Pope, were victorious in March, taking New Madrid. Again they were victorious (April 7th), co-operating with Foote's gunboat fleet in the capture of Island No. 10, with six thousand prisoners. The gunboats then descended the Mississippi, defeating the Confederate fleet, near Fort Pillow. On the 6th of June, Commodore Davis, Foote's successor, gained a victory over the Confederate fleet at Memphis, the town in consequence falling into his hands. Battle of Shiloh.-Gen. Grant, after his victory at Fort Donelson, proceeded up the Tennessee. On the morning of the 6th of April, his army, while encamped at Shiloh (shi'lo), near Pittsburg Landing, was suddenly attacked by Gen. A. S. Johnston's army; and, after a contest which raged till near nightfall, the Union troops were driven to the river, where the gunboats aided them to keep the enemy in check. Gen. Johnston was killed. The arrival of reenforcements under Gen. Buell, enabled Grant to assume the offensive on the following day, and the Confederates, commanded by Beauregard, were driven toward Corinth. The forces engaged in this battle, on both sides, numbered more than a hundred thousand men; and the losses were severe, being not less than twenty thousand.* Capture of New Orleans.-In Louisiana, the Union cause met with a success of great importance. This was the capture of New Orleans, on the 25th of April. The Union fleet, commanded by Far'ra-gut and Porter, ascended the Mississippi, bombarding and then running past the Confederate forts. The city was reached, and Gen. Butler, taking formal possession, placed it under martial law. Defeat of General McClellan.-These great victories were counterbalanced by the ill success of McClellan, who had attempted to reach Richmond by the peninsula between the York and James Rivers.† Having arrived within a short distance of the city, he was suddenly attacked, at Fair Oaks, by the Confederates, where a bloody but indecisive contest took place (May 31). A movement of McClellan's to change his base of operations to the James River, * Rosecrans (roze'krants), commanding a division of Grant's army, defeated the Confederates in the battle of I-u-ka (Sept. 19), and in the battle of Corinth (Oct. 4). + The battle of Williamsburg was fought during the march (May 5). brought on a series of destructive battles, lasting through seven days (June 25– July 1), the result of which was to leave the Union army in a very weakened condition. In these conflicts the contending armies numbered together not less than two hundred thousand men; and their joint losses amounted to at least thirty thousand. Invasion of Maryland.—McClellan superseded.—Taking advantage of the weak condition of the Union army, the Confederates, under Gen. Lee, marched toward Washington; but were confronted by the forces of Gen. Banks and Gen. Pope. These were defeated, the latter in the second battle of Bull Run (Aug. 29th and 30th); and Lee crossed the Potomac into Maryland. Meanwhile, McClellan had been recalled from the James, and having assumed the command of the army in Maryland, defeated Lee, in the battle of South Mountain and in the greater conflict of Antietam (an-te'tam) (Sept. 17). Lee at once withdrew across the Potomac; but McClellan made no pursuit, and in November was superseded by Burnside. Barbara Frietchie.—Whittier. [It was during this invasion of Maryland, at the town of Frederick, in that State, that the interesting incident described in the following poem, by Whittier, occurred. It illustrated very impressively the affection at that period universally evinced by the loyal citizens of the Republic, for the national flag.] UP from the meadows rich with corn, The cluster'd spires of Frederick stand, Round about them orchards sweep, Fair as a garden of the Lord, To the eyes of the famish'd rebel horde, .On that pleasant morn of the early Fall, Over the mountains winding down, Horse and foot, into Frederick town. Forty flags with their silver stars, Flapp'd in the morning wind: the sun Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, |