At about twelve o’clock, while the “Monitor” was apparently resting, being separated by the distance of a mile from her antagonist, the “Merrimack” made a sudden movement towards the “Minnesota.” The tide being at its height, it was doubtless supposed by the enemy that he could reach the frigate, and give her a death-blow with his prow. The “Minnesota” opened upon the enemy with all her broadside guns and ten-inch pivot; “a broadside,” says Captain Van Brunt in his report, “that would have blown out of the water any timber-built ship in the world.” The “Merrimack” replied with her rifled bow gun “with a shell which passed through the chief engineer’s stateroom, through the engineer’s messroom amidships, and burst in the boatswain’s room, tearing four rooms all into one; in its passage, exploding two charges of powder, which set the ship on fire.”[26]... The fire was quickly extinguished; but the alarm of fire having reached the ears of the men, great consternation prevailed for several minutes. A second shot from the ram went through the boiler of the gunboat “Dragon,” which lay near the “Minnesota,” exploding it, and badly scalding and wounding a number of our sailors. The position of the enemy was now such as to enable the “Minnesota” to concentrate upon him a heavy fire from her gun-deck, spar-deck, and forecastle pivot-guns; and it was stated by the marine officer of the frigate, who was stationed on the poop, that at least fifty solid shot struck the slanting side of the “Merrimack” during this fire, but without producing any apparent effect.
By the time the “Merrimack” had fired her third shot at the “Minnesota,” the “Monitor” had reached the scene of action, and immediately ran in between the two vessels, covering by her turret, as far as possible, the already badly-injured frigate. This movement of the “Monitor” caused the “Merrimack” to change her position, in doing which she grounded. Again the frigate, aided by the “Monitor,” poured into the ram every available gun; but the stanch iron-clad withstood the combined fire of both our vessels, and in the course of a few minutes floated, shaping her course down the bay, being closely followed by the “Monitor.” In the course of this pursuit, the “Merrimack” suddenly turned, and with full head of steam, struck the “Monitor” for the second time with her prow; but the blow produced no effect, while the “Monitor” fired a solid shot that plunged into the enemy’s roof. Then followed a cannonade more desperate, if possible, than any which had preceded it. The “Merrimack” brought four of her guns to bear upon the “Monitor’s” turret and pilot-house. In the latter was Lieutenant Worden, watching the progress of the battle. An immense solid shot struck the house with such force as to loosen the cement about the inside of the structure, and set in motion a fragment of it, which struck the gallant lieutenant in one of his eyes. The concussion and the blow completely stunned him, rendered him senseless, and disabled him for further duty during the battle. Soon after this accident, the “Monitor” stood down for Fortress Monroe, when the “Merrimack” and two of her consorts again turned toward the stranded frigate. Captain Van Brunt had nearly expended all his solid shot, his ship was already badly crippled, and his officers and men worn out by their excessive labor. It is no wonder, therefore, that when he saw the near prospect of another terrible struggle with the invulnerable enemy, that the thought of burning his vessel came into his mind, for, to use his language, “I determined never to give up the ship to the rebels.” Fortunately the “Merrimack” was satisfied that her efforts to further cripple our fleet could not succeed, and being herself more or less disabled, headed toward Norfolk, the “Monitor,” to the unspeakable joy of the spectators, starting in pursuit. The chase, which was continued for several miles, and then abandoned, was not attended with any tiring on the part of either vessel. This was the closing scene of this remarkable battle.