The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-14
MONITOR AND MERRIMAc
Interesting Narrative OF mat Historic
Event.
.px1RsL PORTER. THE AuTBoR OF TIE SANAi
HISTORY or TIRE CIVIL War, TELLS The
Story X GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

nDWNR2L FUEInk- N
HISTORY or TIRE CIVIL War, TELLS TIE
Story * GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
The twentieth chapter Of Admira
David ID. Porter's Naval History o
the Civil War, which is now In th'
hands of the printer and will be Is
sued in May, is of profound inter
est. Il tells in a rapid, stirring. ana
vet thorough way, the story oil th'
Confederate ram Merrimacls first ap
pearance in Hampton Roads, he
terrible work. including her destruc
ton of the ships Congress and Gum
bsrland, the fortunate arrival, IN th'
night following that awful day, o
"Ericssonis Monitor" and the dead
ly grapple ofthe two giant iron ciad'
on the day following. 1t is a nara
tive which will particularly stir the
blood of ali old enough to remember
the alternate waves of despair or ex
ultation which swept the land. al
event after event OF these contests
were being heralded on which hing
ed. as was believed, the loss or sale
ty of the National Capital. Porter
Gays:
While the Federal arms were sc
successful In the sounds OF North
Carolina, a great disaster oyertoos
the Federal cause at Hampton
Roads. filling the country with dis
NAV. and even bringing many o.
the Union people to doubt the sue,
cess of the cause for which they had
labored 30 hard"
Here follows a long detailed ac'
count of the construction OF tie ram
Merrimac, from the hull OF the Y
s. frigate Of that name, saved from
tie Norfolk NAVY Yard confagra'
ton. and an account OF the building
of the Monitor. The author, then
Commander IN the Navy, had been
sent TO New York to examine the
Monitor, aud had telegraphed the
Navy Department
This is the strongest lighting
vessel in the world, and can whip
ANYTHING afoat."
The ram Merrimac, sheathed with
iron. was also of s%tupendous power.
a " formidable vessel" az the author
says. He continued:
"On the Sth of March, 1862, the
iron-clad tine Merrimac got under
way and proceeded down Elizabeth
river. cheered by hundreds of peo-
Die who crowded the banks, and as
she passed Craney Island and on
through the Instructions, the ram
parts Of the fort were lined with sol
diers who shouted C C to her
until their throats were hoarse.
Thus the Merrimsc started off with
all the glamor at success, for there
was no one on board who doubted
that she could destroy the fleet then
lying in the roads.
Buchanan and his officers knew
the weak points ofevery vessel IN the
feet, and the number and caliber OF
their guns. He knew that none OF
their shot could pierce the Merrimac
and that he could choose his dis
lance and fire with his riled guns
at he ships as if at atarget, should
he think proper to do so. Instead
of making it a trial trip as first III
tended, Buchanan determined 10
make it . day OF triumph for the
Confederate Navy.
AT this time there was at an
Choir in Hampton Roads, off Fortress
Monre, the Minnesota, of forty guns,
Capt. Van Brunt Roanoke, Of 40
guns, Capt. Marston ; st. Lawrence,
80 guns, Capt. Purviance, and sew
eral army transports. Several miles
above, off Newport News, lay the
Congress, SO guns, and the Cumber-
land, 80 guns. Newport News was
well fortified and garrisoned by a
large union force.
Ii was a beautiful day, following
a storm. The water was smooth
and the vessels in the Roads swung
lazily at their anchors Boats hung
to the swinging-booms, washed
clothes on the lines, nothing indica.
ted that an enemy was expected,
and no one had, apparently the
least idea that the Merrimac was
ready for service.
AS the squadron lay quiet. little
dreaming of the danger that was, SC
near, three small steamers were
reported TO the senior officer al
1915 P. NJ, coming around Sewell's
Point. Ii was soon ascertained by
her large smoke stack that n OF
these vessels was the Merrimac, and
great excitement prevailed. Signal
was made to the Minnesota to slip
her cables, get under way and pur-
sue the enemy but when within a
mile and a halt of Newport News
the frigate grounded and remained
fast during the events which took
place during that day and the one
following.
The Merrimac stood straight for
the Congress and Cumberland. and
when she was within three quarter:
of a mile the latter vessel opened OF
her with heavy pivot guns, closely
followed by the Congress. Paymas.
ter Mexican Buchanan, a brother Of
the Confederate commander. was an
officer OF the Congress. and the Mer
Eimae, passing that vessel, steereC
directly for the Cumberland, ths
Confederate Fag officer hoping thai
the Congress would surrender OF
seeing the fate of her consort, anC
that his brother would thus escape
La passing the Congress the Merri-
mac delivered her starboard broad
side, which was quickly returned
and a rapid fire from both vessels
was maintained on the iron-clsd
The Merrimac, continuing her cours,
struck the Cumberland at right an
gles, under the fore channels on III,
starboard side. and the blow, though
hardly perceptible on board tbs
ironclad, seemed TO those OH boarC
the Cumberland as if the whol,
ships side had been smashed in.
Backing out the Merrimac pu'
her helm hard a starboard. anc
turned slowly when the two Union
ships poured in a continual fire
which apparently fell on the iron
plating of the enemy. On the othe.
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