The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-26


COMPLIMENTARY LETTER OF THE sRCRErARY OF THE
NAVY TO CAPTAIN JOHN ROo0Ess, 0Y TIE WEE
HAwKxN.
wAsmrorox, June %, 1853.
Tho following highly complimentary letter from the
Secretary Of the Navy TO Captain John Rodgers com
manding the iron clad weehawken manifests tho appre
citation Of the department of the services Of the ocs
who furnish such satisfactory evidence OF their ntnsss
for important commands and demonstrates tho immense
value Of the MonAors the heavy ordnance
operate against fortincaions and armorsd vessels
NAVY DrrAxrnxsr, June 25, 1853
SR Your despatch OF the nth inst, announcing the
capture o the rebel iron clad fngal alias Allan
Ia has been received. Although calamity sustained by
Commander John Dowpes, of tho Nahant, the victory,
owing To the brevity Of the contest yours, and
gives unaffected pleasure congratulate you upon
the result Every contest In which the iron cads have
engaged against Instructive and
affords food for reflection The lessons 10 be drawn
ON the sth Of March, 1902 there we're lying at anchor
IN Hampton Roads the nrst class steam gates Roanoke
and Minnesota, tho sailing frgates Congress and 81
the presence OF this formidable force representing
highest offensive power u the wooden navy. boldly
and, potwi,hstanding the broadsdss poured into
her by and the heroc defence " ue Congress
and the Cumberland, these two wooden vessels
only reserved for the morrow. during tho
night, however, the Monitor, the nrst vessel q her
ing mists lifted and showed the kerrimac and
her wooden eonsors approaching 10 complete
not not in the great ships hips .sa, % we're am i' saosi
and their psmerous heavy guns, but In a single small
honclad weasel, armed With two guns History has
corded the courage and sk of Commander John f. wor
den, Who disappearing in the smoke of tho advancing
neet dispersed and put " fight their wooden steamers
bic monster and drove her back nto Norfolk aud Eea
her there until the eveauaton q that place led rebels
" destroy their famous clad than encounter
aud risk her capture by her puny antagonist
The lessons ~ that contest taught tho nadeuaoy d
wooden vessels and ou existing rdnanco TO
ships for inland operations the Monitor turrct was I'M
medateIy adopted, aud the fifteen inch gon OF Rodan
beng the only gun OF greater weight than the
nCb yet tested ordered 10 be pace lurrot of
The vessels that constructing The re,uit Of this
policy N developed Ia the action through which YOU
have Just passed Ia nfeen minutes and with ave
shots, you oyerpowered and captured a formtdable
steamG but slightly inferior 70 the herimAcA vessel
that the preceding year had batued with very ser
ous injury 10 hcfsci against fur rgat.s raxse aud
for time With Monitor armed with eleven ilch guns
thus demonstratirg the offensive power new and
improved hon.rs armed With guns of hf,csn iooh
Your early connection with tho Missssipp nota, and
your participation "a mo pr2ection and construction Of
tho nfst iron cads "a the Western your heroic
oonduct Ia the attack Drurys stun the ilgh
moral courage that cd you Tn put to soa
in the weshswken upon tho approach 4 a yt,lept
storm, IN order test the sea-gUing qualities q, tb..a
craft, at the time when an,horaso VA olo,e
undor your leo the brave and daring nianner s b.en
yon viih aies pressed the ron c.ds r ,,
the concentrated re % tho he Ia lharisson ~,
bOr and thsro t.rd and proved the eDduranco AID
ssng power q these seees aad your cros ng sucrss
fu achievement N the pture q tho faal alias Atlanta
are all proofs u ttin AID ufare and devoti 10 he
country and the case q TIE srdl~-s W se tnat
csnDot b. permitted ~ las unroEHraoi 10 yort b,oe
daring nj leff stcnt no al coafae, bcJ ID hat 4 any
other ndiydal the oolht nfsJtsf fOl ths dsy slp
ment, under uytg aud varef crcumstaLcss ~ t6e
ocean, un1ef Gre ffOm ss0rfnun b4tLeres ~ alt aod
~ succsssin enionttsf Nth iormiIate 4 cttg
intagnnist ~ TIE caiahtef and 4ualte q 4tt.s anr
reslstuce u abs N0uitof clsss their Yr.vy
anlaTne tOr thee hcfp1 aHr fygeabs acts h.,e
Press ted your haue 20 be tFssident rcgaesu tia N
reolunend tns 'ongrc.s give you vote 4 th.lls IN
% der .t yon rai b. nlta sed ~ the grade alnfao
dlre ~ The Amer IN avy. Yefy ftsQesusfiy fe
Sllr ~ WtiI&l-. -srrsiafy Z the Nhvv
capiain jSo H,D gAs United st~sss Navy saus,ra
ing Ltsei -tatss sisiper weshA1kst .oaih ~ .o,Ie