The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-05
port she came after her escape from the burn

had been itching for one all Winter. We got
all we wanted before p. m. on the 9Th Of
March. About IL o'clock the Merrmac was
reported by the Quartermaster rs coming out
of Norfolk, and all hands were again called to
quarters, everything being in readiness to give
her warm reception. Some delay was caused
by the tide not being just right. The Merri-
mac kept manuvering around the Horseshoe
and tho mouth of the ship channel. Flood
tide would serve Mt o'clock. Our crew was
pipcd to dinner, and told to get through as
quick as possible. Ii was the last dinner eaten
by good many of them. One o'clock came,
and with it came also the Merrimac, making a
straight wake for the Congress, who laid right
ahead of tho Cumberland, down the river,
about 200 yards. OurCrew were at their guns,
watching the Merrimac. Asshe came stcamiug
up the river she was grim looking monster
like floating blacksmith shop, with sloping
roof and smok Cstack,
As she came by the Congress- that ship gave
her a broadside, but it seemed TO have no effect
whatever. The battery of the Congress was
6S and 30 Founders. and she might have Just
as we'll have thrown u handful of marbles for
she made right for tho Cumberland. Because
of our heavy battery, we thought we could cope
with her. Morris tried TO spring the Cumber-
land broadside to, but on account of the tide
being at its food the spring would not work
for some time, aud this was just what Buchan-
an in the MerrimaC had been waiting for.
He poured in raltiug fire, which had tor
ribe effect on the spar-dcck Tho marine
guard was drawn up on the port quarter on he
spar-doclS, for tho purpose of repelling board
crs, and the first fire from the MerfimaC killed
and wounded II of them. Our forward ll-inch
pivot was the only gun at this time that could
be used until tho spring on the cable was hauled
in, and then ono by one our starbOard battery
began TO get their bearing on this grim iron
monster. She came right for US, and with her
iron Prov struck us in the starboard bow, going
right through the second cutter, which was
partly lowered down, and into tho sick bay,
soon flooding it and driving out the sick and
wounded, who had to be carried to n safer place.
Backing off little way, sho brought her bat
terry TO bear on ns with terrible effect Our
starboard battery and spar-deck pivots put In
their work with solid shot, but they seemed TO
have littlo effect on her armor Tho firing Of
these large guns all Mt close quarters was simply
terrific. Neither ship could bo seen for the
smoke. The carpenters gang had busy time
plugging up shotholcs but the hole made by
the steel PROV could not be stopped to any
great extent
Firing was kept up continually. Congo n
little way, in order TO get on good Roadway,
this monster made for us n second time; this
time crashing into us right abaft the forerig-
ging. She held fast TO rs with her Prov, and
could not eXtricatc herself from that position
The water kept gaining on us rapidly DESPITE
our pumping, and it seemed that the Mcrrimac
must sink with us, as she could not back of.
BoardeTs were ready to jump aboard, but what
would have been the use of jumping aboard,
for one could not get farther than the roof OF
the ironclad, aud they would DO taken prison
eFs ut will. The berth deck was flooded and
our ship carcencd over TO starhoard so badly
with tho enemy and her Prov hanging onto US,
that il looked as though both ships were
Al nd hut oil aF FfII Al i
off aud both ships rghtcd again. Ii was Mt
this time that Capt. Buchanan, of the Mcrri.
mac, came up out of the iron trap-doors aud
calling our commander George U. Norris by
name, asked him to surrender the ship. The
answer he received is matter of history:
Never Not as long as | have q man TO fire
a gunl"
As a reinforcement two rebel steamers came
down from City Point % help out the days
slaughter with the Merrimac. But they kept
Mt respectful distance from our . and li.iuch
DabigrcEs. The Congress, in the meantime,
slipped her cable aud set all sail, ia order to
manuvcr or get out OF the way. But whatever
her object was, she failed. Her commander,
Capt. Smith, having been killed, she ran head
on to the beach aud Of course grounded She
was now ut the mercy of the Merrimac York
town and jamestown. She Was rakcd by the
enemy from stem to stern with scrious effect
Tho Cumberland, after receiving her second
ram, kept sinking gradually. The chances to
keep her ahoat and save her were very small
A good deal Of firing with smallarms was in
dulged in, the enemy being close aboard ut
times, so that we could look into her portfolios
which received the attention of the marine
corps on the spar deck, and the blue. jackets
with their royolyerA A marine by the name of
Gates drew bead on Capt. Buchanan of tho
Mcrrimgc, over the hammock netting with a
Springfield rifle, while that worthy was par.
leyng for Is surrender with Morris II was
said at the time that he shot him in the
leg. This we know, however. that Capt Buc.
hsuau was relieved by Capt. Tatnal aftcrward
The Rundeck of the Cumberland was a sight
TO behold, aud can never forget that scene
Tongue cannot tell nor pen describe It. ] can
only compare 70 to "A slaughter, house. The
scuppers fairly ran with blood the gunnrrs
had To sand the decks in order 10 stand on their
feet TO work tho guns The means of the
manned aud dying were enough 10 carry dis,
may to the stoutest heart. Bat there was no
time for sentiment there Two soldiers visit
ing by chance aboard had to stay and could
not get ashore during the action but they took
their braided Jackets of aud hauled the guns
about with their blue, jacket comrades What
became OF them do not know. If remember
right the name Of one of them was Mcnamara
Word was finally passed for every man To
save himself, Tor the water gained so rapidly
hhab nHth tHt worn WAS gwen wafer was very
nearly mp to her portfolios, and some OF tho
crew had actually 10 dive through the port
holes IN order 10 escape. Lieut.. Morris, the
commander, was one of the last To leave the
snip. Standing aft on the tati'raii, seeing the
water coming over the port bnwarks the
pivots went by the board, and he Jumped into
the river and would have drowned had not one
OF the wardroom boys held him upuntil he was
rescued by one Of the boats
The old chin lar tn IL
rlghtcd somewhat. and went down head first.
Her tops were just out of water, in seven
iathoms OF water, with the flag flying at her
mizen peak Some Of our men were saved BY
staying IN the tops and some by hanging To
the rigging, tailed out like Il string of fish,
but were all finally picked up by tho soldiers
from ashore; your humble servant being one
OF the latter so picked up. over 80 officers
and men lost their lives in this action All
the wounded were drowned with the excep-
ton OF two or three; the largest casualty
in any action Of my remembrance. The only
action that know of. or that came anywhere
near TO that number, was the battle between
Paul Jones on the B0nhomme Richard and tho
two English irigates, both Of which surrendered
to him. The Congress caught fire, and with
her sails all loose made an elegant illumination
Her guns were all loaded, and ns they became
hot from the heat of the ships fire, DISCHARGED
themselves nj random. A small steamer called
the Wclland, lying alongside the wharf at
Newport News, was sunk by the shots from tho
port battery OF the burning Congress. The
fire finally reached her magazine, and at IL
o'clock that night an explosion occurred that
shook tho camps at Newport News like an
earthquake. The heavens were illuminated
t.t. -