The Indianapolis journal., 1885-06-14


Harvey B. Bassett the writer of the following let
ter, and well known in this city. member of
Company IL. Twentieth Indiana Volunteers, and gives
graphic description of the historic attack by the
Merrimac On the Union feet at Fort Monroe and her
col test with the Monitor and the part taken by his
regiment On the 9th of June, following, he fell
wounded on the battlefield Richmond, and died
in Libby Hospital on the Sd of July, 1862 The re-
mains OF an afectonae and brother kind friend
and comrade, and brave soldier rest in unknown
gravel
CAMP BUTLER. NEWPORT News, VA.
March 3, 1862.
My Dear Brother-I seat myself to tell you OF
disastrous conflict with the enemy. made only
worse as it came from a source which had been
for SO long belittled and sneered at that people
had become Indifferent to the danger Yester
day the steamer Merrimac came around from
Norfolk and steamed slowly up the channel
toward the Union vessels, the Congress and
Cumberland, which lay off our camp. The
frigates Immediately cleared for action and
poured in their tremendous broadsides of round
shot and shell upon the rebels turtle-like back,
which bounced off like peas thrown on a barrel
head and with no more effect The internal en-
gine came on like moving island with
her sharp iron Prov projecting far out
from the buoy of the boat and strik-
ing the Cumberland directly in the center
sent the noble frigate, with her l., 200 gal
lant tars down in three fathoms of water, kill
ing and drowning over a hundred men. The
crew rushed up on deck fired their revolvers
last resort, and giving three cheers swan to
the shore. The Merrimac then turned on the
Congress and poured on her tremendous broad
sides, which were returned without particle of
effect the shot from the 120- pound ri1ed guns
glancing off without doing any damage Nearly
one hundred men, including the commanding
0nf SvynJfh ln6 nJhn h0
struck. The crew, as in the Cumberland,
fought like tigers to the last and after running
her aground swan ashore. The rebels then
went on board and set her on fire. While
this was partly going on l was out with
thirty-two men of our company, and the same
number from Company E, three miles from
camp under command of Lieutenant-colonel
Van Valkenberg, tearing uD couple of old
chimneys, when the sergeant of the picket
guard came up at full speed and told US to make
for camp. We had heard the firing, but heard
so much that we supposed it came from Drac-
ticing at the guns and brigade drill We at
once started for camp at double quick, and
| coming up near saw the New York Second In
fantry, drawn up in battle order the noble Cum
berland on her beams end, the Congress hard
aground directly off our camp, whilst the large
Floyd on the Dreastworks was firing fercey at
the rebel gun-boats and Yorktown, and great
showers of shot and she'll were flying over our
camp falling about three hundred yards to the
rear Our two companies hurried up to quar-
ters, the shell constantly bursting thick and
fast above us. Once we were compelled to
lay down. A piece of shell few close over my
| head bad been standing up t.would have killed
me instantly. / found nearly all of our regiment
lying in behind the quarters. The shot and
shell passed over our heads, cutting off tent tops
and tanning our faces but most singularly not
striking or injuring anyone. good many, my
self amongst them, went down to the waters edge
and commenced firing on the enemy's gunboats
| as they were boarding the Congress. We paid
II, 49,
us 1.-THE Twentieth Indiana) at Hatteras last
October killing and wounding large number,
One fellow, who had taken down her flag and
wrapped it about his body, was shot by
small sn boy in the regiment One Of
brought it off put bullet directly
through the pilothouse Of one boat and into
several skiffs. The enemy were driven from the
frigate by our boys of the Twentieth alone, but
they set her on fire. All this time the terrific
thunder from the 1S0-pounders of the rebel YES.
sels-the Merrimac and Yorktown-and the
works on shore were deafening. Towards even
ing the Merrimac went down the harbor to at
tack the Minnesota. which, in coming to our
ensued until dark, and then the enemy went
into Sewelrs Point, and the pale moon shone on
the scene of conflict, whilst We brought off the
dead, the dying and wounded-a sickening sight
which will not describe, and may God forbid
that / sac the like again. We lay on arms all
night, ready for land attack. During the
night, fortunately for and all the vessels
in the harbor, Ericsson's battery came
7 into the fort She is iron clad, bomb and bullet
proof. This morning the sun rose clear
and beautiful a Sabbath as ever was seen. Dur
ing the night the Congress burned. About 10
o'clock in the evening the flames burst through
her decks, igniting her rigging and spreading a
luminous glare over the heavens and across the
harbor, her tall masIs were columns of fire, her
shrouds, ropes and sails looking like silver
threads, while at the same time we had the un-
/ comfortable thought that two of her guns were
pointed directly toward our tents, and nearly
| half broadside to the camp, and if the fire
should reach the magazine of twenty tons of pow
| der the explosion would hurl her timbers all
| over us. AS she burned the guns became
heated and discharged the loads all about us. but
! fortunately no damage was done beyond the sink
! ing of a small sloop. About 2 o'clock in the
| morning the magazine blew up, but the vessel
| had burned 50 low that harm was DONE af
| fording most magnificent spectacle, throwing
| cinders far heavenward and then, amidst clouds
| of sparks and flakes of burning rope, she sunk
beneath the waves, entombihg the burned and
| charred bodies of many gallant tar.
This morning the Ericsson battery-the
| Monitor-and the Minnesota engaged the Merri-
mac for three hours, all the boats throwing 180-
| Founders into each other. The Monitor proved
herself fully equal to her foe, and
enough to sink any ordinary frigate, she drew
| off to Norfolk. The rebel Yorktown was cap
| tured early in the fight and taken into Fort
| Monroe.
| 2P. M.-The rebels are coming down in the
rear. We are all drawn up and ready for battle,
| 5000 strong.
| 7P. M.-The afternoon passed off quietly. We
| have no more fears of the Merrimac, as the Mon
| tor is fully her equal. The loss is about 300
| berand were old frigates, and, except for their
| armaments, were of great value, and were to
| have left tomorrow for Philadelphia to reft,
| and were to be relieved by the Monitor and st.
Lawrence. / am now fairly in the midst OF t
| fight, and send kiss-mavbe the last-to "
all Your affectionate brother,
HARVEY B. BAsSETT.
General Grant and the Artist.
New York Mail and Express.