Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-13

ing twenty-three feet of water, we were
confined to a narrow channel. while the
Monitor 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 after
ward learned. More than two hours had
passed, and we had made no impression
on the enemy, SO far as we could dis
cover, while our wounds were slight.
Several times the Monitor ceased firing.
and we were in hopes she was disabled,
but the revolution again of her turret.
and the heavy blows of her eleven-inch
shot on our sidet soon undeceived us.
Coming down from the spar-deck and
observing a division standing at ease
Lieut.. Jones observed:
"'Why are you not firing, Mr.. Eggles-
ton?'
"'Why, our powder is very precious
replied the Lieutenant; and after two
hours incessant firing l find that can do
her about as much damage by swapping
my thumb at her every two minutes and
half
Lieut.. Jones now determined to run
her down or board. For nearly an hour
ahead now stop; now :astern': the
ship was rs unwieldy as Noah's Ark. At
last an opportunity offered. go ahead
fail speed But before the ship gathered
Roadway the Monitor turned, and our
disabled ram only gave a glancing blow.
ei1ectlng nothing, Again she came up
on our quarter, her bow against our side.
and at this distance fired twice. Both
shots struck about halfway up the
shield, abreast of the after pivot, and the
impact forced the side boldly in two or
three inches. All the crews of the after
guns were knocked over by the concus-
sion, and bled from the nose or ears.
Another shot at the same place would
have penetrated. While alongside.
boarders were called away; but she
dropped astern before they could get on
board. And so, for six or more hours.
the struggle was kept up. At length the
Monitor went over the middle ground
where we could not follow, but always
maintaining position to protect the Min
nesota. To have run our ship ashore on
falling tide would have been ruin. We
awaited her return for an hour; and at 3
O'Clock pm. steamed to Sewall's Point.
thoroughly worn out from the two
days tight. Although there is no doubt
that the Monitor first retired-for Captain
Van Brunt, commanding the Minnesota,
so states in his official report-the battle
was drawn one, so far as the two vessels
engaged were concerned. But in its gem
eral results the advantage was with the
Monitor. Our casualties in the second
days fight were only few wounded.
1.-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 unprotected, 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 large charges been used the result
would have been the same Most of her
shot struck us obliquely, breaking the
iron of both courses, but not injuring the
wood backing. When struck at right
angles the backing would be broken, but
not penetrated. We had no solid proiec-
tiles except few of large windage, to be
used as hot shot, and of course made no
impression on the turret But in all this
it should be borne in mind that both
vessels were on their trial trips, both were
experimental, and both receiving their
baptism of fire.