The morning was still and calm as that of a Sabbath-day. That the _Merrimac_ was not expected was evidenced by the boats at the booms, and the sailors’ clothes still hanging in the rigging of the enemy’s vessels. “Did they see the long, dark hull? Had they made it out? Was it ignorance, apathy, or composure that made them so indifferent? or were they provided with torpedoes, which could sink even the _Merrimac_ in a minute?” were questions mooted on the Southern side by those watching on board the boats and from the shore. As soon, however, as she was plainly discerned, the crews of the _Cumberland_, _Congress_, and other vessels were beat to quarters, and preparations made for the fight. “The engagement,” wrote the Confederate Secretary of the Navy, “commenced at half-past three p.m., and at four p.m. Captain Buchanan had sunk the _Cumberland_, captured and burned the _Congress_, disabled and driven the _Minnesota_ ashore, and defeated the _St. Lawrence_ and _Roanoake_, which sought shelter under the guns of Fortress Monroe. Two of the enemy’s small steamers were blown up, and the two transport steamers were captured.” This, as will be seen, must, as regards time, be taken _cum grano salis_, but in its main points is correct. The _Merrimac_ commenced the action by discharging a broadside at the _Congress_, one shell from which killed or disabled a number of men at the guns, and then kept on towards the _Cumberland_, which she approached with full steam on, striking her on the port side near the bow, her stem knocking two of the ports into one, and her ram striking the vessel under the water-line. Almost instantaneously a large shell was discharged from her forward gun, which raked the gun-deck of the doomed ship, and killed ten men. Five minutes later the ship began to sink by the head, a large hole having been made by the point of the ram, through which the water rushed in. As the _Merrimac_ rounded and rapidly came up again, she once more raked the _Cumberland_, killing or wounding sixteen more men. Meantime the latter was endeavouring to defend herself, and poured broadside after broadside into the _Merrimac_; but the balls, as one of the survivors tells us, bounced “upon her mailed sides like india-rubber, apparently making not the least impression except to cut off her flagstaff, and thus bring down the Confederate colours. None of her crew ventured at that time on her outside to replace them, and she fought thenceforward with only her pennant flying.”(18) Shortly after this, the _Merrimac_ again attacked the unfortunate ship, advancing with her greatest speed, her ram making another hole below the water-line. The _Cumberland_ began to fill rapidly. The scene on board is hardly to be described in words. It was one of horrible desperation and fruitless heroism. The decks were slippery with human gore; shreds of human flesh, and portions of the body, arms, legs, and headless trunks were scattered everywhere.