Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-10
The qr,aI r,ip of the HIerrimoc.

Mr Jacob Lyon resident merchant of this place for
several years, goes to Charlotte IN 5is Ssa1e WIZ n
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The Trial T,ip the Merrimac.
The Virginia, or the Merrimac, by which last name
she is best known made her dash in Hampton Roads
under very extraordinary circumstances, the follow
ing facts will abuDdantly show. We give them, premi
sing eur statement by the remark that they are no mere
rumours, bat positive facts -
The most striking characteristic of the performance
of the Merrimac was that it trial of everything
aboard The ship for the first time moved by steam,
four of the guns had never before been fred many of
the crew had never gun fred-they were stran-
gers to each other and to their ocershad been but
little drilled but once at general quarters and it was
the first time that the great majority had been under
FIRE. Surely under th Sc circumstances her enterprise
was most daring one and her officers had difficulties of
the gravtst character to overcome and knowledge OF
these facts raises still hghtr admiration OF the snc-
cessfu daring that produced such marked results The
Merrimac proved hersef to be indeed bosom of de-
struction. She fred but 300 times both days She
destroyed two gates two steamers, and took or de-
stroyed three schooners and than half destroyed
the Minnesota, and seriously damaged another trgate,
the Saint Lawrence She fred hot shot, niue inch balls
High naval authority doubts of hot shot having been
before used aboard ship, at any rate of such large
ones as nine inch.
1t is said that the enemy has been putting heavy
chains between Old Point aud the Rip Raps, to prevent
the Merrimac passing out. ii so and she attempts to
force passage she will be subjected to he concenra
ted fire of both forts.
We do not like to join 10 any hue and cry against
any action of the government any of It's depart
ments, but we teel bound to express opinion with
reference to it's treatment of Lieutenant Ap. r. Jones
Lieutenant Jones, who is of the ablest, COOL
est, most skilul and scientific officers 10 any Navy
ordered to the Merrinac as her Executive and Ord
officer and directed to select her battery etc He
also experimental to determine the proper proectiles
and other matters pertaining to his department. Up to
the time when Commodore Buchanan was wounded,
Lieutenant Jones chiefly occupied with the battery
After that the command of the ship devoved upon him.
and be bore bis part noby and we'll Surely it
felt that in the order of things be had we'll earned pro-
motion and recognition and that in all fairness and JUS
tice alike to Lieutenant Jones and to the service he
ought to have been made Captain and confirmed in the
position to which in a he had fallen heir If
Buchanan could not command the Merrimac, then why
not jones' in whose hands she was who had selected
and fought her battery and EnaIy commanded her
oable Saturday and Sunday. We do not often indulge
in denunclatory language, and do not mean to do so
now but we must say that we can hardly wonder that
both surprise should he felt and Indignation expressed
when it was know that Lieutenant Jones was not either
recognised promoted by the navy department, but
that gentleman brought to be put him, who,
however honored gallant, was wholly to the YES
sci and every thing connected with her, and who, all
honor to his white hairs had already passed the allotted
three years aud ten and whose body already
bowed with their weight, though his fiery and n-
petuous spiri. were still unsubdued.
By strange corcatenation of events, the same that
enabled US to get look at the New6ern Crab "PrO-
gress" Backwards also in possession of the i'm
maculate N. Y. Evening Post OF the 18th ult, witch
is very much taken up with the affair at Newbern.-
After the battle, Burnside issued congratulatory order
to bis troops, concluding with the following paragraph:
The General commanding directs with peculiar
pride that well deserved tribute 20 valor in this
the second victory Of the expedition that each regiment
engaged shall inscrbe on its banner the memorable
name OF " Newbern."
The leading editorial is headed Burnside's Late
Battle" and is devoted to goci6cation the New.
bern victory and those engaged in it, who seems were
mainly from Massachusetts,, Connecticut and Rhode
Island 1t says that the combat at Newbern establish
es beyond doubt, the fighting qualities of the New
EnglaDders who, such is the Northern account were
in numbers scarcely equal if rot inferior to those of the
enemy Confederates who fought behind we'll con-
sructed entertainments, and near city, from which
they could readily obtain supplies. The Post says
Burnside, who has BEEN often under fire, pronounces
Newbern the severest fight he was ever in inclusive
suppose of Bull RuD, where be stood in the thick
est" In fact they magnify and blow over Newbern
amazing" 7 he following little item may give some
information to our friend Pennington We cut it from
account OF the capture of the town of Newbern
wARLIKE COMPOSITION
Visits paid to the principal hui dings aud guards
stationed over ted The Postofse was found deserted,
also the office of the Newbern Progress the daily
paper OF the place. FORM all locked up. contained the
following paragraph:
The ENEMY IN sIGHT-The signals on Neuse river be
low batteries of the approach of the enemy
yesterday afternoon about five o'clock boat imme
atey despatched down the river, and its
placed in positive information of the of ten
only about twelve miles below Newbern end il few miles
| of the lower batteries.
last night and battle certainly expected to day. and the
cay will probably d. eide the fate of Newbern."
Seeing which sergeant of of the regiments, print.
went to set up and added the following post
| script:
| SATURDAY March 15.-Friday did it. We have taken
Newbern The enemy endeavOred to burn the town. but
unsuccessful the Inhabitants using the fire engines
other means In their power to extingush the flames
IS YANKEE PRINTER"
HE HERO of this war,-the who will win for
himself the highest fame and do the most essential SER
vice to his country is that Confederate General who