The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-09 00:00:00

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rebel fleet,
deeming that, should he succeed in getting hie
sonably be expected of them at one encounter, and antici-
pating that they would be much cut up in running the
gauntlet. Accordingly, as soon as the Tecumseh reached
the point abreast 01 the fort where the channel barns to the
north-west, hugging the east bank of the channel, as did
all the fleet in obedience to orders, she put her head out
directly for the rebel fleet and fired her third shot, aiming
at the Tennessee. She had proceeded but two or three
lengths on her new course when she struck the fatal tor-
pedo that terminated her career. It was a mournful, heart-
sickening sight to look upon the suddenness and complete-
ness of this catastrophe. The explosicn of the torpedo was
unheard where I lay, but the agitation and npheaving
of the water about the starboard bo indicated
some dreadful calamity. The little Monitor is
hit,' some one cried. Immediately every glass was
brought to bear upon her. Some one else cried out,
' It's a torpedo—she is going down l' Instantly she appeared
on her port beam, bows well up, and then rolled over com-
pletely bottom up, so as to show the entire of her hull, and
sunk from view. The terrible tragedy was completed within
the space of one minute. Attended by the deafening roar of
hundreds of cannon and shells bursting over and about her,
surrounded by the utmost din of a terrible battle, that little
craft went to the bottom, carrying with her upwards of 100
brave men, whom she had thus far borne in perfect safety
through it all. Her caree was ended; but by no means yet
recognised in honourable warfare was she destroyed. As
gallant a crew as ever manned a ship perished ; but the
ignoble means that murdered them early in the action only
added increased lustre to the laurels that should for ever
adorn the memory of them. They gave themselves a sacri-
fice to their country. They met the fate they had some rea-
son to expect, and by bravely confronting it averted it from
others. It was an heroic act to lead that fleet through
those dangers. None but heroes would have ventured
upon such a duty. As heroes, then, they died, and were
buried in their deep blue sea with more than a hero's
salute. They died as they would have wished to die, and
their country will cherish the fame they so gallantly won.
From the bubbling waters that marked the spot of
the frightful catastrophe there rose to the surface
thirteen men, the sole survivors of the gallant crew.
Two were subordinate officers, the rest the humble Jacks
who have made the American navy our pride and boast.
Nine of these were rescued by a small boat. which nobly
put away from the gunboat Metacomet to rescue them.
and four swam to the shore and were made prisoners by the
murderers of their comrades. The effect of the disaster was
most demoralising to those who witnessed it. Every body
was appalled. It was so sudden, so tearful in its nature,
that the stoutest heart might well quail. Fortunately only
the commanders and pilots of the companion Monitors saw
the fearful spectacle, their crews being below, where nothing
is seen or known. These vessels slackened speed a little,
and hauled close into the shore. The Brooklyn saw it with
all her crew, upon whom it had full effect. They were
brave men on that ship, not liable to give way to fears or
foolish apprehensions, yet this was a moment to try men's
souls. Responsibilities were not to be rashly assumed
under such terribly threatening circumstances. That fatal
spot might mark a barrier beyond which no vessel could
pass in safety. Would it be right for the commander of a
ship to rush ahead into such danger without notifying his
superior? It was not a lack of courage, nor was it an evi-
dence of weakness, or indecision, that the commander of
the Brooklyn stopped and signalled back to the admiral—
"We have lost our best monitor"—it was simply the dis-
charge of his duty. Had it rested .eith him to determine
the course to pursue under the circumstances ho would
doubtless have been fully equal to the occasion.
After detailing the dispersion of the Confederate
fleet, the same correspondent gives an account of
the attack made by the Confederate ram Tennessee.
He says :
The helm of the Hartford was put hard sport, her ma-
chinery started, she described a segment of &circle, and just
as Buchanan (the captain of the Tennessee) had thought to
strike her squarely amidship and cut her in two, as she was
capable of doing, the towering prow of the noble old ship
struck him a tremendous blow on his port quarter forward
that knocked every man aboard his craft off his feet, The
force of the collision checked the headway of both vessels.
The blovrgiven by the Hartford was a glancing one, and
the two vessels came up broadside to broadside. At this
moment a full broadside from the Hartford was let go at
her antagonist, but it was like throwing rubber balls against
a brick wall. Those heavy 9-inch solid shot, though the
muzzles of the guns which fired them were scarcely 10 feet
kom the target, bounded away from the sides of the rebel
Monitor, and flew high in the Mr in all directions, having
tailed to leave more than a alight indentation in her iron to
show where they had struck. Simultaneously with this fear-
ful discharge Buchanan threw open his ports and discharged
his broadside of four Brooks' rifles, which passed completely
through the Hartford and expended their force in the water
beyond. Such was the relative fighting and resisting qua-
lities of the two vessels. The Tennessee immediately put
on steam again and started to try her strength with some
other of the wooden ships. The Brooklyn lay nearest, and
for that vessel she headed. Here she was met with almost
precisely the same reception as with the Hartford. In-
stead of butting, she received a butt ; both vessels came
together broadside to broadside ; both broadsides were
discharged, and the ram went on her way to try a third. In
this manner she encountered the Richmond, the Lacha-
wanna, the Oneida, and others, in each case with exactly
the same result. And then she turned to run back through
the fleet. She had tested their metal; her sides were some-
what bruised; but she had suffered no damage whatever.
