Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-12
INVESTIGATION WANTED.

Much has been heard of investigating COM
. mittees since we began this war against the
rebels, and these committees have done excel
lent service In some cases, probably, they
have made mistakes, but they have been a
wholesome terror to treasury thieves and un-
faithful government officials, and therefore de-
serve the gratitude of the country, which
should be accompanied with all necessary crit
ieism.
But was there ever more pressing need OF
all investigating committee than in the case o.
the naval officers at Old Point who allowed
the Merrimac to assail their fleet with so much
success? For months they have known what
to expect All the world has had very partic-
ular descriptions of the lion clad monster into
Which the Merrimac had been transformed
and the rebels have not attempted to conceal
that she would come down from Norfolk and
attack our vessels in Hampton Roads. The
day before she made her appearance the ma.
val officers at Old FONT were INFORM
ed that she hal taken a crew aboard
and was all ready for action. And yet they
made no preparation whatever to defend the
feet against the meditated attack. The Con-
gress had no crew aboard, and not one vessel
in the whole fleet had been prepared for an
encounter with such an antagonist. Nothing
but the opportune arrival Of the Ericsson bat
terry saved the Minnesota, St. Lawrence, and
most Of the other vessels from destruction.
r. In our opinion, here is a case that demands
- investigation. There seems to,have been in
excusable neglect of duty, and it should be
fully exposed with its causes.
A faithful investigation would probably
show that no preparation for an encounter
with the Merrimac was made, because the
naval officers whose duty it was to order and
superintend such preparation, despised such an
enemy and held that the regular old vessels
were every way superior to any of the new
inventions" Instead of getting ready to
fight such battle as was imminent, some of
them were caballing against the Ericsson
battery that was about to join them by order
OF the secretary of the navy aud they had so
far succeeded that there was thought OF order
ing the battery TO some other point where ii
would be more likely TO get fair trial The
assistant secretary of the navy had been sent
to Fort Monroe to consider what course under
the circumstances would be most advisable
But the successful exploit of the Monitor
silenced her enemies among the old fogies o.
the navy, and saved all further trouble il
regard to the matter.
1t could also be shown by an investigating
committee, that it would greatly improve TIL
navy TO ''retire" into everlasting obscurity
and silence large proportion of the older Of
fcers connected with it,-all those especially
who have so pertinaciously intrigued and ca
balled against the efforts OF the present secre
tary Of the navy to secure the building of iron
clad gunboats and frigates. Some of then
may be capable of deriving improvement
from the lesson of the Merrimac, bu
too many of them are incorIigible, bI
ing in their own estimation the person
with whom wisdom will die, and Their
fore quite incapable of mastering a new ide
Let US have all investigation. 1t will turnis
material for profitable discussion, and enab
the country to see more clearly not only win
improvements are needed in the navy, bl
also what obstacles must be overcome in o.
der TO introduce them.