The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-10
NAVAL BATTLES OF THE WAR
Remarkable Word Pictures Painted by
Major Dane at Plymouth Church.
A Graphic Description of the Memorable En-
counter Between the Merrimac and Mon
itor-Great Fights on the Water.

Major II. c. Dane, of Boston, lectured at
Plymouth Church, last evening his topic being
THE Great Naval Battles of the War" He
spoke of the unprepared state in which the
opening or the Rebellion found the North, and
described the construction OF the navy as one OF
the miracles of the war.
Tho navy was first heard from on the 5th of
November, 1861 when thirteen men-of-war
opened their batteries on forts Wagner and
Beauregard. The next engagement was on the
9th of November following in 1862, when sixty
five vessels off Roanoke island, accompanying
and conveying large feet of transports, after
FIVE days heavy bombardrnent, opened breach
through which the army made it's way and took
possession of Roanoke island. He then referred
to Captain Foote, who created the ''tinclad" and
mosquito" fleets and the work they did at forts
McHenry and Donelson, and the powerful aid
they were to General Grant.
He then spoke of what he termed the little
battle between the Monitor and Merrimac
There were five men-ofwar watch dogs for the
double purpose of keeping in some kind of a
strange craft that was being constructed up
the river, and for keeping out
two feets-one of England and one
of France that were lowering about our coast
If this strange craft got out it might lombard
Boston, New York, or Philadelphia. and thus
give sufficient reason to these two unfriendly
powers to recognize the confederate govern
ment. At o'clock, one morning, as officers and
men came up from their breakfast, they observed
tall column of black smoke rising beyond
Craney island, and moving toward the bay.
They saw long, black, rakish looking craft
with sloping head and sloping stern, filled with
ports, which Immediately headed down stream
for the fleet At once the fleet pped to quar-
tiers, and then discovered the dilemma they
were in. 1t was perfectly calm morning, and
the sailing vessels might sheet tn cir canvas, but
to no purpose, for there was not breath of air
to fill it. The Roanoke, lying furthest
down the bay, was disabled, having her
machinery apart and her fires out
The great steam frigate Minnesota, lying
upstream, abreast of three sailing frigates, hove
her anchors, moved few lengths and ran into
mud fast and deep There she lay immovable
all that day and the next. Seeing this, the great
iron monster came boldly on, pouring shot and
shell into the minnesota, anu receiving but
feeble reply from her bow guns until abreast the
first sailing vessel. She swung and dashed into
| that vessel and cut her nearly to the waters
into her victim, Kidding her from stem to stern
and strewing her decks with dead and dying I'M
| til, seemingly tired of this, she swung into the
bay again, dove at her the second time and cut
her down seven feet below the water line. Into
this great gap poured a torrent, and the craft
began to settle at once Still the monster
poured her broad sides into her until the rebel
commander, seeing the inevitable fate
of his enemy, cried out demanding
! surrender. In the veins of that loyal young
40 =, 1f al
| the naval hero of the war of 1872. He replied,
| 81 will not surrender. There is my flag at the
peak, and there it shall remain while the peak is
above water" The rebel answered with another
| broadside, and deeper and deeper the victim
settled In the water-up to the berth-to the
spar deck-then an old tar on the forecastle deck,
with both legs shot off, dragged himself forward,
| siezed the lanyard of the last gun. pulled the
string. and with that report down she went
through the water into the mud until her flag.
| few feet above the water, seemingly having
caught the spirit of its master, refused to 60 be-
low. There it hung all that day and the next
| still more memorable-day a few feet above the
waves. and the Cumberland was in her grave
Then the monster gave attention to the other
| wooden vessel which lay furthest in near the
shore and in such shallow water she dare not
| attempt to ram her. So, taking distance, and
getting range and elevation, she deliberately
| poured her broadsides into her second victim,
hour after hour, receiving hot reply, until at
| last the young executive officer-the commander
being away.-seeng the fate of the sister ship,
decided to strike his flag and send up the white.
| and in few moments rebel crew was on her
deck Upon the banks, surrounded by his army,
where he had stood all day unable to lend any
assistance in this terrible conflict, was white
headed old General Mansfield who then ordered
his artillery to open upon the deck and clear it
| of its rebel crew. and soon the deck was cleared
| He then ordered young officer to set her on
! FIRE That night, about midnight, the flames
having reached her magazines with a tremen-
dous death groan spoutng her blood as it were,
into the air, column half mile high of flames,
and brands, and sparks, and settling back into
gloom, darkness, and silence, the Congress was
gone and the days dread work was finished.
Long before this the guns of the great mon
ster were overheated she dared not attempt to
use them more that day. With a parting salute
to the Minnesota, as if to say SIN the morning
we will return and attend to you,' she retired
slowly up the bay several miles, dropped her an
| Choir to cool her guns and wait for morning.
The lecturer here graphically portrayed the
dismay caused Mr.. Lincoln and his Cabinet and
the entire North by the news of this days dis
aster. He continued: That Saturday night, after
the Merrimac had finished that days work, a
little past o'clock. a singular looking concern
came steaming into the waters of Hamp.
ton Roads, and dropped her anchor under
the great black walls Of the Minnesota
on board the Minnesota, to the senior
officer AS he went on board at 10
o'clock at night. to his establishment
he found the men standing at quarters ready for
action He was then told the news. 1.-THE
Merrimac is out Two vessels have been de-
stroyed the Roanoke is disabled below, we are
here in the mud and cannot move and are ex
pecting her down every moment" After a
short consultation the commander of the new
craft went back to his own deck, hove anchor,
sailed up the bay several miles and lay there.
The rebels woke up next morning and looked
down the bay. Discovering this little thing
upon the water they concluded the Yankees had,
for some purpose, planted buoy during the
night. They hove anchors and started down for
the Minnesota. When about a mile from the
little thing the big craft discovered for the first
time that it was moving up stream toward her.
Then she tackled to get around it, not knowing
what it was. The little thing also tackled to cut