The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-03-27
The Merrimac.
correspondence of Chicago Times

Correspondence OF Chicago Times.
In spite of all reservations to the
contrary, the most serious appre-
hensions exist here, and in New
York and Philadelphia, in regard
to the Mcrrin,ac. 1t is now uscrr.
tained officially that she was not at
all injured in hcr recent dmcl near
Fortress Monroe With the siug'c {
exception of the VI ,njror, lurr,
is nothing atloat that c.r. withstand
her. The risks altrn linz sea.
voyage to New York or PhiIndrI.
phia, for so heavy vessel, will
probably deter her from going lo
either of those cities. But the
order of General Mcclellan to the
officer in command at Fort Trum.
bic, at New London, directing him
to keep IL sLarp lookout Tor the
Merrimac, and to stop her if posi-.
BILE if she tries to run past, shows
that it is considered in her power
Ito run the blockade of Fortress
| Monroe. II she does this there is
nothing to prevent her from run
hing up the Potomac to Washing
ton, battering down tile Capitol
and Presidents house, and return
ing at her leisure. Such is the
fruit Of having an incompetent
Secretary of the Navy.
1t is likely that the large force
of workmen now known to bc
engaged on the Merrimac are
making whatever improvements
her late experience has dcnonstra.
ted to be necessary. The idea Of
boarding her is absurd it is phys.
icaIIy impossible. 1t is probable
that, having demonstrated that she
can sail much faster than the
Monitor, and is so much stronger
in every respect, she will be rugged
with such grappling-irons and
chains us may enable her to seiz,
the little Monitor and bear her of
IL prize. The cngravings, showing
the relative size of the Two vessels
Indicate that this is not an impos
sible contingency.
The question has often beel
asked, bnt never satisfactorily all
swered, why did not the great
Union gun at the Rip Raps give
;he Mtrrimac IL touch Of her quail
ity during the recent encounter ?
All past experience has shown thai
this immense piece Of artillery is
practically useless. 1t was Gen
Buffers favorite amusement t.
point and experiment with this
great gun, and to watch the enor.
nous missile Kissing through the
air and throwing up clouds OF spray
from The water, us it sped five on
six miles toward Norfolk. 1t was
SUPPOSED that these experiments
(and they were very costly had
determined with accuracy the cXuci
range and capabilities OF the gun.
Yet its elevation is being constant
~ altered, and it requires 50 long
10 load it Gt is sight to see it,
gunners crew tngging at the bah
To get it in) lhal Nuri.g trr opera
zion the Mcrrinnc M .hi r"., ia
several new POSITIONS. and bc GA,
of range before it is really to he
tired. 1t is the opinion OF scientific
artillery officers that no more than
one shot in fifty fired from lni,
m0l.ster would hit the Mcrrimac.
II those carpet knights, who
sneered at General Mcclellan all
winter because he did not udvunc.
on Centerville, will now go and
examine the encmys works there,
they will find in them IL sufficient
reason. They are left uninjured,
ard are literally impregnabIe. The
principal forts are so arranged in
the form Of terraces, that, even il
we had succeeded IN taking the
lower line of terraces, those above
them would have been beyond our
reach, even with scaling ladders
Smelling the works would have
been of no avail, for the rebel
troops were all protected by case
mates. So much for Beauregard's S
skill in engineering. The maga-
zines were well supplied, as the
traces of shot and shell show. But
all these, with the guns, have been
removed. The places of the latter
were supplied before the evacuation
by wooden guns, painted black,
with derisive inscriptions written
on them with chalk. All these,
and many other circumstances,
show that the retreat waS conduct
ed at perfect leisure.
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LOSSES ON TIE AMERICAN LAKES.
The marine losses on the st.
Lawrence and lakes during the
year 1861, amounted in value to
S3O2,625 on steamers, and $564, 722
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