Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-08
THE MERRIMAC DAY.
AssNNeRsARy OF HER FAMOUS CAT
TlEWrH THE FEDERAL FLEET.
USw sAs Confederate Naval Monster Do
strcysd the Congress and the COM
bsrIasd IN Hampton Roads.


warm, tne kkf Wao w 1922
and the peculiar subtle spring-time odor OF
bursting buds and stirring mould mingled
With the salt breeze that came softly ~
from the sea.
Yet. despite che warmth and brightness
an indescribable spirit OF melancholy ane
y3s~ciation brooaod over the scene, The
beautiful river once crowded with vessels
Law without q eign Of life upon its broae.
breast. and rs far rs the eve could reaci
were 20 DO seen only desolate teids an(
ruined homesteads, with here and there
chin column of smoke rising abovea black
ened pile which had yesterday been
dwelling. On cluster OF ruined chimney
ysing above o cedar grove perched
yioek OF vultures, hoarsely screaming. an!
whetting their beaks as If scenting deati
In the cir.
THr FEDERAL k1S-or-wAB.
Crossing the lawn TO the edge OF the higf
river bank looked down towards Newport
Nova There cleaned the batteries and th'
white tents of the Federal camp, with tn'
vessels of the blockading feet full IL view
guarding the mouth of the river. Che
among them appeared the Congress snC
Cumberland. tall and stately, with every
line and spar clearly detned aSsIns
brissled with guns; but to-day the higgins
Of the Cumberland appeared gay. with sail
ors' gnrments-red. white, and biue-hunt
out to dry. A faint sound OF music cams
up from the camp and q feet OF small oosts
belonging TO the ships drifted lsZily on tne
water. engaged in fishing.
TIE wlTTs-cREEK PICKET.
While 1 cazed my eye was caught by
metallic CLEAN amid thicket OF cedsrs on
that side Of the lawn facing Newport news
and presently there emerged from tne
shaiovs three dragons clad in the blue
Federal uniform. Rising in their stirruPs
.aey gazed earnestly up the river-bank,
past the house. TO the mouth OF a proau
creek some two hundred yards dis,snt;
On its farthest side rose high piun
crowned by q solitary pine, beneath wulcn
stood a group Of three dingy, gray hgures,
rites in hand and horses picketed close
by. This was the famed Watts-creek Coz;
federate picket, the most outlying OF all
the Peninsula posts. being eight miles nom
General MoIIaws's camp and within tve OF
that of Newport News. Their quick eyes
had caught the movement of the Federal
scouts. and for moment the two groups
faced and gazed at each other. III was
thing of no unusual occurrence. ana nnd-
ing all quiet the Federal officers rode 10
the house and questioned the family as 70
what they knew concerning the movements
of the Confederates in the opposite camp.
THE MEBRMAc.
On This occasion, rs several times pre-
yiously, thew inquired particularly as 10
whether the Confederate officers who visited
the house had recently made any alluslon TO
the iron-clad Virginia. or Merrimac, "a she
was generally called. It had been reported
ut Newport News that sho was nearly CON-
pleted and would soon attempt to run the
Blockade from Norfolk to Richmond, there
70 mite with the gunboats jamestown and
Patrick Henry in defence of the city. They
appeared amused at the idea of her get
ting past the fleet and the battery of sixty
guns, and still more so at the suggestion
OF her attacking the feet which consisted,
beside the Monitor, of the Cum
berland and Congress. the Minnesota,
81. Lawrence, Roanoke. Wabash, and
Saratoga. with some gunbosts. These,
they said, lay in full view OF the Confed-
crate batteries at Sewelps Point, and the
idea was absurd of any single vessel,
though "trebly mailed in IRON" venturing
10 attack them. They added that at New
port News some persons believed the Con-
Tolerate iron-clad to be q mere buga-
boo" while others eagerly hoped for her
appearance, in anticipation OF the pleasure
oil sending her " straight TO the bottom"
It was more probable, however, that she
would DO taken prisoner and used In an
attack upon Norfolk, which would be liter
ally fighting the Confederates with their
own weapons. And having thus expressed
themselves. apparently in all sincerity, the
Federal officers romounted and gayly rode
away.
QUIET AFTERNOON.
II vvas ahout q O'Clock. We had risen
from dinner and were lounging upon the
piazza enjoying the lovely weather. Over
at the picket the three figures still stood
motionless, but my eyes wandered beyond
them to an appearance which had for some
DAYS past excited my curiosity. Had the
late visitors have looked more closely they,
too, might have detected, rising above the
woods Beyond the broad bend of the river
some miles distant, the tips of couple of
tall masts. No vessels were known TO be
upon the river within the Confederate
lines, and what this appearance portended
puzzled me to imagine. The river itself
Law with scarce ripple upon its surface ;
not leaf or blade of grass stirred, and q
scene of more profound quiet and repose
could not be imagined.
THE OPENING GUN.
Suddenly upon the silence came the
boom of q distant gun. We looked to-
ward Newport News. All appeared as usual
save that far away in the direction OF
6evell's Point was visible small, black,
shapeless object gliding low on the water,
md followed by what had the appearance
of two tug-boats. At the instant in which
we made this discovery there was a sudden
Stir ut Newport News. An answering. gun
was heard. As If by magic the red and
blue garments disappeared from the rig
ripg of the Cumberland, and the fishing
boats, leaving their nets in the river, pulled
swiftly for shore. Then there was stir
among the vessels: several moved out into
the stream. and the Congress and the Cum
berland, taking O more advanced position
than the rest, commenced firing.
ADVANCES OF TIE MERRIxac.
What could il all mean2 At first we
could make nothing of the black, shape
less object advancing from the Confederate
shore straight toward the feet. Itwas not
vessel, neither a raft. Even the ex-
perienced eye of Captain S., an cd sea
captain, was puzzled by the strange
craft But as she continued to advance.
apparently unframed by the shot and shell
now pouring upon her from both the fleet
and the battery, the truth suddenly flash
ed upon us. II was the Merrimacl and
DeVef butii LOfeot INC tuiil ouu oASito-
ment Of the discovery.
TEE CONGRESS PASSED.
With this thought ! turned and looked
I'D the river. What was my surprise to
behold, gliding majestically down the
broad stream. close together and side by
side, two tall black gunboats, with the
Confederate flag flying at their mastheads!
Thus was explained the mysterious APP
pearence above the woods which had 80
puzzled me. Thew were the jamestown
and the Patrick Henry, and the little
cockle-shell Of boat" hurrying with
aAuch steam and foam in their calm wake.
was the Teazer, carrying upon her deck
one gun! As they passed our house they
commenced firing.
Beyond her slow and steady motion the
Confederate ironclad did not. 10 our view,
exhibit q sign of life until she was IN
among the feet. Then, "a she passed the
Congress. which poured upon hor heavy
broadside. there was sudden answering
Sash from the hitherto invisibleport- holes,
and the roar Of her guns mingled with the
pose of the battle. We could scarcely be-
heve our own ewes when immediately We
perceived the United States flag lowered
on board the Congress and two white flags
euu up at half.mast in token Of surrender.
The ironclad, however, did not pause in
her course but continued heading
straight up the stream. followed
BY her two small tenders. Our impression