The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-05
A GLORIOUS ACTION.
The Battle Between the Cumberland, Congress and
MeTrmac

Merrimac.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The battle
Of Hampton Roads, so called in history, which
occurred Off Newport News, or Mt the mouth of
the James River, between the u. s. frigates
Cumberland and Congress and the Confederate
ironclad Merrmac and two gunboats York
town and jamestown, took place the Sth of
March, 1862.
Twenty eight years have elapsed since that
period. History only gives short account of
it, Very little has ever been written about it,
and have been patiently waiting to see if
some old shipmate and moro fluent writer than
| am would give MS an account of that historic
contest, but | have been waiting in vain. Col.
Taylor Wood, in the Century MdgdziHe of March.
1887. gives a very fair account of it; from
Southern standpoint, however.
March 8, 1862, marked new era in the his
tory of naval warfare. Great Britain stood
aghast at the spectacle which her wooden walls
presented after this battle Heruavy had been
her pride and glory for ages. Atone fell sweep
they had crumbled in the dust, rs il were. Her
Prime Minister, Lord PamorstOn, consulted at
once with his Cabinet to devise ways aud
means to remedy the defect How well he and
his successors have succeeded history will in
form you better than | can. France, Russia,
Italy, Germany and even Spain followed suit.
Certain il was that the battle between the Mer-
rlmac and Cumberland opened their eyes, and
large factor in fastening new develop
ments III the science of navafwarfarC and arch
itecturo. After the capture of Forts IIatteras
and Clark, the Cumberland was ordered TO
Hampton Roads and from there TO Newport
News, at the mouth of the James River She
anchored within aquarter of n mile of Newport
Nows, fortified military camp, commanded by
Gen. Mansfield, at that time a white-h haired old
veteran, who later on gave up his life for the
Union at the battle Of Antetam.
The James River at this point is probably
five or six miles wide, and in order to make the
blockade more secure and cut of commuuica-
tions between Richmond and Norfolk, our after
l1-inch pivot was exchanged for PARROT rifle,
which would heave a solid shot clear over the
North Carolina shore. Plenty of gun practice
by day and guard rowing by night was our
principal occupation. with an occasional run on
shore among the soldier boys to change the
mouotouy of routine duty. Our ship was still
commanded by Capt. Marston, Lieut.. Davenport
being the Executive Officer Then came in
order Lieut.. George u. Morris, Thomas O. Sci.
fridge and Lieut.. Green. followed by Masters
Gordon, Stiverson and Randall. OF Masters
Mates there were ONeil, Tyson aud iTarring.
ton. The latter was killed in this action, his
head being severed from his body by a splinter
as clean as though cut with a knife. Lieut..
Haywood had command of the marine guard,
Leighton was the ships carpenter and Bruce
was sail-maker. / don't Just ut this time
remember the name of our Purser. / remember
he always had tender feet, aud it seemed hard
work for him 10 walk Lieut. Davenport was
a Southerner, Virgnian by birth, aud tho
rest of the officers, at least some Of them,
did not take very kindly to him on account Of
his Southern proclivties. Whether they had
any reason to suspect his loyalty we OF the
forcastle could not say. The escape of the
Sumter off Cape HattoTas seemed to ranklo In
the minds of "A good many aboard, surmisiug,
perhaps, that he was the means of ordering up
the ships private signals on that dark night,
which was the cause of her escape because il
she had come near enough We could have blown
her out Of the water.
However, this may be only surmisc. At
any rate, there seemed TO 10 friction. Ono
night especially, scene occurred in the ward
room. Pistols were laid out ready TO be used,
but wiser counsel prevailed. aud tho event
passed off for the time being. What may have
been the cause Of these little disturbances
am unable 10 say. The blue Jackets considered
Lieut.. Davenport a gentleman, aud very cour-
teous in his demeanOF. There did not seem 10
be any reason, apparently, to doubt his loyalty
because he was shortly after promoted 10 Lieu
tent COmmander and given charge Of gun.
boat Capt. Marst0n was also relieved from
the command of the Cumberland and took
charge Of the Roanoke Capt. Livingston
was our next commander after MArston. Geo
u. Morris. who then became Executive Officer
of the ship, was strict disciplinarian, but a
kinder hearted officer never stepped a ships
deck. This brings 10 my mind our ships Sur
geon, DIR. Jackson. Whore is the blue. Jack %
the marine who does not remember Dr.
Jackson aud the maggoty bread? Ii was in
the power OF the Doctor 10 condemn this bread
unit 10 be eaten by men. The appeal OF the
crew was in vain. We used 70 get hammer
to break the pesky stuff aud then soak it In
our hot toa, then skim of the macgots aud
wcVis and after awhile we could masticnte it,
But, thanks to a higher authority, DIR. Jack.
sons time was short. He was superseded by
DIR. Martin. No one was sorry TO see tho
change. With the advent Of DR. Martin All the
bread was condemned, aud one fine morning n
gang OF men might have been seen dumping
bareback out OF one Of the lower portfolios over
the side, and with the food tide streak OF ID
could be seen hGating up tho james River as
far rs the eye could see, on It's way 10 City
Point. Ninety-six bags OF bread were thrown
over ~ this way, aud a new supply came aboard
DIR. Martin endeaTed himself 10 every man
aboard by this one act. Rowing guard at night
tedious job. This was done 70 keep tho
rebels from laying tOrpedocs IN the river Now
and then a report would come from Norfolk
that the Merrimac was all ready aud would be
out and make miBcemeat OF The Congress and
Cumberland, aud at such times the crew was
called 10 quarters, guns were double shotted
and many nights the boys lay between the
guns but when morning came we found we
had been fooled by these false reports Capt
Livingston did not retain command OF the
Cumberland for any length Of time He ggs
not healthy man, aud ut his own request was
relieved by Capt RadfOrd
So time wore on during the Winter months
OF 1862 we dong routine man of wars mems
duty. One pleasant pastme was TO get tho
daily and weekly NetO York Herald A good
reader was selected and a group would huddle
around the reader. The post of honor was gem
orally awarded 10 VIM +. Hubbard, of Marble
head Mass, fine reader with q good voice.
Poor Hubbard was killed in the action with
the Merrimac The Sth of March 1862, came.
and finer morning never saw in that south
ern latitude. The sun came up smiling in all
its splcndOr. IL WAS "up hammocksn that
morning and then "hOlystOne" and wash decks
as usual. After break fast (it being Saturday,
IL was up all bags" and every old tar went
through his bag, mcnding and getting ready for
Sundays muster round the capslan. About
nine o'clock the Quartermaster reported
steamer coming out Of Norfolk. He was or.
dcfed by the Officer Of the Deck 10 keen n strict
watch over her and report
This steamer kept mannVerinq aropnd
about the Hofscshoe-so-callcd by Il sandbar
which formed horseshoe near the shin.
channel. 1t seemed that the duty of this
steamer was TO find out the depth of water
The steamer seemed TO be heading up the river
toward Newport News Both the Cumberland
and Congress crews were called to uuarters
guns were donble-shotted aud decks were
cleared for action. Every hammock and every
bag that could be spared were Dlaced arnund