Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-20
WORDEN.

On the 18th instant there died at New
port man of the nation whose passage
to eternity should not be allowed to go
unmarked by public expression in any
print of the country. Rear Admiral
Worden filed place in the nations his
tory in the war of the rebellion that at
one time made him the most conspicuous
figure in the navy. The episode of the
Cumberland, the Merrimac and the Mon
itor will never fade from our annals, nor
the heroic action of W0rden and his gal
liant crew be forgotten in our history. The
monster rebel ram ran down the old
wooden-sides March s, 1862, under the
very nose of Fortress Monroe The great
ram was known to be preparing for her
work of destruction, but the Cumber-
lands crew fled not they stood the shock
and went to watery graves as only brave
men can. The ram withdrew for the
night, with the threat TO cover Hampton
Roads next morning with the wreckage of
Union vessels. With the new day she
steamed down the tide to re-enter upon
her work of destruction, but Just as loyal
hearts failed and the brave men of de-
voted feet were preparing to die, there
came upon the scene what was termed
matchbox upon bread-tray-or, more
popularly, cheese-box upon rattan
odd arrangement, thing to be laughed to
scorn by the iron-plated ram with all her
immense weight and all but irresistible
force when under way. But in the curl
Gus little iron box just peeping above the
bay were Lieutenant John Lorimer Wor-
den, commanding, and gallant crew of
blue jackets, working two guns that were
to awaken that morning more than sur
prise throughout the Confederacy He
steered the Monitor straight for the huge
ram, and as he came he worked her two
eleven-inch smooth-bore Dahlgrens so that
their roars of defiance gave exultant hope
TO loyal hearts in Hampton Roads
Just before respondent and demoralized.
The little submerged ironclad battery
played about her mammoth antagonist
with her ten powerful guns, moving twice
and thrice with ease and alacrity where
the ram could scarcely turn once. As one
of her officers wrote, She was as unwieldy
as Noah's ark, while the Monitor, with
only twelve feet of immersion, could take
any position and always have us in range
of her guns" The battle lasted some six
hours, during which Worden was seriously
wounded, but his fortitude never forsook
him. The Merrimac was driven to re-
treat, and while the immediate result wa:
drawn battle, it was really the most i'm.
portant early event of the war, since il
checked the triumph Of the Confederate
navy, demonstrated the uselessness oil
wooden war ships and the value Of plated
floating batteries and that few men shut
up in little iron box ailoat could with
heavy guns fight and whip the largest
ironelad rams Commander Greene
shortly before his death, he being on the
Monitor during the battle, claimed in tie
Century that the contest really resulted in
a great victory for Worden. He certainly
saved the remainder of the Union fleet
secured the safety of Hampton Roads
drove the enemy from the field and gave
hope and courage to the loyal men of the
nation they sadly needed. Gle was victor
in the first ironclad battle of the worlds
history lie was one of the most gallant
men of the navy, every inch a gentleman
a citizen of broad intelligence, com
mander of rare executive ability.