one o'clock
The next morning , which was the 8th of March -- a date forever memorable in naval annals -- smoke was seen pouring out from the funnels of the Merrimac , and there were signs of activity on board the Patrick Henry , of six guns , and the Jamestown , Raleigh , Beaufort , and Teazer , little craft carrying one gun each , and at eleven o'clock they all moved down the inlet on which Norfolk is situated . The news that the Merrimac was going out to attack the enemy had now spread , and the whole population of Norfolk turned out and hastened down toward the mouth of the inlet on horseback , in vehicles , or on foot , while Vincent rode to the batteries on Sewell 's Point , nearly facing Fort Monroe . He left his horse at a farmhouse a quarter of a mile from the battery ; for Wildfire was always restless under fire , and it was probable that the batteries would take a share in the affair . At one o'clock some of the small Federal lookout launches were seen to be at work signaling , a bustle could be observed prevailing among the large ships over by the fortress , and it was evident that the Merrimac was visible to them as she came down the inlet . The Cumberland and Congress men-of-war moved out in that direction , and the Minnesota and the St. Lawrence , which were at anchor , got under weigh , assisted by steam-tugs . The Merrimac and the fleet of little gunboats were now visible from the battery , advancing against the Cumberland and Congress . The former opened fire upon her at a distance of a mile with her heavy pivot guns , but the Merrimac , without replying , continued her slow and steady course toward them .