The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-11

At ten minutes before ten, on the morning
of the Both of January, 1862, an iron floating
battery, designed for the Government of the
United States by John Ericsson, and named,
at his suggestion, the Monitor. was launched
at Green Point, Long Island, and at three
p. NJ, on the 25th of February, formally ia
ken possession of By the Navy Department,
and put in commission at the Navy Yard,
New York.
On Thursday, the 9th of March, this novel
float, concerning whose fate many gloomy
predictions had been hazarded left the lower
bay in tow of the steamer Seth Low, and,
with fair wind and smooth sea, steered
for Hampton Roads.
About noon on the 18th, the wind fresh
ened, and the sea began 10 rise, and by four
in the afternoon was making clean breach
over the little Monitor, causing her to reel
and stagger like drunken man-nOw strik-
ing her pilot-house with such fearful force as
to drive the helmsman from the wheel, now
raising its foaming crest far above the tops of
the smoke and blower-pipes, and delugiDg
with water the deck below. A little later,
and the drenched blower-bands begin to slip,
the draught grows feeble, and the steam runs
down; then, with sudden snap, the blower
bands part, and in an instant the fire and
engine rooms are filled with gas. In vain do
the engineers and firemen, led by .he execu-
tive officer, rush TO the post of danger and
endeavor to repair the damage. A position
more deadly than that from the upas-tree
forbids approach to the severed bands. With
heroism unequalled, each in turn essays to
reach them but one by one, all fall sense
less TO the deck and are borne on the shout
ders of their sailor comrades to the upper air.
While this scene was being enacted in the
engine room, the steam pumps had ceased 10
work and the berth-deck pump been found to
be useless, while the water driven through
the hawse-hole, through the lookout-holes in
the turret, and over the tops of the smoke
and blower pipes, was gradually gaining
upon the vessel and threatening TO submerge
her. Fortunately, however, the wind was
off the land, and Worden, cool and collected
amid the menaced danger, had ordered the
Seth Low to steer directly for the shore. By
dark the sea became smooth, and at eight
p. NJ, the engine being again in motion, and
the steam pumps rapidly freeing the ship of
water, the Monitor was second time headed
for Hampton Roads.
The first watch passed pleasantly away,
under serene sky, while the silver moon
looked benignantly down upon a band of
mariners as hardy and daring as that which,
leaving the shores of Spain four centuries be-
of this very land for whose defence these
later mariners were now so resolutely press
ing onward.
With the mid-watch the sea again rose,
and dashed madly over pipes and turret,
threatening recurrence of the disaster OF
the previous day. The wheelropes, too,
became damned so that, no longer governed
by the ruddeI, the vessel waved wildly to
and fro, bringing fearful strain upon the
hawser by which she was towed, and upon
which-now that her engine had nearly
add to tie horror of this anxious night, every
few minutes, in response to the enquiries of
the captain, came the dismal sound from
below, Blowers going slowly, sir, but can't
hold out much longer.'
Ere the rising of the sun, however, the
waves had subsidized, and when it set, the
Monitor was inside Of Cape Henry, heading
for Fortress Monroe. Through the provi-
dence of God, her officers and men were
saved from shipwreck; and we'll might the
lovers of freedom, everywhere on the habit
able globe, rejoice at their salvation. The
Genius of the Republic had great work for
them to perform on the morrow, for which the
severe trial to brain and nerve to which they
had been subjected on their adventurous
passage was doubtless designed as grim
preparation.
For never were brain and nerve more
needed than now--never arrival more timely
than this! The Cumberland sunk, the Con-
gress in flames, several transports destroyed,
the Minnesota aground! Such was the tale,
alike piteous for those who told and those
who listened to it, which startled the ears of
the iron pioneers as they entered the waters
of the Chesapeake,a tale which, flashed across
the wires, caused apprehension in every loyal
heart from Maine to Virginia, from New
York to California, for the safety of the CAPT.
ital. of Baltimore, of Mansfeld's army, What
mighty issues, then, now depended upon the
untried Monitor and her glorious crew! Per-
chance nations veal or woe, liberty or
slavery, republication or tyranny! But God
is just; and amply did the vessel sustain her
country's honor, amply vindicate the judg-
ment of the gifted Ericsson, in the conflict
that ensued.
At nine o'clock that night Lieutenant
Commanding Worden reported his arrival at
Hampton Roads to Captain Marston, the
senior officer present; and, being directed to
proceed to Newport News for the protection
of the Minnesota, he availed himself of the
services, as pilot, of Acting Master Samuel
Howard, an earnest volunteer for this duty,
and, continuing onward, anchored in close
proximity to the stranded vessel little after
midnight. Just before he "came to-" the
SOu6tOoS pCW up Will ItIIluC IepOIG, anu,
as the blazing fragments were thrown high
in the air, exhibited spectacle of grandeur
such as is rarely witnessed. The Confeder-
ates greeted it with loud huzzas, but the I'm
ionists beheld it with feelings of shame and
humiliation, and vague fear of some dread
disaster in the future. On the Monitor not
word was spoken; but each man registered
VOW Of vengence, on the tablets of his heart,
against the ruthless Merrimac.
Thus passed away the weary hours of the
night, and when day dawned all eyes were d.
rected toward SewelPs Point, in an eager en-
deavor to discover the number, disposition,
and intention of the foe.
And first "loomed up amid the mist of
morning, the Patrick Henry. next the York
town, and finally the iron plated ram herself,
the formidable Merrimac, surrounded by sew
eral small tugs, and looking, with her arched
back, like huge tortoise. Her design was,
evidently, to assume to offensive, and about
half-past seven she reported under way, with
her consorts, steering for Newport News. At
the same time the drums on the Minnesota
and Monitor were heard loudly beating the
call to quarters; and the gallant WordeD, lift
mics, with the intention of engaging til EN- at
as great distance as possible from the noble
frigate, in whose defence it became clearly
necessary to give battle now.
As he approached,th wooden vessels, scat
tering like flock of frightened sea gulls took
refuge behind the dafences at Sewel's Point,
and, alone and unaided, the Merrimac sulen-
ly confronted her tiny antagonist. Then,
turning head to tide and slowing her engine
she triced up her ports and commenced firing
while her crew gave vent 10 their enthusiasm
by cheer after cheer, as they demanded to DO
taken into close action with what they de-
risively styled "a Yankee cheese-box upon
raft" And, in truth, the smile was not a
bad one; nor was it to be wondered at that,
calling TO mind the havoc made on the previ-
Gus day by their mammoth vessel, the Merr-
macs should now look contemptuously down
on the Strengthening craft which presumed
to dispute their approach to what they had
deemed their lawful prize, the helpless Min
nesota.
On the other hand, the crew of the Mont
tor felt entire confidence in their officers,
their vessel, and themselves, and well knew
that, on this still Sabbath morning, from
every temple throughout the north, every
stately mansion, cot, and cottage-for the
telegraph had spread far and wide the news
OF the impending battle-prayers were being
offered up for their welfare. The married
men thought of their wives and children,
the single Of their mothers and sweethearts;