Merrimac

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[FEBRUARY 15, 1862.

100

New Battery at Sewall's Point.

Elizabeth River.

Sloop of War "Germantown."

Sunken Light-ship.

Iron-clad Frigate " Merrimac."

Light Beacon.

Buoy.

Craney Island Battery.

THE IRON-CLAD FRIGATE " MERRIMAC," AND SLOOP OF WAR " GERMANTOWN," OFF CRANEY ISLAND.—[FROM A SKETCH BY OUR SPECIAL ARTIST.]

THE " MERRIMAC" COMING OUT.

OUR special correspondent at Fortress Monroe has lately had an opportunity of visiting Craney Island, and has sent us the sketch which we reproduce above. It represents the Merrimac and Germantown, both vessels stolen from our navy by the rebels, afloat and at anchor off Craney Island, and ready for an excursion toward Fortress Monroe and Newport News. It will be remembered that some weeks since we published a picture of the Merrimac in her new appearance, from a sketch drawn by a mechanic on board. It will be seen that her cut and rig are precisely what we depicted. She is understood to be iron-clad and to be armed with

ten ten-inch rifled guns. The Germantown carries twenty guns. Great preparations are said to be in progress at Fortress Monroe to sink both of them if they venture out.

We likewise publish below a picture of the BATTERY AT NEWPORT NEWS, which these ships would have to encounter if they try to come out. Our engraving is from a sketch by Mr. J. Kruse, Company K, New York First Volunteers. The battery is a powerful one, and reflects credit on the Vermont volunteers who originally commenced its construction.

A letter in the Herald says :

The latest intelligence we have from Secesh, by way of a flag of truce, is that an iron-clad vessel is lying off

Craney Island, evidently awaiting an opportunity to slip her cable, and either put to sea or else engage our vessels in the harbor. Great activity is observed by our fleet in the harbor, and should this rebel craft be so intrepid as to undertake so hazardous an expedition, she will find a warm reception. For the information of the rebels I will state that we have upward of two hundred guns on the shipping in the harbor, and about as many more on the parapets and water-battery of Fortress Monroe, which will not play an unimportant role in such an engagement. The batteries on the Rip Raps are also to be taken into consideration, and if the rebel craft should even reach this place she would be compelled to come between the Rip Rips and the fort, and then pass four first-class United States war vessels. General Mansfield received notice a day or two ago to be on the qui vive for an attack. The veteran General, of course, had his division in apple-pie order, and was prepared to give the enemy a cordial welcome of grape and canister.

We read in the Commercial Advertiser:

The naval officers at this station have trustworthy information that the Merrimac is actually ready for service. The sloop-of-war Plymouth is off Craney Island, and the rebels are removing the obstructions in the Elizabeth River, so as to allow the Merrimac to come down and go up to Newport News to engage the Cumberland and Congress, now stationed there. When the Merrimac comes out the Yorktown will come down the James River. It will be a tough engagement. The Merrimac mounts ten 100-pounders of the Armstrong pattern. The Plymouth mounts fourteen 9-inch navy guns. She will be assisted by a fleet of small boats, each armed with rifled guns.

We are ready for them. The ships here on our side are the Minnesota, 44; Roanoke, 44; Jamestown, 20; Monticello, 6; a bark, 6; and several tug-boats, each with rifled guns. At Newport News there are the Congress, 50; Cumberland, 24 ; and Dawn, 5.

THE UNION BATTERY AT NEWPORT NEWS.-[SKETCHED BY MR. J. KRUSE, COMPANY K, FIRST REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.]