Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-18

Exploits Of the Merrimac.
TEE RulRT01E WILL PkslY
~ TAE SIEGE OF
TORKTOWcH. F..
NECESSITY OF MORE TROOPS

NECESSITY OF MORE TROOPS
Especial Conesr ondenes Of The Chicago Times.
WAsHnorox, April II.
The events Of last Friday, in Hamp.
den Roads, were such az ought to bring
blush Of shame to the cheek Of
every American. As the telegraph ha.
probably given you the government
version Of the affair, I propose to re.
late the facts As they actually occurred.
The two accounts will differ. Mine is
true. What the other is l will not say.
But do say that the patience and long
suffering OF the people Of this genera
ton have been tried till the limit Of en-
durance has been reached. They have
been 80 logged aud left 10 the dark by
senseless and reasonless censorship over
all news, and 80 often deceived by "ofi
cal" and "authorized" "war bulletins"
that they are justly incredulous OF oil
such statements.
The appearance Of the Merrimac had
been looked for, not tor days, but fo'
weeks. It was known at the Navy
Department that whatever injuries she
had received in her contest with the
Monitor had been repaired that the
vessel itself had been rendered stronger
than ever, and that her armament had
been greatly strengthened. The country
was POLITICALLY" assured that "all neces-
sary preparations had been made to give
her q suitable reception" wher ever she
should venture out again. The coun-
try was not permitted to know what
these preparations were but it was
assured that they we're sufficient to an
initiate and send to the bottom, not
only the Merrimac, but also any other
cockleboats Of like description that the
rebels might choose to bring on. The
country rested calmly on these assur-
ances. Con6ding, creduIous country !!
Well, the Merrimac has been out.
She has not been sunk nor annihilated.
She has Haunted her hateful rebel flag
full in the faces Of our feet. For Mint
hours she cruised about, attended by
the rebel steamers jamestown, York.
town, Teaser and Raleigh, and by seven
smaller gunboate, making q fleet Of
twelve vessels in all, with as much i'm
purity as if there we're no Union vessels
in sight, and finished her days perform
auce by capturing three valuable vessels,
all loaded with stores, the want of which
is now grievously felt by our brave and
accomplishing soldiers. Gen. Wool
stated that one of them was an empty
vessel. But he also stated that our
troops would meet with little or no op-
position on their way 10 Yorktown. He
did not intend to make an incorrec,
statement in either case. But in both
cases he was misinformed. Or, what is
far more probable, the telegraph has
been made to alter what he did say
The probability is that he stated tina,
our troops Oould meet with a formid
able opposition on their way to York
town, and that some "official" purpose
ly altered it so as to read that we would
not meet with much opposition. Blu,
to return to our muttons.
THIS explicit of the Mcrrimac was per
formed under clear sky and in bright
sunlight, and was witnessed by the
whole Union feet lying in the Roads,
Monitor and all. Yet they might have
been SO many logs of wood for all the
good they did. Hero was the oppor-
tunity for which, the country has been
Officially" informed, they had been
painting Tor weeks past, with steam up
and crews at quarters. Yet all they
could do was to send off a messenge,
to the Secretary Of the Navy for orders,
and await his reply. In the meantime,
the Merrin &C, disdaining to use sho,
against such adversaries, fired three
guns with blank cartridges at the Union
feet, and followed the other eleven rebel
vessels, and their Union prizes, into
Norfolk harbor. The stars and stripes
were hoised at half-mast on one OF the
prizes, and on another were dragged
astern in the water; and 60 the lebc,
| fleet returned.
No one can tell under what orders
the Union fleet acted. But will ven.
ture to say that, had the gallant Wor-
den been on board the Monitor. tn.
saucy Nlerrimac would not have got of
SO easily, and the three vessels would
not have been captured. Commodore
Tatnall commanded the Merrimac.
1t IS the opinion of army officers. who
are in position to speak understand.
ingly, that the next heard Of the Merri.
mac and her eleven attendan, vessels.
will be that they are up the York River
at Yorktown, plunging shells into on,
army before that place. Whether there
or not, 1t is certaio that tho rebel feet
Will play an important part somewhere
near Yorktown. 1t is in the power OF
the Union fleet to prevent this. Wheth.
er they will be permitted to do 40 q,
not: your readers will perhaps be
officially" informed. oe
The greatest indignation IL felt here
at the deception which has been nr.c
tlsed 10 regard to the recent battle =,
tittsburg. It is feared that the country
has been entirely misinformed a. to the
facts, which now appear to be radically
different from those "oficialIy" publish.
ed. Our troops remained master. 81
the field Of battle on Monday night, bu,
there was no pursuit, and the rebels re.
tired to their strong works at Corintb in
good order. The victory remains with
us, but it is . dearly bought one ard
our forces are in no condition to pursue,
a succession Of such victories a. that
| will not very soon term;noto ~.