Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-04
THE MONITOR TURRET.
An Incident II the Celebrated
Naval Engagement
How the Fighting vas Carried on Under
Difficulties IN the Federal vessel

The late Com. S. D. Greene, ID the
Century. writes OF the fight between
the Monitor and Merrimac, from which
we quote the following: aThe draw
backs to the position Of the pilot.house
were soon realized. We could not fire
ahead nor within several points Of the
bow. since the blast from our own
guns would have injured the people in
the pilot-house. only a few yards off.
Keller and Toffey passed the captains
orders and messages to me. and my in
quiries and answers to him. the speak
ing tube from the pilot-house to the
turret having been broken early in the
action. They performed their work
with zeal and alacrity, but, both being
landsmen, OR technical communion
tions sometimes miscarried The
situation was novel; q vessel of war
was engaged in desperate combat with
powerful foe; the captain. command
ing and guiding all. was inclosed in
one place. and the executive officer,
working and lighting the guns, was
shut up in another, and communities
ton between them was difficult and
uncertain. 1t was this experience
which caused Isaac Newton, immedi-
ateIy after the engagement. to suggest
the clever plan Of putting the pilot
house on top OF the turret, and making
it cylindrical instead Of square; and
his suggestions were subsequently
adopted in this type of vessel.
As the engagement continued, the
working Of the turret was not alto
gether satisfactory. It was difficult to
start it revolving. or. when once start
ed. to stop it. on account of the imper-
fections of the novel machinery, which
was now undergoing its first trial.
Sinners was an active, muscular man,
and did his utmost to control the mo-
ton ofthe turret; but, IN spite Of his
efforts. it was difficult if not impossible
TO secure accurate firing. The
conditions were very different from
those of an ordinary broadside gun,
under which we had been trained on
wooden ships. MY only view Of the
world outside of the tower was over
the muzzles Of the guns, which cleared
the ports by few inches only. When
the guns were run in, the PORTFOLIOS
were covered by heavy iron pendulums.
pierced with small holes to allow the
iron rammer and sponge handles to
protrude while they were in use. TO
hoist these peudu.ums required the
entire guns crew and vastly increased
the work inside the turret.
".rhe effect upon one shut up in a
revolving drum Is perplexing, and II is
not simple matter to keep the bear
ings. White marks had been placed
upon the stationary deck Immediately
below the turret to indicate the direc-
ton Of the starboard and port sides,
and the bow and stern; but these
marks were obliterated early in the
action. ! would continually ask the
captain, How does the Merrimac
bearg He replied. On the starboard-
beam, or On the port-quarter, as the
case might be. Then the difficulty
was to determine the direction of the
starboard- beam. or port-quarter, or
any other bearing. It finally resulted
that when 4 gun was ready for firing.
the turret would be started on It's re-
volving journey IN search Of the target,
and when found it was taken on the
~, because the turret could not Be
accurately controlled. Once the
Merrimac tried to ram Us; but Worden
avoided the direct impact By, the
skillful use of the helm. and she struck
CHANGING blow which did no damage.
At the instant Of collision planted 4
solid northumberland eighty-pound
shot fair and square upon che forward
part Of her casemate Hads the gun
been loaded with thirty pounds Of
powder, which was the charge subse-
ouenflv used with similar gums. IL Is