The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-28
The Monitor. Merrimac Fight.


Col. LeGrand B. Cannon of Burlington,
the aide-de-camp of Gen. Wool when that
officer was in command at Fortress Mon
roe at the time of the Monitor Merrimac
fight, has published his "recollections" of
that affair in thin pamphlet, having been
requested to prepare them by G. v. Fox,
the assistant naval secretary at the time.
Col. Cannen's most original contribution,
perhaps, to the literature of the battle con-
Germs the flrst acquaintance of our govern
ment with the Merrimac. As early as De-
cember, 1861, a mechanic in the Norfolk
navy-yard communicated the character of
the work on the Merrimac to Gen. Wool,
and, about February 10, full plans of the
rebel campaign and details of the progress
of the work were obtained through the
same source. Col. Cannon was sent to
Washington with the news. He found
secretary Stanton sick, and was taken into
a cabinet meeting by Mr.. Lincoln. The
government was therefore not taken by
surprise when the Merrimac came out, and
had really nothing with which to oppose
her, but the wooden vessels, which up to
that moment in the naval history Of the
world had been the highest form of naval
strength. Col. Cannon further says that
the first suspicion that the Merrimsc was
on her wav down from Norfolk was derived
from the fact that the French corvettes,
whose officers had been up to Norfolk un.
der flag of truce, all got up steam on Sat-
urday morning, without having given any
formal notice Of their departure at the for
tress. Gen. Wool telegraphed this fact to
Gen. Mansfield at Newport News, and the
morning was spent in preparations, which
prevented simultaneous land attack by
Gen. Magruder. The Merrimac appeared
about noon. Col. Cannon misstates the
date on one occasion; the sinking of the
Cumberland and the capture and destruc-
ton of the Congress were on the Sth, the
fight between the IRON clads on the 9th of
March, Sunday.
For 80 famous a fight it is rather singu-
lar that there should be such a diversity of
statement as to which first retired from the
field. Mr.. Greeley in his history says that,
at the close of the combat, "the Monitor
stood down toward Fortress Monroe, but
the Merrimac and her tenders did mot see
ft to pursue her." There is considerable
evidence that this is an error. The Balti-
more American account, from which Gree
ley elsewhere quotes, says that the "Mon-
itor followed the Merrimac until she got
well under Sewell's point, and then re-
turned" The count of Paris, who, sim
gularly, does not mention the incident OF
the French corvettes, makes contemporan-
eous the opening of q seam in the Merri-
hvx~ &c a. ~ nI.~ o,.1 Ia,
wounding Of the commander of the latter,
Lieut.. Worden, by cement flying in his
eyes. The Merrimac "gave up the game
and RETIRED" says the count, leaving the
Monitor OH the battlefield.
Col. Cannon tells more probable and
intelligent story, which goes far to har-
monize the authorities. He says that, af
ter the wounding of Lieut.. Worden, the
Monitor retired and remained out of &C.
ton for about half an hour" which doubt.
less gave rise to Greeley's idea, As soon
as the injuries to the pilot-house, by which
her commander had been wounded, were
examined, she 're-engaged, forced the
fight, by lying 'athwart the stern of the
stern of the Merrimac, delivering her fire
rapidly and with telling effect. The Mer-
rimac, unable to shake her off or to stand
the pounding, commenced the retreat to
Norfolk" The Monitor stuck to her ''like
a king-bird to hawk" as was said by @
participant, and pursued her until shs
was brought under the fire of the rebel bat.
teries."
The count of Paris makes one statement
which we do not find elsewhere. He say.
that Buchanan, the brave commander o
the Merrimac, who was killed. the frs
day, and whose place could not be filled
owed his death to the fire of the infantry
ranged on the beach at Newport News
when the Merrimac got pretty close to tn,
shore, in her efforts to destroy the Con
gress, which had been run aground there
A rife-bullet could enter where cannon
ball was arrested.-SprinafeM Republican