, 1883-06-23

ana camp at Fortress Monroe thai
night there was nothing but gloom
doubt and despair. The rebel craft
was imperviOus to balls and could &C
where she pleased. In the morning,
after demOlishing the fleet, what was
to hinder her. from ascending the
Potomac to Washington or keeping
on to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York or Boston ? 1t was a night OF
terror, CONSERVATION and bewilder-
.ment. About 10 o'clock in the even
ing the sleepless garrison of Fortress
Monroe sighted two. small steamers
coming in from sea. As the steam
ers drew near, soldiers, sailors and
civilians crowded together TO catch a
glimpse of the odd-looking thing
that the steamer had in tow. 1t had
the appearaRee-ef a raft with tower
or cupOla few feet high. 1t was
the Monitor, in tow Of the gunboats
,Sachem and CWTitHck. But little
was known of the strange-looking
craft and many an anxious eye gaZcd
after her as she disappeared in the
deepening gloom of night. She was
insignificant in size compared with
her adversary and mounted but two
guns to her antagonists ten. Her
chance Of success, in the face of such
fearful odds, appeared small, even to
the most sanguinc.
Sunday dawned without Il cloud to
sully the brilliancy OF the heavens.
Soon the MeFTimdc was reported un-
der way and instantly all was life on
the Monitor. The iron matches were
closed, headlight covers put on and
every obstruction removed from the
main deck, so as to present smooth
surface, only twcnty-four inches
above the water unbrokcn save by
the turret and pilot house. Erics-
sons battery was in fighting trim,
with Lieutenant Green in charge Of
the guns and Chief Engineer Slim
crs directing the movements of the
turrct. Thousands watched the OPEN
ing features of the encounter with
beating hearts and shortened breath.
The Merrimdc, unconscious Of hav-
ing to meet a new antagonist,
steamed toward the immOvablc Mn
RcsOtG, which delivered broadSide
that might as well have been direct
ed against Gibraltar. The sport for
the rebel ram was about to COM
mcnce, when a strange looking con-
Ccrn glidcd from behind the side Of
the huge frigatc and confronted her
astOnished rival. The huge iron
pendulum swung aside, the muzzle
of gun appeared, laundering re-
port followed and mass Of iron
weighing 10 pounds struck the slol7
ing sides Of the ram. The gauntlet
thus boldly thrown down was at once
taken up, and the .Htrrimac, ut close.
quarters, poured in brOadsidc, but
the smoke cleared away, revealing
the Monitor unharmcd, and 100
pound shots ratified against the
mailed sides and glanced Off with
the utmost impctuoSity. At one
time, when the vessels were almost
touching each other, Lieutenant
Green trained his gun on the Merri-
macs water line. The shot struck,
evidently penetrating the hull.
splendid, sir, splendid ~ exclaimed
the delighted Worden through the
speaking tube. "YOu made the iron
fly fire as rapidly as you can" The
ram, in her attempt,to run down the
Monitor, failed entirely. The result
was that the McyTimac sustained the
greater damage, her prov being
broken, causing a bad leak.
The contest was for time 50 hot,
the muZzles Of the hostile guns al
most touching each other, that both
ships were enveloped in a cloud of
which no eye could pene-
trate. For four hours the duel ragged
the Monitor steaming around her foe
for vital spot. The ram had enough
Of it. He was whipped, fired his
last gun, declined further battle,
turned tail and ran. The Monitor
was entirely uninjured. She was
struck twenty-five times. Thus was
the wonderful craft conceived, built,
launched and floated on to glorious
victory, creating sensation which
Involved the rebuilding and remod-
cling of all the armed fleets Of the |
world.
The termination Of n career which |
opened so brilliantly, the ultimate fate |
Of craft that had by her efforts pre-
served the American Union, is well |
worthy of the imperishable record
achieved by the Monitor. The MoRt- |
tor left Hampton roads in tow Of the |
United States steamer RhOde Island
on Monday, December 20, 1862. At |
o'clock that evening the Monitor
passed Cape Henry, towing easily |
and averaging a speed Of between
five and six miles per hour, bound |
to the southwark. The first indica-
tiOn Of approaching danger was her
aided by a swell from the southward |
the wind increasing slightly from
the southwest. The sea dashed light |
Iy over the pilot hgi 3" striking the |
base Of the tower, E. 'sri IN sufii-
cient force TO hr' usyF il. The |
wind hauled MOI g. III. -pGthward, !
in strengG0, causing a |
long, regular sea. The Monitor was
now about seventeen miles to the |
Of IIattcrns, plunging |
q = ]