However, on the 8th of March the _Merrimac_ left Norfolk, accompanied by two other war vessels--the _Jamestown_ and _Yorktown_--and followed by a little fleet of armed tugs. She was heading for Newport News, where there was a Federal garrison, guarded by the sailing frigates the _Cumberland_ and the _Congress_, which rode at anchor within half a mile of the shore battery. Their boats were hanging at the booms, and the week’s washing fluttered in the rigging--as peaceful a scene as could be imagined. But the look-out on Fortress Monroe caught sight of a monster vessel ploughing the waves, and signalled to the war-ships to get under way. The _Minnesota_ had her steam up and soon went off towards Newport News, where the _Cumberland_ and _Congress_ lay on blockading duty. The crew of the _Cumberland_, seeing a strange ship come round Craney Island, recognized her as the expected ironclad. All hands were beat to quarters, and the _Cumberland_ swung across the channel in order to bring her broadside to bear. The slanting roof of the _Merrimac_ puzzled them, and the long iron ram churned up the water as she advanced relentlessly and in silence. At the distance of a mile the _Cumberland_ began to use her pivot guns, but the _Merrimac_ made no reply, only steamed majestically on, though broadside after broadside was poured upon her like hail; but the heavy shot glanced off harmlessly, and ever the _Merrimac_ came closer and closer. As she passed the _Congress_ the _Merrimac_ fired one broadside, and then, leaving her to the tender mercies of the _Jamestown_ and the _Yorktown_, made straight for the _Cumberland_. Both the Federal ships discharged their broadsides against the armoured monster. She just quivered under the blow and came on in silence. The National battery at Newport News opened upon her at point-blank range, and every man on board the _Cumberland_ drew a breath of relief. “Now,” they thought, “our massive guns will teach her a lesson.” But it seemed as if the _Merrimac_ had received no damage. Not a soul could be seen on her decks, not a splinter on her sides; but she was coming towards them--coming madly, as it seemed, to destruction.