Running directly at the Cumberland, the ram struck her under the counter, sinking her in fifteen minutes. Turning to the Congress, which had slipped her cable and run ashore, the ram took a position under her stern at 50 yards distance, and forced her to surrender after a fight of an hour. Possession was not taken of her, and the ship was fired and deserted, blowing up in a few hours. The Minnesota having grounded where the Merrimac could not get at her, these two engaged at long range, the Roanoke and St. Lawrence taking part for about four hours, when the Merrimac drew out of action leaking badly from the effects of ramming the Cumberland. Federal loss: 2 sailing frigates; killed, 247; wounded, 90. _Roanoke River, April 18, 1864._ At 11 p.m. of the 18th the Confederate ram Albemarle was discovered coming down the Roanoke River. In obedience to previous instructions from the Admiral, the two gun-boats present (Miami, 12 guns, and Southfield, 4 guns) were lashed alongside each other to receive the attack, the intention being to put the ram between the two vessels, and while held by lashings fight her at point-blank on both sides. After lashing, the gun-boats were headed for the Albemarle, going full speed. The arrangement was perfect for a _test_ of the plan. The ram scraping the port side of the Miami with her prow, struck the starboard bow of the Southfield, staving her in forward; the forward lashings were broken, and the gun-boats swung out of the angle of fire after giving but one broadside. The ram backed clear to get room for a blow at the Miami, but the latter, having swung head down stream, escaped. The Southfield sank in about fifteen minutes. Federal loss: killed, 1; wounded, 11; missing, 67; 1 gun-boat sunk. _Albemarle Sound, May 5, 1864._ The squadron blockading Albemarle Sound had received orders that in case the ram Albemarle appeared, the vessels were to form in double line ahead. Guns. Miami 12 Ceres 4 Commodore Hull 6 Seymour 4 Mattabesset 6 Sassacus 6 Wyalusing 4 Whitehead 4