Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-02-17

when she discharged her immense guns
into the sides Of the Merri,nac, that vessel
gigantic as she was, found she was entire
| " unable to cope with this diminutive, un
tried Yankee notion. This experiment
for it was nothing me- nor less than al
experiment then, this first practical EN-
bodiment of the American idea, sent the
gigantic rebel monster, constructed more
after the plans of France and England
skulking back into the harbor of Norfolk
| from which she never came out afterwards
And so, also, wherever this American
ideN has been subsequently tested the same
result has followed. How was it in the
case of the Fingal, constructed on the
CLYDE, and sent over here as blockade
runner, one specimen of those vast consri.
buttons which our former friend and-if
speak not unadyisedly -our recent enemy
has made to the southern confederacy in
the building and supply of ships and ord,
nance to enable the rebels to tear down
the pillars of this Government and to de-
stroy our rational life How was it in
the case Of the I7ingal, which came over
here under the glise of a merchant vessel,
which was taken up to Savannah and there
altered, at an expense of millions OF dol
lars, into rebel iron-c clad Aftersshe
was completed she came out at the APP
pointed time. commanded by one who had
served under tue old flag, and filled with
officers who were ingloriously Transferring
not only their allegiance but their expert
ence to the flag of our enemy, and accom-
panied by transport filled with gay people.
| who were coming out as on festive 0c-
! casion, to witness the conflict between the
Atlanta-whch the Fingal had now be-
comc-and the Weehawken, commanded
by that noble sailor and just and honest
man, John Rodgers.
And what was the result of that trial
between the combination of British and
confcdt rate skill and this American idea !!
Hardly had the Atlanta got into position,
before l5-iuch shot from the Neeflawken
struck against her side, Frustrated forty
men unon her decks, aud scattered barrels
OF splnters. of wood and iron, as the first
announcement to the officers of the Allan
t. of how great an advance had been made
by this theory of COMPRISING the weight
of your metal into the smallest possible
compass. After that one shot was fred it
was utterly impossible for the commander
Of the Atlanta TO bring his men back again
to their guns and before the Nahant. the
cooperating vessel of the Weehawlen,
was able to get into position and fire stu
gle shot the white flag appeared on the
Atlanta and she became prize-a prize to
this American idea. And she now floats
under the stars and stripes, and is doing
good and efficient service, as l understand,
in the American Navy. Almost every
successful naval battle that has been fought
has bec, fought partly with the use of those
monitors. The honorable gentleman from
Maryland has stated what he would have
us believe to be the testimony of high OIL
eials in the naval service in condemnation
of these monitors, and yet if he will read
the testimony of these men candidly and
impartally he will find that they not only
declare in their favor, but that they are
unwilling to go into any great and import
ant action without their assistance.
The gentleman from Maryland has re-
fprrrd to the magnificent and glorious ac-
chievcmcnts of Farragut in Mobile Bay.
But does the honorable gentleman desire
me to tell him that before Admiral Farra-
cut made his movement in Mobile bay he
waited for iron -clads, and four of them did
join his feet before the action commenced,
and l have here the testimony of Admiral
Porter. If | could consume the time of the
committee in reading from testimony, as
the gentleman has dune, hut it is not worth
while; whether il he on the Atlantic, or il
the Gulf, or upon the Mississippi, the re-
suit is the same. For they have built irer
vessels on the Mississippi and its trihutarie,
as well as npol the Atlantic and in The
Gulf, and everywhere they have turned oa
t. be the most efficient and most powerfa
ana the most formidable vessels ever con
strcted."
We find since writing, that Mr.. Pike
also, came to the rescue of the American
Navy, and spoke at length. We may fnt
space in our next Issue to publish extracts
As a contemporary says, the PEG
pie are behind ''these hearts of oaks" AM
the man who assails the navy is sure t,
clme out second best.