Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-13

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short time the Federal ship, having
run into very shallow water, ran up
the white Gag. The Confederate gun
boat Beaufort, was then ordered 10
take charge OF the Congress; and the
Confederate o1hesr received the
Gag Of the Federal ship
and the surrender Of the
Federal vessel from her com.
handing officer, who, with
his officers aud crew, delivered them
selves up as prisoners of war.
And now begins the shameful part
Of the story. The officers of the
Congress, who had thus surrendered,
requested permission to return to their
ship that they might assist in removing
their wounded comrades. This re.
quest was promptly granted. But
these gallant officers sneaked off and
never returned. But this was, per-
haps, only an act Of individual perfdy,
The worst part of the story is to be
told. While the Confederate gun
boats we're lying alongside the Con-
gress and the Confederates we're at.
tending 10 and renewing the wounded
Federals, and while two white flags,
hOisted by her own officer, we're flying
from the masts Of the surrendered
ship, a terrific FIRE was opened upon
ntm by the Federal batteries on shore,
killing and wounding several officers
and men. There is nothing in the
history of the war, nor in the events
immediately following it, which sur
passes in per6dy this murderous acl
of the Federals, except, perhaps, the
firing by the mob of incendiary ne
groes upon the whites at ColfAx Court
house, in this State, in 1872, when the
latter we're approaching them under q
flag Of truce. Under this murderous
are the Confederate vessels abandoned
he Congress, whereupon the Virginia
opened upon her with hot shots and
ncendi4ry shells, and finally blew her
up Thus ended the first days fight
The next day the Federal Monitor
appeared on the scene faction. The
Virginia early in the morning engaged
both the Minnesota, blowing up
steamer alongside of her, and tn,
Monitor. Once the Virginia succeeded
in running into the latter, and tht
order had been given the Confederate
TO board her, when with speed supe-
-ior to the Confederate, the Fedora.
vessel escaped aud fed 10 shoal water
where the Virginia could not pursue
her.
1t is not pertinent to our purpos,
to further relate the events OF th,
fight, since we have related about al
the part the famous Monitor took il
it.
Having driven the whole Fedora
feet, save what she had destroyed o
captured, into the shadows, the Vir
GINA sailed around the deep water 70
some time, like Paddy at a fair
anxious for one OF her antagonists II
tread on her coat tails; but she waitet
in vain, and with her attendants inall.
returned TO her anchorage, where sh
remained unulthe LIST OF May, durinI
which time, she frequently invited th
Monitor to IN engagement in the dee
water, but without evoking a reDonse
:, On the date just mentioned, tn
} C~oniederates resolved to evscust
Norfolk, and all preparations for tina
t purpose having been completed an
/ the Virginia being unfit to go t
I sea, was taken By the Confed
crates themselves, to Crane
Island, where her crew wer
landed, and then and there say
5 Colonel VIM Norris, an eye witness
'on the very field of her fame, With
: sight Of the Cumberland's top gallan
masts, all awash, within sight Of tina
magnificent feet still covering on tn
shoals, with her laurels all fresh an
green, we hauled down her droopin
colors, and with mingled pride an
grief, we gave her to the flames"
Such is the history of the battle {
Hampton Roads, Of the part the Viz
GINA took in it, Of the part the Mon
itor and her crew took in it, and {
the destruction OF the Virginia.
5 That a bill should now be brough
into Congress to pay the crew Of III
! Monitor prize money in this fight, il
in view OF the facts, we repeat, a bolC
unblushing and infamous attempt I
. rob the treasury and, infinitely wOrst
to Ielie history.
} The Union soldiers and sailors wo
glory and displayed heroism on to
I many fields and under too many skie
TO countenance any such fraud as thil
and Union men may, in this case q
least, join with the Rebels 10 Dc
%nouucing, as a shame, and a scanda
this attempt Of the v%ultures Of th
lobby to rob the people under tb
CLOAK of reWardi1g services to tb
Union. The House has silenced thi
dirty job for the present; let US hor
that no one can hereafter be ioun
shameful enough to attempt to bio
/ new life into it,