Little Falls transcript., 1886-07-23
Enlargement Of th,{{ x,e1TOplt t6r and
Arrin,s.c ssss

nRag genens 81 Ine ( Io11J Jor 'fll'1 and
"a paper read before Tie commanders 81
New York mill itary order, loyal legion,
United States, By companion Medical SDi.
rector Charles Martin, 9. 81. navy Ire
tired) . ,,s 81
Companions: i will tell you What ]
saw at Newport News when the Merri-
mac destroyed the Congress and Cum
berland, and fought with the Monitor.
It was q drama in three acts. and
twelve hours will elapse between the
second and third acts. .~s.: q: &. H.: 4
''Let US begin at the Beginning
1861. The North Atlantic squadron
is at Hampton roads, except the fri
gate Congress and the razee Cumber-
land; they are anchored st Newport
News, ,blockading the James river and
Norfolk. The Merrimac, the rebel
ram, is in the dry dock of the Norfolk
navy yard; for after the unsuccessful
attempt at the outbreak of the rebel
lion to burn the yard and the men-of-
war lying there, it was abandoned to
the enemy, leaving them IN possession
OF the accumulation of arms and am
munition, which served as an outfit
tor the army OF the contederacy; and
they utilized the half.burned frigate
Merrimac, cut her down, gave her a
short, powerful ram capable OF doing
much harm to our ships, they built
over her q sloping roof of railroad
iron, they made her floating bomb
proof, and when ahoat she looked like
an old-fashioned barn submerged to
the caves. And, besides her three
broadside guns, she had port and
heavy gun in each gable.
The Monitor is building in New York
city. She is a secret, and passes are
given to visit the shiryard where she
is building, and young copperhead
takes advantage OF frequent opportu-
mites; he makes sketches and notes OF
her dimensions, ETC., he carries them
with him down into Dixie. This
treachery is Indirectly cause of safe
ty to the Monitor. The notes show
the confederate government that the
ram OF the Merrimac is too short, it
cannot reach the hull OF the Monitor
under her overhang. They lengthen
the ram, and are we'll aware that in
doing so they have weakenedit, and it
is determined to keep the Merrimac in
the dry dock. wait the arrival OF the
Monitor, send her out to meet her, and
in the action it is positive that an op-
portunity will offer to pierce and sink
her. The Ram is a terror, and both
sides say, "When the Merrimac comes
out!" The last OF February, 1862,
the Monitor is ready for sea; she will
sail for Hampton Roads, in charge OF
a steamer. There is rumor that she
has broken her steerage gear be-
fore reaching Sandy Hook. She
will be towed to Washington
for repairs. The rebel spies report her
a failure-steering detective, turret re-
wolves with difficulty, and when the
smoke OF her guns in action is added
to the defects Of ventilation it will be
impossible for human beings to live
aboard of her. No Monitor to fight,
southern press and people grumble;
they pitch into the Merrimac. Why
does she lie idle? Send her out to
destroy the Congress and the Cumber-
land, that have 50 long bullied Nor
folk, then sweep away the feet at
Hampton Roads, starve out Fortress
Monroe, 60 north to Baltimore and
New York and Boston, and destroy
and plumber; and the voice of the peo-
pie, not always an inspiration, pre-
walls, and the ram is f1oated and man
ned and armed, and March is bright
and sunny when she steams down the
Elizabeth river to carry out the first
part Of her programme. And all Nor
folk and Portsmouth ride and run to
the banks of the James, to have pic
mic, and assist at q naval battle and
victory: The cry of "Wolf' has so
often been heard aboard the ships
that the Merrimac has lost
much of her terrors. They ar
que, "If she is g. success,
why don't she come out and destroy
us?" And when seen this morning at
the mouth OF the river, "It is only q
trial trip or a demonstration" But
she creeps along the opposite shore.
and both ships beat to quarters and
get ready for action. The boats of
the Cumberland are lowered, made
fast to each other in line, anchored be-
tween the ship and the shore, about
an eighth OF q mile distant.
Here are two large sailing frigates,
on a calm day, at slack water an
chored in a narrow channel, impossi-
BILE to get under weigh and mannuvre,
and must lie and hammer, and be
hammered, so long as they hold to-
gether, or until they sink at their an
chors. To help them is q tug, the
Zouave, once used in the basin at Al
bany to tow canal boats under the
grain elevator. The Congress is the
senior ship; the tug makes fast to
her: The Congress slips her cable
and tries to get under weigh. The
tug does her best and breaks
her engine. The Congress goes
aground in line with the shore. The
Zouave floats down the river, firing her
pop-guns at the Merrimac as she
drifts by her. The captain of the Con-
gress was detached on the 7th. He is
waiting q chance to 90 North. He
serves as q volunteer in the action, re-
fusing to resume command and de-
prive the first lieutenant of chance
for glory. The captain of the Cumber-
land has been absent since the Sd.
He is president of court martial at
this moment in session on board
the Roanoke at Hampton Roads, so
the command of both the ships de-
wolves on the first lientenants. On
board the Cumberland all hands are
allowed to remain on deck, watching
tho slow approach of the Merrimac,
and she comes on SO slowly the pilot
declares she has missed the channel;
she draws to much water to use her
ram. She continues to advance, and
two gun-boates, the Yorktown and
the Teazer. accompany her. Again,