Smith, Asa, fl. 1861-1862 to his mother

Not signed by Asa Smith. Says they are to remain there because of the "Monitor" and that if they can get through tonight they will be secure. Describes the sinking of the "Cumberland" and the burning of the "Congress" by the "Merrimac." Says the broadside from the Union ships "glanced off without doing much of any damaged and this seemed to satisfy them that our vessels could not hurt them." Says the "Cumberland" went down gloriously, firing her aft guns as the bow went under. Report that "During the evening or camp was full of sailors, and they were the hardest looking set of men I ever saw[,] many of them covered with blood." Says he saw one of the captains of the guns on the Congress and that he was covered head to foot in blood and that there were clots of brains spattered on his face. Written at Camp Hamilton.