New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-22
THE MONITOR AND MERRIMAC.

Admiral Porter describes the CHARACTERIZATION OF
the hull of the Merrimac, saved from the general
destruction of tue Norfolk Navy Yard. to an
ronclad which, " thus equipped differed and
manned represented at the moment the riost power
ful fighting ship in the world "; adding, " the
Federal Government might well feel uneasy at the
tidings which threatened TO carry destruction all
along the Northern coast" OF her commander he
says:
She was placed under the command OF Flag Officer
franklin Buchanan, who resigned from the United states
Navy where he had reaped the highest rewards that
could be bestowed In time Of peace. He was man OF
undoubed courage his professional ability OF the
frat order Buchanan fortunate in surrounding
himself with excellent officers, men capable OF perform
ing any naval duty and 1t may be remarked that no
commander was better. seconded py his sDDOrdi-
mates We had several large steam iIgates at that TIN
which might have been cut down and coy cred win IRON
ia much better fashion than done In the case OF he
Merrmac the department, ~ ID uuo' s IN, 'iG toe
ironclad vessels but two or item were Tar pcnlhu Ie
I'm building aud the other was little nohdescrlpt tht
mn one I'm line Navy Department with the exec pon OF
Commodore Joseph smith had any cohluchcc ~. ms ms
in case she proved successful against the enemy bat
terics but had the steam rigaies been cur uoM iu
plated we need given little anxiety 70 the appeht
ance of the MerriInac any other vessel ana would
have first IN the field with TINS new factor IN war
which was to reyolutionize naval warfare -
But there many things We cannot account Ior-se
receive humiliation at first oeacn us NOT 70 nhorre
emergency with Ercssons nondeserlpt 70 snow "hat
Am And enterprise could do In behalf OF the Union
% ahs Monitor Of Ericsson approached completion the
Navy Department hurried the work on learning tna. se
was further advanced than they had supposed
This was in consequence OF the fact That connsnaer
David d. Porter mad been sent to New-ioIK 10 eaano
the vessel and report opinion AS TO her capacity 10 de
with an enemy. After Thorough examination 81 'n y.
details OF the vessel Commander Porter 20
the Nayy Department: "rnis IL the strongest hgnun9
vessel In world, and can whip anything snat, Dut
when returned TO Washington Few DAYS aei nc WAS
laughed at by high official aud clever one AZ mat
"Why, man." he said, John Lenthoi preulcts ,nat
Ercssons vessel VIII sink soon az she Is M
Mr. Lentho unquesti0nably high anthority, ous ne
was certainly mistaken on this OCCASION. iaAo loss
others he npon nondescrpt as clever scnee
10 obtain money from the GOVERNMENT Dnt ne supsc~
ouently did ample justice 20 Ericsson ana punt many
vessels after the distinguished inventors models when
for a time placed the United states Government ahead Oh
all other naval Powers. M, ,.xo ,o-
our statesmen do appreciate the necessity OF na
sufficient to protect our extensive coasts ana Sixty
niIJions of PEOPLE, so we have fallen back into our
original condition. whouta single roncad that wona
| command tho respect OF the weakest Nations. nc.
Ericsson still lives with vgor uninpsred and intellect