Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-30
THE CONTEST BETWEEN THE MER-
RlMAC AND MONITOR.

RlMAC AND MONITOR.
The New York Herald contains the state
ment Il James Thompson, one Of the crew of
the Merrimac, in which he gives full ao-
count Of the engagement between the Merri-
mac aud Monitor at Hampton Roads. Mr..
Thompson is from Maine, and was a seaman,
in service at Charleston at the time the rebel
lion broke out, and was impressed into the
rebel service After the destruction OF the
Mcrrimac. he, with about two hundred Of the
Murrimac's crew (Which numbered in all
about four hundred and ffty,) deserted and
escaped to Norfolk where they delivered
themselves up to Gen. WOOL and took the
oath of allegiance. They are mostly foreign
ers. After giving brief account Of the de-
struction of the Congress by the iron-clad
monster, Mr.. Thompson proceeds to give the
following interesting account. Of the engage
ment with the little Monitor 1t is the first
authentic intelligence we have obtained from
the other side in that memorable contest:
On the morning Of the Oh we prepared to 60 down
again. the rebel officers thinking TO complete the work VI
destruction by sinking all the vessels n the roads When
daylight had revealed the situation Of affairs, the officers
of The Merrmac discovered what they first thought
was a small tug boat steaninq toward u.s. We hailed
her out receiving reply let ay at her from N
bow gums but she very impudcnuy took no notice Of the
messenger we had sent, and kept stcaming Then
"NI 'i1'l ',kAl 10 Oe ieaUul OF the niue euetse nuNt
ana were AIRY Trembling In their shoes for the result
OF "a contest with her Il cy soon found out what she
was soon lhe llte Monitor sent us hcf compliments no
shape ~ round sot which struck gun on OUT star
uo.td SIDE broke u completely in Two and killed two
ana wounded t'ut Of the crew. The firing was then
Kept UP for about three hours the vessels being often
soe Toy SIDE AMER an hour firing the Merrmac thought
ID wy we virtue OF hcr piow on her antagonist and
struck her with 1t amidships. The effect produced was
very unsatisfactory % the tehelsi however, Inc Mont
@ Then turned on her giant compcer and struck her rud-
ger, polAehs ge" eonsern Won on BOARD, nut not ren-
u'fnR mo fuldor uhservccahlc. Every time She two
guns from the Monitor were discharged each OF the two
sh"ia atcinei ll Ntitt uH healN ln tht same place.
nHtNnH lu the umpers or ihe Mefumae looseniuE the
damage generally lt was noticeable also tha her shots
struck U.S. near the waic-hnei aud CAUSED our vessel To
ltak badly
MI thompson als' cottoborates what VIC published
some llne since rom Inc Richmond Dispatch that The
non plates on ne Merim'c were welded to5c her in
many instances by he heat and force Of tho Monitors
shot The Acumac crew, during the enuagemcni,
were made 70 swear that II large number OF the rebels
on board were killed. ihey would not reveal The ct 10
any one on their arrival at Norfolk Seeing that the
ude 'i battle was against us We wore ordered 20 bout
snip ana put back % Notiok We hAd not proceeded
Ia Wheh we grounded ana orders had been already CIV
en- T. scute the ship when We made another and last ei
fort 10 get oil the sunal and succeeded, aud made
way up % Noif1lN slowly, arriving there at six ! NJ,
with about six feet of wa er IN the hold.
The rcuei steamer Patrick Henry, which bore down TO
the Monitor during ihc hight was driven back by shot
and having steam turned on her from the Monitors boil
e. she mad siN men ctied aud two badly wounded -
Alter reaching NORFOLK the Merrmac went into ihe dry
dock for repairs and Tor hve weeks men we're king
nee night and DAY giving her thorough ovcrhaulug-
When destroyed she was 30 excellent condition, and her
loss MI thompson thinks, Will prove ncacuiahle Co the
rtbds While these repairs were going great fears
actc expressed that the Monitor might up Elizabeth
River and she'll the cy.
II she had done So, no resistance could would have
been offered ga, authorities aud people frigh
cd ut the vcrt name uf herr and The cCdcU1t0H " the