Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-04-18
ON THE MERRIMAC.
AN ACCOUNT BY AN OFFICER OF THE
CONFEDERATE VESSEL
How the Engagement Began with the
SIonisor-But Little Damage Done
Both Vessels on Their Experi-
mental THps-Hesults.
rco, Jobn ravlor VOL IN The Century,

At daybreek, We discovered lying between
US and the Minnesota Strengthening
craft which we knew at once to be Erics-
sons Monitor, which had long been expected
in Hampton Roads, and Of which, from
different sources, we hal "a good idea She
could not possibly have made her appear
ance at more iEoop0rtune time for Us,
changing our plans, which were 70 de-
stroy the Minnesota, and then the remainder
OF the feet below Fortress Monroe. She ap-
peared but pigmy compared with the lofty
frigate which she guarded. But in her sizs
was one great element Of her success l Will
not attempt q description OF the Monitor;
her build and peculiarities arc well known
After an early breakfast We got under
way and steamed ont toward the enemy,
opening fire from our bow pivot, and clos
ing, we delivered our starboard broadside at
short range, which was returned promptly
from her eleyen-inch guns. Both vessels
then turned and passed again still closer.
The Monitor was firing every seven or eight
minutes, AMI nearly every shot struck Our
ship was working worse and worse, and
after the loss Of the sInoke-stack, Mr.. Ram
say, chief engineer, reported that the
draught was SO poor that 1t was with great
difficulty he c0uiI Ee ap up steam Once or
twice the ship WAS on the bottom Drawing
twenty-three feet OF water, we were con-
fined TO Il narrow chani-!, while the Mon
itor, with only twelve feet immersion
could take any position, and always
have US in range OF her guns. Orders were
given to concentrate our fire on the pilot
house, and with good result. as we had made
no impress ,ion on the enemy, so far as we
could di-cover, while our wounds were
Ia Monitor sad
firing, and we were in hopes she was dis
abIed. but the revolution again of her turret
and the heavy blows of her eleven-inch shot
on our sides soon un lee lived Us.
Coming down from the spar-deck and OBJ
serving a vision standing "at ease, Lieut.
Jones observed:
why are you not firing, Mr.. EGglestonH
why, our powder IS very precious" re-
piled the Lieutenant; and after two hours
incessant firing fi.4i that can do her about
a. much damage by swapping my thumb at
her every two minutes ani half.
Lieut.. Jones now determined to run her
down or board For nearly an hour We
manpuvred for position. Now go ahead.
now stop; now "astern"; the ship was as
unwieIdiy as y ais Ark. At last an OPP
portunity offered Go ahead, full speed"
But before the ship gathered heaiway the
Monitor turned ami our disabled ram
only gave CHANGING blow, eifectiny
nothing Again She came up on our quarter,
her bow against our SIDE, and at this
distance fired twice. Both shots struck
about half way up the shield, abreast Of the
after pivot and tie impact forcel the side
bodily in two or three inche. All the crews
OF the after guns were knocked over by the
concu sion, and hlei from the nose OF ears.
Another shot at TIE me place would have
penetrated. While alongside. bOarderS wers
called away; but She dropped astern before
they could get on board And 50, for tx or
more hours, the struggle was kept up AT
length the Monitor withdrew over the
mid lie ground where we could not follow,
but always maintaining position 10
protect tie Minnesota. To have run our
| Ship ashore or a falling tide would have
been ruin. We AWAITED her return for an
hour; AMI at > O'Clock +. n. steamed TO
| Sewalrs Point. and thence 10 the dock yard
| at Norfolk. our crew thoroughly worn out
from the two-lays' fight Although there is
no DOUBT that the Monitor first retirel-for
| Capt. Van BrUnt, commanding tho Mime
sofa, so states in his official report-the bat
| tie was a drawn one, so Ear as the two vei-
seIs engaged were concerned. Bat in its
| general results the advantage was with the
| Monitor Our casualties in the second days
| fight were only n iev woUn led.
The Monitor was well handled, and saved
the Minnesota and the remainder of the fleet
at Fortress Monroe. But her gunnery was
| poor Not a single shot struck Us at the
water-line, where the ship was utterly I'M
| protected, and where one would have been
fatal Or had the fire been concentrated on
any one spot, the shield would have been
| pierced: or had larger charges been used,
| tho result would have heen tine same. Most
oil her shot struck Us obliquely, breaking the
| iron OF both courses hut not injurins the
wood packing. When struck at right angles
the backing would te broken. but not pene-
trated We hal no solid prOjectiles, except
few OF larse windage, to tie used "a hot
| shot, AMI OF course made no impression on
the turret But in q this it should be borne
| in mind that 10th ye-~cl. were on their trial
| trips both were experimental ami both re-
| caiyino THAR t,l.,sie,s, ~ fire.