Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-22
Ihs .. utiaud Lmdll.
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1862.
= CONTEST BETWEEN THE
urRRIMAC AND MONITOR.

cement Of James Thompson, one of the
- orthe Merrimac, in which he gives a
account of the engagement between
Msrrimac and Monitor in Hampton
D,& Mr. Thompson is from Maine,
Was seaman, in service at Charles
at the time the rebellion broke out,
was impressed into the rebel service.
fer the destruction of the Merrimac,
with about two hundred of the Mer-
pscs crew: (which numbered in all
Out four hundred and fifty,) deserted
escaped to Norfolk where thay de-
tred themselves up to Gen. Wool, and
ok the oath of allegiance. They are
atly foreigners. After giving a brief
pyunt Of the destruction of the Con-
rsa by the iron-clad monster, Mr..
hompson proceeds to give the following
teresing account of the engagement
sih the little Monitor. 1t is the first au-
&hsntc intelligence we have obtained from
' h. other side in that memorable contest
/ On the moring of the 9th we prepared
90 down again, the rebel officers think
b. to complete the work of destruction by
hiking all the vessels in the roads. When
u yliobt had revealed the situation of affairs,
~ officers of the Merrimac discovered what
lev at first thought was small tug boat,
aiming towards us We hailed her, but re-
wing no reply, ct fly at her from one of
h bow guns, but she very impudently took
potic, of the messenger We had sent, and
nj seaming on. Then our officers began
he fearful of the " little chees box" and
re fairly trembling in their shoes" for
result of contest with her. They soon
md ont what she was. Soon the little
mitor sent US her compliments in the shape
round shot, which struck gun on our
yboard side, broke it completely in two,
bgylled two and wounded four of the crew.
f. srng was then kept up for about three
purs. the vessels being often side by side
fer an hours firing the Merrimac thought
try the virtue of her pillow on her antago-
kist, and struck her with it amidships. The
kfect produced was very unsatisfactory TO
hhe rebels, hewever. The Monitor then turn
|ed on her giant compeer and struck her rud-
Der, producing great CONSERVATION on board
but not rendering the rudder unserviceable
Every time the two guns from the Monitor
we're discharged, each of the two shots seemed
10 strike us nearly in the same place, burst
b. in the timbers of the MerIimac, loosen.
h. the bolts of the IRON plates and timbers
Nnd doing us very great damage generally
N was noticeable also that her shots struck
b near the water line, and caused our vesse
b leak badly.
] Mr.. Thompson also corroborates what We
&ublished some time since from the Richmond
Dspatch, that the iron plates on the Merrl'
naC were welded together in many instances
|by the heat and force of the Monitors shot
The Merrimac's crew, during the engage
me t, were made to swear that il large
number of the rebels on board were killed
tbey would net reveal the fact to any one or
their arrival at Norfolk. Seeing that th'
tide OF battle was against us we were ordered
TO "bout ship" and put pack to Norfolk
We had not proceeded far when we ground
/ ed, and or iers had been already given t.
Nuttle the ship, when we made another ant
last effort to get of the shoal and succeeded
and We made our way up to Norfolk slowly
arriving there at six T. M with about si
feet Of water In the hold. The rebel steam
sr Patrick Henry, which bore down to th
Monitor during the fight, was driven back b
shot and having steam turned on her tror
the Monitors boiler. She had six men sea
ded and two badly wounded. After reacf
ing Norfolk the Merrimac went into the dr.
dock for repairs, and for five weeks men wer
working on her night and day, giving her
thorough overhauling. When destroyed sh
was in excellent condition, and her loss M
thompson thinks, will prove incalculable
sAe rebels. While these repairs were goin
% great fears were expressed that the Mon
Tor might come up Elizabeth River and she
hscity p.
If she had done so no resistance could {
would have been offered Gas the authoriti
ana people were frightened at the very nan
GerD and the evacuation of the bateri
una The city waS already decided on in h
vent cf her uisit. Commodore Buchana
Was badly wounded in the thigh, and was Ia
sl' Immediately on our arrival, to the hosp
ssi where at last accounts he still rename
nrer our return Commodore Tatnall can
from Savannah to command the Merrim'
"aeh she should be in sailing and fghtir
aln' Shortly after the vessel was take
aOh 'ne dry dock and placed in bis chars
as5 Nc Ieeelved orders to 90 to Hampton Road
an anu II II possible destroy the wooden vessels
,e United States feet lying there; but aft
apao'estlng awhile against such order witho
.nec', ne sent in his resignation, alleging as
Jason that, even should he succeed in pa
~is us Fortress Monroe and the Monitor, Il
oaua' ,lilate destruc ion of the Merrimac W
t;:''aih, and her loss would be attributed
v.I I Encouragement, os and bis prestige as u
q, Orlcer would be gone. (?)
in. ne ne s cond time the Merrimac came dov
fr;U .O .ne roads was the day the United Stat
IIlgate Seminole shelled the Sewalrs Poi
tba Iba'ery' She lay off Craney Island with
range OF and protected by the guns