Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-12
BRITISH OPINION OF THE NAVAL BAT.
TIE IN HAMPTON ROADS.
Ihs ReHolution I'm Naval Warfare.

London journals.
[From the London Times, March 25.l
The campaign in Virginia has at last begun.
A naval battle and a general advance of the
Federal army on the Potomac are the events
which we record to-day. The first of these is
one Of the NEST Interesting incidents that have
marked the war. For the first time the new
est applications Of science have been tested in
tight between foes Of equal courage. Who
would have thought it possible that after Eng
land and France had theorized so long on
iron-plated and on-prowed vessels the FIRST
real trial should be made by the inhabitants
Of the peaceful New World met in unnatural
strife, and furthermore, that victory should
rest with the party less versed in naval tactics
and construction
Though for a long time there has been men
tiOn Of the Merrimac IN the Southern papers,
we were not prepared for the achievements in
the James river. The Confederate frisate
seems to have gained an easy victory over her
wooden opponents. The accounts of the action
are rather vague, but il appears that she dis.
abled the Cumberland and the Congress in
very short time, fulfilling in the most compls etc
manner the expectations that have been formed
concerning iron-plated vessels She received
the broadsides Of two of her opponents at one
hundred yards without sustaining any damage.
She then ran into the Cumberland with her
iron prov and laid open her sides. Thus
both in defence and attack, the Merrimac has
realized the calculation of European con-
structors. II must now be looked upon as
proved that wooden vessels 60 to sure and
epeedy defeat whenever they venture into
action against an iron-plsted adversary
Those who object to iron sides that they are
not Inyulnersble, inasmuch as, however strong
the ship may be, cannon can be constructed
powerful enough to pierce IL, must, we think,
abandoned their toe esptiOus criticism. We
see In the Merrimac that u vessel can be made
practically invulnerable even to the heavy
naval guns which are at present in use. Moth
ing now remains for our Admiralty but to dis
continue the building Of wooden vessels, and
to convert all that will bear il into machines
Of war resembling the Confederate frigate
The only real opponent which the MerriInsc
found was another iron plated frigate, and
had II not been for this vessel, il is believed
that the Merrimsc might have DESTROYED the
whole Federal squadron. The Merrimac
"a described IS covered with sl0ping iron
plates, extending two feet below the water
line, and meeting above like the roof of a
house. !" This popularity Of construction may
possibly not be necessary to efficiency but,
asia vessel thus built has actually made
great success, it would be worth while fully to
examine the pinciple before constructing any
more OF our own on the plan already adopted
The equipment Of the Merrimac shows that
there are good heads in the Navy Department
OF the South, and the gallant manner in which
she was handled in action is a token that the
Confederate courage is still as high as ever
But 1t Is not by sea fights that the fortunes Os
the new Republic are to be determined. The
brilliant affair OF the James river will no doubt
do much to reanimste the Southerners after
Their successive defeats, but in itself it is Of
little Importance.
Scientific Deductions from the Result ofths
BaHe-Ihs RecOHstrHetIOu o ft:ts English
Nary Work Of Necessity
LFrom the London Times March -
WhRu pFaSIdapr LAWS IN his
10 his constituents, reviewed the position of
tne southern Conteiersey, he expressed the
hOpe that the navy Of the seeding States
would soon contribute something towards til
success OF the cause. Those expectations have
certainly been justified by the naval victory
which We yesterday reported-a victory gained
over Federal force Of great strength, and in
waters where the Northerners probably con-
celTed that the supremacy was unassaiIably
their own. Three frigstes and heavy sloop
are mentioned as either taking or endeayorine
10 take part IN the action against the small
squadron OF the Confederstes, and further and
most efec tive reinforcement after Yards arrived
II the shape OF floating battery. -
From the reports Of the action il appears that
the Merrimac, though mounting only twelve
guns, did not hesitate to proceed, in company
with the two other steamers, in search of an
encounter with such a squadron as we have
described above. The Congress and the Cum
berland carried between them seventy-four
guns; and the Minnesota and the St Lawrence
ninety more. The Minnesota, however, got
aground, and could, therefore neither come
up herself nor tow the st. Lawrence into ac-
uOn. The Merrimac and her attendants had
consequently only one frigate and a sloop 10
deal with, ard It seems that she took the sloop
TO herself, and left the frigate to the other
steamers. The Cumberland had not a chance
against her. She received two broadsiaes at
one hundred yards distance without sustain
haun apl - LIZ
into the sloop with an iron prov constructed
LOT thls special purpose, and cut her sides open
Alter this she poured a brOadside into her an
tagonlst, dashed ather once more, and then
left her to sink. Nothing could be more sue.
eessful or destructive than her maneuvres
Next morning, however, she found an enemy
more worthy Of her. During the night the new
1oating battery, called the Monitor, came
round TO retrieve the honor Of the Federal a az
This IS the vessel designed by Mr. J. Ericsson.
OF New York, and Is one Of the three irOn.clad
structures recommended by the Federal Com
mIssioners for adoption in August last Assn.
ming that she has been completed according 10
the original specifications she is simply fOat-
ing battery, propelled by steam at a slow rate.
snd not qualified for much beyond coast Ser.
vice, IN smooth water. She is of | 200 tons
6urthen only, Is l12 feet long, and has Al feet
oLeaatn OF beam. Ihe general plan Of the yes-
sci was 50 novel as to surprise even a people
accustomed to daring inventions, but she seems
70 have fulfilled the hopes Of the protector
What armament she actually carried we have
not yet learned; bat as soon as the Merrimae
saw her she attacked her, and then ensued the
hrst battle ever fought Between iron-clad ships
1he results were most remarkable. The two
vessels engaged each other at close quarters
Tor i've hours; after which period, but then
only, was the srmor Of one of them perforated
by shot. II was the Monitor which thus drew
The first bioed, and the Merrimac then retired.
II does not seem, however, that she was dis
aoled, and We are expressly assured that On
board the Monitor not q man was hurt.
Facts like these may well induce US to re-
fect. We 6nd that wooden vessel when
matched against an iron one is literally as
. helpless as was predicted. The Merrimac did
actually knock the Cumberland 50 into mstch-
es, and in very few minutes; but when she
was encountered by ship Of her own class an
sehon OF hVe hours ensued, with no great dam
age 10 either side. Yet, We cannot imagine
that either of these vessels m az anv annroaeh