368 The Story of the New England Whalers 



On March 8, 1862, the Cumberland was lying 

 at anchor just to the west of Newport News 

 Point, at Hampton Roads. The frigate Congress 

 was lying not far away, and at intervals up the 

 roads toward Fortress Monroe were a number of 

 other Union war-ships. Up the James River, and 

 just within the range of vision of the lookout of 

 the Cumberland, were a number of small Con- 

 federate steamers that had recently come down 

 the river and were lying at anchor as if meditating 

 a run through the blockade which the Cumber- 

 land and the other ships were maintaining. Lieu- 

 tenant George U. Morris, the executive officer, 

 was temporarily in command of the Cumberland, 

 the commander having been ordered elsewhere 

 for the day. 



It was a very quiet, pleasant day. The crew 

 of the Cumberland took in hand the laundry work 

 of the ship that morning, and when noon came 

 the clothes were on lines strung up in the rigging. 



For weeks past rumors about a Confederate 

 ironclad that was said to be building at Norfolk 

 had come to the fleet. "Contrabands," as the 

 runaway slaves were called, brought the rumors. 



