The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-05
THE RAM MANASSAS.
An INTERESTING SKETCH OF HER
FIRST GREAT EXPLOIT.
Savannah News.l

have been surprised In reading over some
Ut the histories OF our late war, to discover
that In not one Of them Is any mention made
u the ram Manassas ana her 1lgnt III r.
cred the first naval engagement Of the war
While I make no pretense to talent as q
writer am induced to give you brlef MS
tory OF this ram, her construction, inventor n t
and the fight she made, clearing out Jhe req
eral fleet OF blockaders ut the mourn OF Cne
Mississippi. Having been requested several
times TO give some account or tne ralh, l nave
at last concluded to attempt the task, and
hope the facts relate may be or interest TO
many OF your readers.
10 Cant, John e. Stevenson, an old citi-
zen Of New Orleans, all honor should be rem
dered for conceiying and CARRYING out the
construction of this mode OF warfare. I'M
mediately after the victory Of the ram sMa-
nasas. !" the noted "Merrimac," with whose ex-
pIoits all are familiar, was fitted up in like
manner.
Capt. Stevenson purchased for his inven-
tion The towboat "Enoch Train," a we'll made
year 1859. She was 1856 tons, being 100 feet long,
effect beam and IL feet hold Her upper deck
was raced, and @ turtle back or arched roof
built over her with heavy timber, and plated
with railroad iron. A stout iron PROV was
then fastened to her bow, five feet below the
water line. A nine-inch Dahlgren gun on her
bow completed her equipment for action on
At this point r must note briefly the
place, fleet and time OF her exploit. The scene
OF action WAS 100 miles from New Orleans, at
the head OF the passes, being twenty-five
miles from Fort Jackson and fifteen miles
from the bar.
The Federal fleet consisted of one frigate,
the "Richmond,' and three sloops Of war, the
s.Vincennes," the "Preble" and the "Water
Witch"
Many visited the so-called "Nondescript,"
afterwards christened the Gram Manassas
S,, ~y,xyF+ int, hyr
crate forces at the battle Of Manassas,
fought about that time). and the general i'm
preston of all appeared to be that she would
prove failure. Although the officers of the
started on her career on the eleventh
Of October, 1861. I commanded her
with one gun and twenty-five men.
We arrived at Fort jackson at p, m,
hen n PREPARATION We aft Ft Wh made Tor
m. on the twelfth, reaching the fleet in three
hours. The Richmond was the first assault
ed, and with good effect. She was struck
just forward OF her fore chains on her port
bow at 80 a. M, and was SO disabled that
she was afterwards abandoned. The blow
would have sunk her Immediately had 1t not
been for q coal schooner lying alongside,
which was cut In two and sent to the bottom
Owing to the darkness of the night | was
unable to discover the schooner until too
late. In this attack one Of our engines was
disabled and we were prevented from
attempting q second attack. Events
proved however, that this was not
necessary, as the suddenness and effective
ness OF our unexpected assault had accom-
plished the object desired. Evidently the
Federal commander did not understand the
situation, and was at loss to determine what
loose their guns they poured terrific broad
sides directly upon u.s., The shot only
glanced harmlessly upon the iron roof of our
ram "like SO many peas" and considering
discretion the better part of valor, they quietly
slipped their cables and made for the bar.
At daylight there was nothing in sight, the
river was clear the entire fleet having disap-
peared during tine night. Being disabled, we
then proceeded to New Orleans for repairs
and to report the gratifying result Of our VEN
ture, which proved the ram complete sue,
Tie ram was then bought by the Confed-
crate government, repaired, commissioned,
and put into the service of the Confederate
navy, where she remained until the fall Of
New Orleans In April 1862, when she was
I'D by Farragut's fleet.
Her Commander, CIV A.
Savannah, June %, 1878.