The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-17
THE FIRST MONITORS FIGHT
The Death of Inventor Ericsson Recalls
the Famous Fight in Hampton Roads.
How the Plans for the First Submerged Iron
clad We're Made-Difficulties Overcome
A Revolution in Naval Construction.
New York World.

New York World
Everybody is recalling instances just now
in connection with the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
fight on the seattle most famous naval
battle of the late war. An eye witness and
participant tells the story below:
The death of John Ericsson recalls vivid
ly the world-renowned action between the
Monitor and Merrimac, which, as one or
the decisive battles of the great struggle,
has something more than common interest.
John Ericsson, born In Sweden In lso3,
came to America in 1889 at the solicitation
of Commodore Stockton, and was at once
employed in introducing his propeller on
the steam man-Of-war Princeton. In the
early stages of the civil war, Ericsson met
q capitalist, Mr.. Bushnell. and to him the
inventor submitted his plan of an abso-
lutely invulnerable battery. He kept the
model in box about eighteen by fourteen
inches, which, he said, contained the re-
suit of the labors of twenty years. 1t re-
quired vast amount of patience and per-
suasion on the part of those interested TO
induce the Navy Department to indorse
the project, and the compact finally
drawn up was so stringent on the part
of the government that the gentlemen con-
nected with the novel battery became
alarmed lest they should be financially
ruined. Some idea of the labor involved
can be formed when it is stated that be-
tween thirty and forty patentable inven-
struction. 1t occupied one hundred and
one days from the day the contract was
signed until the Monitor was launched. In
constructing the vessel, Captain Ericsson
prepared over three thousand plans, large
and small. The entire cost of the structure
was $4,000.
Upon the burning and abandoning of the
Norfolk navy yard the steam frigate Mer-
was one of the most magnificent ships
in the United States navy, being rated
as forty-gun frigate of 1900 tons dis
placement. She was built in Charles
town, Mass, in 1856, and was conceded as
one of the finest specimens of naval archi-
lecture afi0at. The cOnfederates raised the
hull, which was cut down, and a sloping
shield of railroad iron constructed, firmly
plated and riveted extending two feet be-
low the water line. The appearance pre-
scented was much like the slanting roof of a
house upon a ships hull, the ends of the
vessel projecting q few feet beyond the
main structure. The wood backing was
covered with iron plates eight inches wide
was put on horizontally, the second up and
down, making total thickness of iron of
four inches. The ram or PROV was of cast
iron, projecting some four feet. Her bat
terry consisted of two seven-inch rifles as
bow and stern pivots. two six-inch rifles
and six nine-inch smooth bOres ID broad
side-in all ten heavy guns. When all was
completed she was renamed the Virginia,
Buchanan. an officer who had high in
the navy to which he had prov se.
1t will be rememembered tina Merri-
mac made her appearance a 1T noon
Lying off Fortress Monroe and Newport
News were the following vessels, comprIs-
ing the Union feet: The Minnesota, fifty
guns the Roanoke fifty guns; the Congress-
fifty guns; the ST. Lawrence sailing frigate,
twelve guns, and the Cumberland sIoop,
twenty -four guns. These vesseles were
armed principally with eight-inch and nine
inch guns, while some had in addition
twelve-inch pivot gun: With the appear
preparations for battle, the crews were
summoned to quarters. and on the Cumber-
land $40 brave fellows stood silent and ex-
pectant, while 434 mustered on the broad
decks of the Congress. The Merrimac
steamed steadily on, received the broad
side of the Congress at less than fourth of
a mile distant, the heavy shot glanced of
the irOnclad sides of the monster as
harmlessly as hail. Passing the Con-
the confederate ironclad ran straight for
the Cumberland. The sides of the sloop-of
war were crushed and mangled, while the
dead and dying encumbered the deck from
the deadly fire of the Merrimac. The water
rushed through the gaping rent, the unf0r-
tunate vessel heeled heavily to port and
went down, the remainder of the crew fir
ing brOadside at the last moment. When
she touched bottom her fiagwas still flying,
but it was over the grave of more than
hundred of her crew. The Congress was
run on shore. her commander was killed,
and the frigate was compelled to surrender
to her adversary, whose raking fire was
dealing havoc along the death-encumbered
decks. She caught fire from the hot shot
of the irOn-clad, the flames soon reached
the magazine, and the fragments of the
crippled frigate were hurled in
every direction. The Minnesota and
| doubtedly succumbed TO the superior
| force of the irOn-clad, but night was coming
| on, the Yankee vessels were in such posi-
| tiOns (beIng agroundl that they could not
escape before morning, and, having accom-
plished a brilliant days work, established
| the fact of her invuinerability at short
| range from the heaviest guns possessed by
| the Federals, the iron monster, flushed with
| victory, retired to her anchorage behind
| Craney island.
About 10 o'clock in the evening the senti-
| nels on the parapet of the fortress sighted
! two small steamers coming in from sea.
| The sleepless garrison were on hand, and
| as the steamers drew near. soldiers, sailors
and civilians crowded together to catch a
| glimpse of the odd-looking object that the
| steamers had in tow. 1t had the appear
ance of small raft, with tower or cupola
a few feet high. 1t was the Mon
itor in tow of the gun-boats Sach-
| EN- and Currituck. But little was
known of the strengthening craft, and
many an anxious eye gaZed after her as she
disappeared in the deepening gloom of the
night. She was insignificant in size com
| pared with her adversary, and mounted
| but two guns to her adversary's ten. Sun
| day dawned without cloud. Soon the
| Merrimac was reported under way, and in
stantly all was life on the Monitor. The
| iron matches were closed, headlight covers
| put on, and every obstruction removed
| from the main deck, so as to present a
| smooth surface, only twenty four inches
| above the water, unbroken save by the tur-
ret and pilot-hOuse.
| EricssOn's battery was in fighting trim,
| with Lieutenant WOrden in the pilot
| house, and Lieutenant Green in charge of
| the guns. Thousands watched the begin
| ming of the encounter. The Merricac, I'M
conscious of having to meet a
| new antagonist. steamed leisurely
| toward the immovable Minnesota, which
| delivered a brOadside that might as well
have been directed against Gibraltar. The
| sport for the rebel craft was about to COM
| mence, when a strengthening concern
| glided from behind the side of the majestic
| frigate, boldly confronting her huge antae-
onist. The large iron pendulum swung
| aside, the muZzle of gun appeared, a
| laundering report followed, and a mass of
| iron weighing 10 pounds struck the slop-
| ing sides of the ram. The gauntlet thus
| boldly thrown down was at once taken up,
| and the Merrimac, at close quarters,
| poured in a broadside, enveloping the scene
| in heavy pail of smoke. As this floated
lazily to leeward it revealed the Monitor
unframed, with 1O0-pound shots rafting
| vaily against the mailed sides.
Il - -. l. Il