Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-12-22

This brave officer lost not his self posses.
sion lur nm instant His torcc OF character
and high professional training nobly sus.
tanned him; and like Regulus amid the
torlures ofthe Carlhagenians, his thoughts
were not of himself but for his country.
Believing his vessel seriously injured
tor The top OF the pilot housc bad been
partially lifted OF by the concussion-he
ordered the helmsman TO sheer oil into
shoal water, aud then feeling faint CROPPED
his way TO the foot OF the ladder leading
to the berth deck. and sent loI Lieutenant
Greene. IL found him. says Greene in
letter written just after tho action,
cleaning against the ladder, rs noble 4
specimen OF man rs ever brcalhed. His
face black with iron and powder. and his
sight apparently gone. lie told me IN a
calm, quiet voice that the pilot house was
damaged, aud that must take command.
led him TO his cabin and laid him down
upon sofa and then hastened 10 take
my place beside tho helmsman, while the
gun captains continued 10 fight The guns,
under the supervision Of Chief Engineer
Sinners. who was revolving the lurret."
Fndir 9 the injury to the vessel less
severe than bis commander had supposed.
Lieut.. Greene ordered her head 10 be
again turned toward the Mcrrimac, which
was now, for the second time, keeping
up deadly ire on the Minnesota. As
the Monitor TUNED however. so did the
Merrimac. and to the surprise OF al not
on board OF her. she steamed at full speed
for Norfolk. Yet expecting her each in
slant to turn upon her pursuer the Union
isis were silent until they saw her wholly
leaving the battle field and seeking shell
ter under the rebel batteries. thus by all
the laws Of war, acknowledging herself
vanquished. Then n shout OF oXultation
arose, from sailor and soldier alike. cx
tending from Fortress Monroe to Newport
News, which shook the very heavens
above Right had once more in history.
triumphed over wrong. And the dead OF
the Congress and Cumberland, whose
bodies were lying stark AMI stiff upon
The banks OF the James river or in It's
bed, had not died in vain; for to the in.
juries iGhic,cd upon the Mcrrimac by
their well directed broad sides, on the
bloody Sih OF March, was due in some
measure, it has been cIedibly asserted,
The great victory Of the following day.
The political significance Of this victory
can hardly be overestimaied. II pro.
duced an immediate and marked effect
upon our diplomatic relations with Eng
land and Europe, whose rulers, restored
to their senses by this --latest Yankee
notion" began now 10 look upon the
Cnited States as a formidable naval pow
OF. Its effect upon Earl Russell. in par.
tcular. was marvellous. Transforming him
from n seemingly bigoted moaArehist into
a most sincere and ardent admlrer OF Re.
publican America.
What the wounds OF the Merrimsc
really were, we shall perhaps never
know; but that they were serious more
can doubt. For Lieutenant Ca,esby
Jones was an officer of acknowledged
capacity, bravery and experience. who
must have well understood that fealIy 10
the cause which he had espoused required
him to retain the offensive as long as it
was possible &c do so. He would there.
fore, never have retired from the fight
while q hope remained to him OF winning
It.
As the little Monitor, very properly.
gave up the pursuit ol The foe-which
the vast interest depending upon her
safety required-her role was purely
deiensive-and with proud banner OF
freedom flying from her flagstaff, once
more took her place along the Minnesota I;
ali hearts were raisel in lhankiulness 10
God for his manifold and great mercies.
And all over The land for many,
months The story was told OF how Erics.
son planned and how Worden and his
gallant men fought The famous Monitor,
Gods blessing on them all. May a
grateful country never suffer their memo.
ries 10 grow cold. and may their names
iuseparaby connected with some OF the
darkest aud yet most glorious days OF the
republic, be mentioned with reverence by
our children's children.