The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-12

cruise of the Merrmac In April, 1851, she lying
Norfolk awaiting her battery and the repair Of her
engines to enable her proceed 10 While the ex
traordnary events pointing 10 hostities which have
hitherto been narrated occurring, fears were ex
cited The safety OF the Msrrmac well the other
vessels OF war at Norfolk and IL determined by
the department to get her ready possible, and
have her taken gu. ard around 10 Philadelphia. with
that view the Secretary OF the Navy despatched Engi
necr in Chief 3D. + Sherwood TO Norfolk on the 18th Of
April with written orders of that date TO Captain Nc
Cauey have the Merrinac removed from Norfolk 10
Philadelphia with the despatch, and to have Mr.
hsrwood's suggestions for that end promptly carried
into effect. Mr. sherwood directed to put her ma
chinsry in order possible and was accom-
panied by Commander Alden, OF the navy who was in
structed take command Of the ship when ready for
sea, and bring her around Philadelphia. sr. lshs'
wood arrived at Norfolk Sunday morning April IA and
in company with Mr. Dandy. the chief engineer u the
yard immed ately made q survey of the Merrimac On
Monday morning the work was commenced on her,
under Mr.. Isherwoods direction, and continued
to DO steadily urged day and night, till Wednes
day afternoon the nth of April, when the machinery
in state Of readiness to steam to Philadelphia but
owing to circumstances which not yet very clearly
stated she was finally scuttcd and sunk by United
States officers be clothed afterwards by the
Of the country with that heavy of iron which
dered formidable TO destroy, recently, with
worry little EFFORT Of most valuable ships wei
endapgering Soon ator the rebels took
possession OF the yard the Merrimac raised and
converted into iron plated manof war Of the most
formidable character having cost the rebel government
Sls5 ,OCO. Immediately after being raised she
placed upon the dry dock, and covered with santng
roof Of railroad three inches thick the weight of
which nearly broke her down upon the dock SO that it
was found almost difficult to launch her as
ba nvy;,
mscaculation when launched she sank four feet
deeper than before. and took considerable She
was in consequence obliged to be locked second me
being hogged aud otherwise injured in the operation
the Southern newspapers pronounced her failure.
Her hull was cut down to within three feet
OF her water mark, over which tho bomb
proof house, before mentioned, covered her gun
deck. She also ron-pated, and her bow and
steel clad, with projecting angle OF iron for the
purpose Of piercing vessel. She had no masts, and
nothing be her gun deck but tho
pilot house and smoke stack. Her bombprOof three
inches thick and consisted of wrought iron. Her
mont at the time Of her engagement with the Gambler
land Congress and Monitor consisted OF four eleven
inch navy guns broadside and two hundred FOUNDER
Armstrong guns At the bow and stern. Last November
she made trial trip from Norfolk, running down
close to Fortress Monroe to be with the naked
eye but ventured no nearer Although she was looked
upon by the rebels very tough customer for vessel
vessels not protected she was she remained
tive, anchored of Norfolk, until her engagement, off
Hampton Roads, with tho Monitor.
Her engagement with the Cumberland and Congress
the sh Of last March, proved how formidable engine
Of war she made, resulting in the destruction Of the
two magnificent Ships and the death Of many Of the
nobicst and Drayest men who trod the deck Of
man.of-war. Her engagement on the following day
would doubt, have been disastrous to
ing vessels had the little Monitor arrived oppor.
timely which vessel, after sharp encounter, in which
she and the Merrimac frequently not than
thirty forty yards apart disabled the Merrmac
forced her to retire under the protection Of the gus
at sewalls Point In this engagement the Merrmac,
it il said lost hor stecclad prov striking the nitor
santng blow. Shortly after her engagement with the
Monitor she towed back 70 the Norfolk Navy Yard
to repair her damages, where she received for
midab!e rrow also heavier armament. The Charles
ton Mercury speaking Of her while she was being re.
| paired, says
The Virginia is row in thu dry dock for repairs Her
iron pates said to nave wihstood, with the most
complete the effects Of the terrific cannonading
the enemy OF the sections only being rive.i.
Her smoke stack aud ventlators riddlsd by the
enemy's balls, 10 awe them the appearance, as
our informant describes them, OF bug nutmeg graers
We are glad Learn from the Norfolk Day Book that
hs Iarse gun, recently cast in Richmond for the vr-
gnia has been placed in It's position board that
TIE shot Is Of wrought iron lorg and has steel point
This point not conicai, the ricd cannon
ball. but shaped like that OF the ordinary instrument
for pugchng iron. Recent experiments show this be
a very Ugly weap against thick iron plates. The
gnn Tor this rroectie, with the two Armstrong
guns put aboard the Virginia since her return from
Newters News, gives her one Of the most formidable
batteries in the world in addition 10 her being perfectly
shot and she'll proof
Since completed her repairs nothing Of any irnme
diste transpired until yesterday morning. when
we wc.s suddenly apprscd OF hor total destruction by
the rebels having been blown up minutes TO five
o'clock that morning.
Tie following is. far learn a list OF her
officers
acknowledgements Tatnall.
Firs Lt1a.n0nt ord Ersesascs Cbc,-C. Ap r. Jones.
Lie1aenGntS-C Z. Simns, first div sicn; H. Davidson,
secopd division, J. T. Wood. third division J. r. Egg
glesion, T urth division w T.. Butt. Il TIA division.
Ccgt1tn-R. I. Thorn, G. 5. NJ. c., sixth division.
PGpsd&er-Sempe, shot AM shell division.
Flte e;rgeon-p. Is. Phillips.
Assistant Sur eor--A. s. Garrett.
Csief FRluater-W. A. Ramsey.
Idar-William Parrish.
Kidshj mer--Foute, Marmaduke, (wounded), Little.
page Long, Craig Rootcs.
Flag Ct-er's Clerk-A Sinclair
Eng'neers-First, Iynans; second, Campbell; Third,
Herring.
Pdgm0sss's c1eri-A. Upright
Bcd1sfcos--C. Hasse..
GaERey-C. u, Oliver.
CdrIcgtT-Liulsay
f'.los-Goo. Wright, H. Williams, 7 Cunningham W.
Clark.