New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-03-19
The Victory of Hampton Roads,
From The Richa.ond Enquir r. March llth


The victory won on the waters of Hampton
Roads. on Saturday.and Sunday last, is one which,
| lor cclat, is without parallel in the annals Of
| naval achievements. Ole vessel has, in open en-
counter, destroyed two, perhaps three of the
choicest vessels Of the enemy, with very slight
injury to herself! The Virginia was indeed zeal
ously supported by tic Patrick Henry and other
slight steamers but the hrunt of the fight fell on
her-,he blows which won the victory came from
her. Some account Of this vessel will be interest
ing in this hour of her fame.
The Vrginia-known then as the Merrimac--j
was burned to the waters edge by the enemy, and
sunk at the time of the ca ptrre by onr forces of
the Portsmouth Navy Yard. on the Goth April
last The hull was subsequently raised, and built
upon, after q plan conceived and suggested by
Lieutenant John NJ. Brooke, of the Confederate
States Navy This plan entire novelty in
the history Of naval architecture 1t provided for
the submergng of as much of the structure as
possible, including both bow and stern, aud max
Gg the rest invuerable to the shot of the enemy,
| by an iron covering. Armed with The largest guns
herself, and with the bow 80 contrived as to make
! her very formidable ram, the Virginia was
sent out to Try her prowesS upon the enemy.
Naval Constructor .Iobn l., Porter and Chief En-
gineer William p. williamson, deserve also much
credit for valuable suggestions, and for efficient
services during the construction Of the vessel. As
showing the amount Of labor NECESSARY for the full
equipment of this unique vessel itrnay be stated
that twelve hundred men have been thus employed
constantly for six months past. Much of the work
was done in Ricbmnnd. This simple statement
vii! show how unfOunded have been the complaints
that the Navy Department was showing no energy
in the matter. The trumpets, indeed, were not
sounded nor the bells rung at every step Of pro-
grcss. The department did not even stop to an.
swer the allcga that the whole scheme was an
| expensive abortion but quietly, and with the en-
crgy We have described it pressed forward the
vast work. and to-day it is permitted to'rejoice in
| success equal to its most sangnine hopes. Many
times over did the Virginia pay for herself on her
first day. adventure!
The crew OF the Virginia numbers in full com
I'm irtl
| and twenty five. Her armament Is twelve heavy
guns IL is not believed that her was entirely
| tall IN her late adventure. She was commanded
by Captain and Flag officer Franklin Buchanan.
When the gallant captain started on his expedition
he addressed his men in few words, to the effect
| that he was bound To say to them that they wera
going upon an experiment: that he could not tell
| them whether he was taking them to glory or to
| DEATH that it only remained for them to test it !;
| that one thing he could promise them-they should
| not complain that he had not taken them near
enough to the enemy. If the gallant flag officer
| and his hero followers could hear the joyons ac-
| CARNATIONS which are rising all over our land AS
the news spreads of their beautiful achievement
they would realize that the captains doubt is ended
now, and that their measure of fame is as full as
| the gratitude and admiration of their countrymen
| can make it. 1t is victory which will shine on
the pages of hi:tory, where at present it has not
| its parallel.
The two frgates Congress and Cumberland Nle
latter razeed) which destroyed the first day
involved loss to our enemies of million Of
armament of heavy guns. 1t is thought that she
was under the command of Commander William
Smith, U. S. N The Congress is thought TO have
been under the command of Commander Liv-
ingston.
The Minnesota, which was greatly crippled, if
not destroyed, was one Of the very best steamers
of the ,encmy's navy. She was nearly new,
| and built at a cost, for hull and machinery OF
ss46,00o. Armament and stores of all kinds car
ried her value up to about eleven hundred thousand
dollars. She was the lag ship of Commodore
| Goldshorough, and it is to be hoped that he at
| his post. This splendid steamer, which had been
| run ashore and greatly damaged during the fight,
was reported to have been blown up by her own
officers at O'Clock Monday morning, to prevent
| our gaining possession. We learned, however, by
passengers from Norfolk on yesterday evening,
| that she was lugged off on yesterday morning. and
| towed to Fortress Monroe.
Thns three magnificent vessels, worth more than
| two million dollars, have fallen, Or been disabled
before the attack of our floating battery! We re-
ioice in this result for its material value. We re-
| j0ice because it is a victory the water. We
| rejoice because it is triumph of Southern skill
| and ingenuity; we trust it will provoke many l-
| itations by land and by sea. We rejoice for the
| fame which our flag has won. Most heartily do
we congratulate the gallant men who went forth
upon au experiment. with their lives in their hands,
but returned with laurels such naval hero never
| Dlucked against such odds before.
Let this triumph not lull US into idle Fluctuations,
but incite us to new energies. The enemy will at.
tempt to retrieve his shame by some desperate en-
| deayor. Let us be vigilant And let us be en-
couroged to fresh diligence. The sound of the
hammer should be heard night and day. in our
ship yards and the ring of the anviIs in all our fac
| tories. Bombproos and casemates should he pro-
| vided for every open battery, and our waters
should be blocked against incusions of the pirates
| Fling trees into our rivers drive piles-auy thing
| that will bar delay the enemy. And let our
forces land answer back in deeds to this greet
| ing from the waters, and send meet response to
| the victors Of Hampton Roads.
| AT the time of writing this, we are without de-
ia tn tha m nj lad and
| wounded, etc.