Helena weekly herald., 1886-08-12

next morning before the fog lifted. The
Monitor was not visible anywhere. My
thoughts were anything but pleasant-de-
ceived-I concluded. Shortly after nine
O'Clock the fog cleared away. Overth bay un-
der the guns of Sewelrs Point, lay the Merri-
mac and consorts, ready to begin the "clean-
ing OUT process, no doubt .s.well arranged.
About Q: 20 the "Patrick Henry" a walking
beam steamer, started out headed for the
Minnesota, to demand her surrender The
Minnesota on striking the bar swung half
broadside to the fort and presented the same
front to the Merrimac. The Commander, ].
Taylor Wood, knew nothing Of the arrival of
the Monitor The Patrick Henry continued
to advance cautiously, until out from under
the bow OF the Minnesota steamed the little
Monitor, strange looking war ship, pig
my compared to her rival. Little idea could
| form of her size or fighting qualities. Her
hull was almost level with the water, and
nothing visible thereon but the little pilot
house, turret and flagstaff By this time the
Merrimac had got under way, but the Pat
rick Henry had stopped to investigate the
little stranger. To satisfy her curiosity, the
Monitor sent an II inch solid shot from her
Rodman gun, which convinced the Henry
that she had no business there. Then came
the magnificent sight of two iron clad expert
ments approaching each other for vantage
ground The Monitor opened the fight,
other statements to tbe contrary with
solid shot, which struck the Merrlmac square
under the port bow. This reception aston
shed commander Wood, who fell back
about mile with the Monitor advancing.
Presently the Merrmac advanced until with
in about two hundred yards of the Monitor,
when the first great battle between "lron
Clads" commenced. The scene at this time
was magnificent. The army and navy on
both sides were quiet, with the exception OF
the Minnesota which sent broadside of -
guns in every direction within range and
with the assistance of ferry boa. from New
York, mounting two guns, kept tine Confed-
crate gun boats at bay all day. The Con-
federate account Of the battle says that this
ferry or gun boat was blown up alongside
the Minnesota. This is a mistake. The
ferry boat took fire and burned about mid
night close to the wharf / answered the
''long rolf when her guns went off. When
the Merrimac and Monitor advanced to close
quarters, an army and navy on both sides
were anxious and hopeful. The firing of
the Monitor was necessarily slow, while the
Merrimac, at times, delivered her fire rapidly.
When shots missed, as they frequently did,
their course for miles could be traced
by the path of foam. Both vessels were
handled with skill and to gain every advan
tage. The Merrimac tried to ram the Mon
itor, and in so dong only struck a glancing
blow that raised her out of the water almost
to the under line of her armor protection.
The Monitor delivered her fire at this critical
moment, striking the Merimac about "wind
and water line" This shot decided the fight.
The Merrimac retreated, and when put on
the dry dock at Gaspoort Navy Yard had
six feet of water on board. At the same
time that the Monitor hulled the Merimac,
inch shell from the Merrlmac exploded
against the opening in the pilot house of the
Monitor, and just as Lieut.. Worden had
eyes close to the slit OF opening, quarter of
an inch deep and about eight inches long.
The Powder was driven through into Lieut.
Worden's face which rendered him blind un-
til 1864 Mr. Lincoln told him that he was
the only man that he ever heard of, that lived
to tell of inch shell exploding within ten
inches of his face. Shortly after the blind
ing of Worden and the hull shot on the Mer-
rimac, the fight ended by the retreat Of the
Merrimac The Monitor was unable to fol
low, owing to the almost PROSTATE condition Of
officers and crew from heat, and want of air.
She had very liltle ventilation. The first
great fight was over and it was their last.
ARTHUR LINN,
10th N. Y. Zouaves.