eleven o'clock
The rifled gun on the _ Stevens _ burst and disabled her . The _ Galena _ was pierced by heavy shot and severely crippled , losing thirty-seven of her men . As the _ Monitor _ was built , it was impossible to make effective her guns at close range against the high bluff on which the Confederate battery was placed . At eleven o'clock the crippled fleet slowly moved down the river and Richmond was saved . * * * * * When Johnston in his retreat up the Peninsula reached the high ground near the Chickahominy river , he threw out his lines and prepared to give McClellan battle . He dispatched a messenger to the President at Richmond informing him of this fact . The Cabinet was in session .