Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-20
Interesting statement by one of the
Nicrrimae's Crew.

itor. having been impressed into the rebel |
navy, and had also been one of the crew of
the rebel gunboat, Lady Davis, during the
cruising of that vessel off Charleston and the
coast. Mr.. Thompson sailed from Bruins
wick, Maine, for Charleston in February
1861, and after his arrival in that port, was
with other scamen, forced into the rebel ma
val service. Afterwards, he was selected as
one of the special crew of the Merrimac and
was in her, working at the bow gun, during
her engagement with the Monitor. We sub
join some new and interesting particulars,
contained in his statement, as published in the
New York papers -
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONGRESS AND
CUMBERLAND.
Three days after l became one of the Mer-
rimac's crew we steamed down James river to
Hampton Roads. We passed the Cumbcr-
land and Congress frigates under full head
of steam, each of which gave us broadside
as we sped onward. This was about eleven
O'Clock on the morning Of the Sth of March.
After having passed these frigates we turned
round and made for the Cumberland. striking
her with our prov, and Immediately paid our
attentions to the Congress, which we served
in a similar manner. Previous to sinking the
Congress we sailed up to within mailing dis
lance of her, when commodore Buchanan
asked her commander if he would surrender
He was answered by short and determined
negative, when commodore Buchanan ordered
our starboard battery to open on her. 1t did
+l,1
side with our PROV most fearfully, which left
her in a sinking condition. The crew of the
Congress were soon up to their waists in wa
ter, but kept fighting us with most undaunted
bravery, giving us Il most fearful broadside
her crew cheering most Justify as she went
down. The Minnesota was at this time
aground off Sewall's Point, and kept up con-
slant firing at us all the time. Having sunk
these two vessels we steamed up James river,
the rebel officers being in high glee, and came
to an anchor about five miles from the
scene of action. Here we remained all night
On the morning Of the 9th we prepared to 90
down again, the rebel officers thinking to
complete the work Of destruction by sinking
all the vessels in the roads.
THE FIGHT WITH THE MONITOR.
When daylight came the officers of
the Merrimac discovered what they at
ing towards us. We hailed her, but receiving
no reply, let fly at her from one of our bow
guns but she very inpudently took no no.
tice of the messenger we had sent and kept
steaming on. Then our officers began to be
fearful of the ''little cheese-box," and were
''fairly trembling in their shoes for the result
of a contest with her. They soon found ont
lchat she 1cas. Soon the little Monitor sent us
her compliments in the shape OF round shot,
which struck a gun on our starboard side,
broke it completely in two, killed two and
wounded four of the crew. The firing was
then kept up for about three hours, the YES
sells being very often side by side. After an
hours firing the Merrimac thought to try the
virtue Of her PROV on her antagonist, and
struck her with it amidships The effect pro-
duced was very unsatisfactory to the rebels
however. The Monitor then turned on her
giant compcer, and struck her rudder, pro-
ducing great CONSERVATION on board, but not
rendering the rudder unserviceable. Every
time the two guns from the Monitor were dis
charged each Of the two shots seemed to strike
us in nearly the same spot, bursting in the
tmbcrs of the Merrimac, loosening the bolts
OF the iron plates and timbers and doing us
very great damage generally. 1t was noticea-
bic also that her shots struck US near the wa
ter line, and caused our vessel to leak badly.
The iron plates on the Merrimac were
welded together in many instances by the heat
and force of the Monitors shot. The -He17l-
macs crelc, during the engagement, Weg'e made
to s1reGr that If a large number Of the rebels
on Jodrd iceye killed, that Mey lcould not re-
real the .taet to aay one on their aariral at
Norfolk. Seeing that the tide of battle was
against we were ordered to 'bout ship"
and put back to Norfolk. We had not pro-
ceeded far when we grounded orders had
been dlyeady glren TO Scuttte the ship, rheH
IRE made another and last attempt to get off the
Shoal and succeeded, and we made our way
up to Norfolk slowly, arriving there at p NJ,
with about six feet Of water in the hold. At
ter reaching Norfolk the Merrimac went into
the dry dock for repairs, and for five weeks |
men were working on her night and day, Civ
ing her thorough Oyerhauling. While these |
repairs were going on great fear was express
ed that the Monitor might come up the Eliza
beth river and shell the city. If she had |
done so no resistance would or could have
been offered, and the evacuation of the bat
teries and the city was already decided on in
the event of her visit Commodore Buchan-
an was badly wounded in the thigh, and was
taken, Immediately on our arrival, to the hos
pital, where, at last accounts, he still remain
ed. After our return, commodore Tatnall
came from Savannah to command the Merri-
mac when she should be in sailing and fight
ing trim. Shortly after the vessel was taken
from the dry dock and placed in his charge
he received orders to go to Hampton Roads,
and, if possible, destroy the wooden vessels
of the United States fleet lying there; but af-
ter protesting awhile against such order with
out effect, he sent in his resignation, alleging
as a reason that, even should he succeed in
passing fortress Monroe and the Monitor, the
ultimate destruction of the Merrimac was
certain, and her loss would be attributable to
his Encouragement, and his prestige as a
naval officer would be gone.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAC.
The second time the Merrimac came down
into the roads was the day the United States
frigate Seminole sheled the Sewall's Point
battery. She lay of Craney Island, within
the range of and protected by the guns of that
work, without during to go within range of the
Monitor or Galena. AT one time If was sup
posed the United States iron gunboats were
! going up James River to silence the rebel bat
teries, and then it was the intention of the
Merrimacs officers to run her out, if possible,
| leaving the batteries to take care of them
| selves, and sink the wooden vessels of the fleet
in the roads, and take the chances" of getting
again within the protection of the guns at Cra-
ney Island. She lay off at anchor near Cra-
ney Island until Sunday morning MAY ID
when, Norfolk having been taken possession
of by the United States troops under General
| Wool we received orders to blow her up
This was doneby applying a slow match to her
magazine, her spar deck having been in the