But for the limit of the powers of endurance of her crew in
the heated atmosphere beneath her close casemates, she
could stand this manner of fighting all day and not be hurt."
The daring Confederate had then to run the
gauntlet of the entire Federal fleet of monitors
In this promiscuous fighting it was difficult to tell
which of the vessels was doing the best work or which
was receiving the moat damage. All the wooden ships
were suffering too much to admit of such a mode of
fighting being continued. Farragut's ready resources
supplied a change of tactics at the opportune time. The
vessels were put in motion, describing a circle about the
rebel, the sloops and Monitors being directed to ram her
every time they came around. That order of battle was
quickly put into execution, and was productive of the most
throwinggratifying
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and whenever the chance offered running iner to get a butt at
her. In this way the plucky fellow was terribly used,
Every time ono of the sloops came on to him the concussion
was such as to throw her crew off their feet. The scene
aboard the Tennessee at this time is described by her offi-
cers as fearfully confused. The frequency with which she
was rammed and the continuous artillery fire that was
rained upon her so demoralised her men that they could not
be kept at their guns. A panic seemed to prevail among
them, and,although as yet none had been hurt, they begged
to surrender, fearing, at every now shock, that they would
bo sent to the bottom. And had they been less demo-
ralised they could under the existing circumstances have
inflicted but trifling more damage on us because of the course
pursued by Farragut, which prevented them from getting
range upon our ships or or attempting to run them down.
The number pitted against the rebel was so great that he
could only remain passive, and occasionally, comfort
the fears of his men and coax them to quarters, let fly a
broadside. I cannot attempt to describe the work of each
vessel in that mixed encounter. For half an hour it was
utterly impossible to distinguish one from another in the
yoked,istthsencceonatwinauy:
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the strife. Occasionally the Tennessee could be made out,
apparently endeavouring to escape her tormentors, when an
unlocked for enemy, striking her on the quarter,
throw her out of her course, and compel her to remain and
face the music. During this exciting melee the Manhattan
got one good shot in directly at her broadside. The huge
bolt of iron struck fairly at the lower angle of her heavy
casemates and penetrated into the inside, spending its force
in the effort. This was the only shot that ever passed
through her iron. It seemed and was truly wonderful that
a craft of any kind could so long hold out against such odds
in number, and against such a terrible cannonading and
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Otherwise he was as good for the fight, as when it commenced.
At 10 o'clock, however, this formidable craft was obliged to
succumb, after a fight of rather more than an hour. The
Monitor Chickasaw, in her round made a dash to ram the
Tennessee amidships which the latter avoided by moving
slightly ahead. As the Monitor passed closely under her
stern the two 11-inch guns of her bow turret were let go.
The effect was terrible. One shot took away the ernok stack
of the rebel close to her deck, The other struck her stern-
port cover, and jammed it so as to render it immovable. At
the moment it was half open, not far enough to ran the
gun out, nor closed sufficiently to afford protection. The
disaster was reported to Buchanan, who ran aft with his
chief engineer to direct repairs. A man was standing in
the port working at the cover, the admiral and his engi-
neer just inside giving directions, when the Chickasaw,
having passed a short distance ahead, discharged the guns
of her after turret at the same mark. One shot entered the
port-hole, striking the wood work of the casemate on the
edge of the port-hole, and scattering splinters in all direct•
tions. The poor fellow who was at work adjusting the port
cover was blown to pieces. A large splinter struck Buchanan
in his right leg, just below the knee, shattering the
bones. Another seaman, standing near the admiral, was
badly wounded. The same shot from the Chickasaw struck
the casemate directly over the point where the tiller chain
passes down, jamming the chain so as to render it immov-
able. In their efforts to release this the chain parted, leaving
the ship unmanageable and at our mercy. In this emer-
gency Buchanan directed his flag to be struck, the Chicka •
saw having the glory of receiving the surrender of the ship.
When it was reported to Admiral Farragut that the rebel
had surrendered, and that Buchanan was wounded, he sent
a staff uffl,wi uff to ico.ivn the rebel admiral's sword. Same
one asked Farragut if he would not go off himself and see
Buchanan. The former merely replied, ' No, sir, he is my
enemy.' Subsequently, when the staff officer returned wart
Buchanan's sword, it was represented to the admiral that
Buchanan had expressed a wish to see him. ' Well, sir, he
shan't see me,' replied the old Salamander. Then looking
along the bloody decks of his ship, he added, I suppose he
would be friends ; but with these brave men, my comrades,
mangled, dying, and dead about me, and looking upon the
destruction he has caused in this fleet, I can only consider
him an enemy. "