Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-11
1t can not be denied that the campaign

1t can not be denied that the campaign of
that marine monster. the Merrimac against
our fleet in Hampton Roads, was success.
She destroyed the twenty-tour gun sloop of
war Cumberland, and the fifty gun frigate
Congress. They were both old sailing vessels
but they were still useful, and the loss is not
a small one. Nevertheless, it is sometimes
true that what we consider loss becomes in
reality gains
1t is unfortunately true that many of our
naval officers needed the lesson so forcibly
taught them by the Merrimae. They have
very actively opposed every improvement
proposed for the construction and armament
of ships OF war. Many of our naval officers
have expressed great contempt for rifled can
non, and most of them have dune what they
could to prevent the adoption by the govern
ment Of such novelties the iron clad steam
batteries OF Ericsson and Stevens Committees
of naval officers have reported against such
things, and even the Ericsson battery, whose
timely arrival in Hampton Roads saved the
best vessels of the feet from destruction, went
there on trial. After long discussion and
much vehement objection, the influence of old
fogy naval officers was SO far overcome that
the government agreed to try the Ericsson
battery, and take it if it should be found sue.
cessiul. The success is already fact accom-.
plished.
Ii the raid of the Merrimac and the wonder
full performance of that little Ericsson steamer
lead to a change of policy in regard to IRON
clad batteries and steamers, the gain will be in
calculably greater than the loss. Nothing but
the most incorrgible stupidity will hereafter
undertake to exclude ir3m the navy such YES
sells as the Monitor. A dozen such vessels
would be more than match for all the rest of
our navy. There was nothing to hinder the
Merrimac from destroying every vessel in
Hampton Roads until the Monitor arrived.
And having disabled all our men of,war there,
she might have gone up the Potomac 10 Wash
ington clearing the river OF our gunboats as she
went up. 1t is not difficult TO fancy what size
might have done at Washington and Alexan-
dria. Some of the New York papers, being
greatly excited, believe she would have made
her way TO Philadelphia and New York,
defying all the forts, and carrying destruction
wherever she went. This is not probable.
1t is not likely that the Merrimac could live
long in heavy sea. But an Ericsson OF
Stevens battery could do all that excited
fancy has imputed to that frightful monde
script.
fleet of such batteries could go defiantly
past forts and batteries to Charleston, Savan
nah, Mobile, or New Orleans. They could
destroy any ordinary fleet that should attemp
to blockade our ports, and they would furnish
us the surest ard speediest means for matchin,
the naval power of Eng land or France. TIL
old fogies in the navy do not understand suc
vessels. They could not work them success
fully, for they have neither knowledge an
skill beyond the old methods, just as they
not understand rified cannon and many othe
improvements in the art Of naval warfare
The navy itself would not lose much, if al
men Of this sort should be packed in some O
the rotten old sailing vessels and sent to figh
the Merrimac.