FORT MONROE, March 29.
On Friday evening the rebels threw a ball form one of the rifled guns at Sewall’s Point, which came within 300 yards of the shipping in the upper roadstead.
The Lincoln gun has been mounted, and this morning was tried in order to test the carriage. Only ten shots were fired. The second was a splendid ricochet shot – the immense ball, weighing 437 lbs., after making three plunges and renewed flights finally sunk away off near Sewall’s Point. If the Merrimac can stand ten of these Lincoln pills, as they are called here, she is proof against all appliances of modern gunnery.
There were some signs of activity to-day towards Norfolk. A steam tug came down to Sewall’s Point, and the smoke from a large vessel could be seen off above Craney Island. A propeller, apparently a gunboat, also came down the James river within about three miles of Newport News, and after reconnoitering apparently returned up the river.
The present high wind and low water, however forbids all expectation of the approach of the Merrimac until the storm is over.
NEW YORK, March 31.
No News in specials this morning.
The Times has the following: Capt. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, has returned to-day from a visit to Fort Monroe. He reports everything quiet there. The population has increased lately at the fort by persons drawn thither by a desire to see the approaching duel between the Merrimac and Monitor. Capt. Fox entertains doubts whether the Merrimac will again venture a fight in Hampton Roads.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 1, 1862, p. 2
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