The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29

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The Last Of the A,7rtmac.
Our first move was to attack Fort Hafteras.
which we did successfully, destroying the fort
and taking abont61O prisoners. From there
we returned TO Fortress Monroe, whence the
Cumberland, in company with the nld frig-
ate Congress, was ordered TO Newport
News to guar the mouth Of the James
River against the arrival of the rebel gun
boats, known TO be fitting ont at Richmond.
1t was in the evening of the 18th of March,
1862. In idle groups scattered about the
decks the sailors were discussing the topics
OF the day in the calm twilight.
For several months The Cumberland had
been at anchor IF the James River. In the
stream, about quarter of nile distant,
lay the Congress. II was known that the
rebels had raised the Merriml' and fitted
her out as war-Ship in me thOd "ntlreiy
new TO modern warfare. For the past
few days reports had come from the shore
that she was about to come out; iheret re,
we were on he qui vive Of eX0scIa ton.
Every day we asked ourselves, Would she
come out today" A rum0r had come from
the shore that she would come out TONER
row sure" This was the principal topic of
conversation On board the Cumberland that
evening.
was not with ut some feelings of anxiety
There was no doubt that we should soon see
more active service. as it was well known
the rebels we're fitting out some ships at
Richmond and that they could be expected
at any moment.
The sun rose on the beautiful morning of
March S. 1862. The air was sharp and clear,
exposing To view the green-clad hills OF Vir-
GINA. fresh in the garb of spring Hardly
ripple disturbed the placid surface of the
nHDtE. Ii.
ING 10 the shore. around the point anu dis
appearing among the low hills.
At about 9 o'riock the lookout at the
masthead reported line of black smoke
rising over the river IN the direction of
Norfolk, and it soon became visible from
the deck
Immediately there was excitement, for
there was no doubt now that the smoke
was from one or more of the rebel gun
boats, and at $3.50 all remaining doub's were
banished bv word from the shore that the
luug-eXpected mucn-talked-Of Merrimac
was coming down the river.
Nearer and nearer to the mouth of til @
river came that line of black smoke. On
the Cumberland all was excitement. which
the sharp orders of the officers, the hurried
movements of the men. the ratting of
chains and the clanking of iron d d Il OF
tend 10 diminish. All eyes were turned
toward the shore, and just about 1850
o'clock the ponderous form of the Merrimac
turned out of the Elizabeth River and made
straight FOR
Tie drum beat to quarters. This was the
signal for every man 70 his station, and it
was Immediately followed by The patter of
running feet, answering the command
''She IS turning back came the cry from
the lookout, and sure enough she seemingly
had stopped but as we looked she again
began to move. By this time the fort on
shore had begun firing with battery Of
6-inch James rifles, but the shots struck and
flew of her slanting sides, doing no more
harm than as many pease.
She was now almost abreast of the Con-
gress and only a quarter Of mile from us
BOOM B0oml She had Just delivered a
broadsde into the Congress as she passed,
and was bearing down on US with fullSpeed.
Our guns we're now firing, but against the
slanting sides of the MeTrimac they We're as
Intellectual as the guns on shore. She was
now only few hundred yards away, and
would surely strike US.
Haul on the spring linpr' and twenty or
thirty men answered the command.
A word Of explanation in regard to the
spring line A line had been run from the
anchor chain at the bows down along the
side of the ship, and passed in through the
stern quarter, thus allowing the vessel to be
swung around in any desired position III
case of attack AS we had been lying at
anchor for some time, one of the officers
had directed the line to be made fast along
the ship'S side clear of the Water THIS fact
seemed to have escaped the recollection OF
everybody; consequently the men Juggling
on the spring line we're unable to move the
ship ! am satisfied, however. b d they ben
successful il would have been Of no avail.
/ looked over the side again and saw the
Merrimae was almost upon US. She had
fired several shots into Us, killing and
wounding a number of men on the gun
deck
Through the portfolios of the Merrimac
/ could see the gunuerS with the lanyards
in their hands.
Another second and she would strike US.
held my breath, then an awful crash, ac-
companled by n terrific Jar, told me we
were struck. 1t felt AS though the ship
were being bent in twain.
More than TWO dozen men were still tug
ging on the spring line. l ran forward and
saw the ship was filling RAPIDLY from an i'm
mense hole, through which a torrent OF
water was rushing.
The Merrimac had hauled off a short dis
lance and fired several more shots into US.
| was standing near the men who were en-
deavoring to work the spring line, when a
percussion shell from the Merrimac struck
the bulwarkS in front of us, killing and
wounding several men in my vicinity. Gov
cred with the blood Of the brave fellows.
with brGken timbers and debris all about
me, | picked myself up rather dazed but
otherwise not hurt and assisted in carrying
one poor fellow down 10 the sick bay
where the ships doctor was attending the
wounded. Alasl in few moments it be-
came their grave.
had just reached the sick bay when an
other shell exploded directly above the
natchway, filling the place with binding
smoke. Igrappled for the eompaniOnway,
and succeeded in reaching the deck.
The ship was now sinking rapidly and
would go down in few moments. Seeing
everybody leaving her | rushed to the
stern. where n rope was suspended over one
8 ha tvh bainO raninlV filed
1 lowered myself and had almost reached
the boat when she pushed off. CHANGING
above, | saw several men coming down, and
thinking some of them might not be able to
swim, L dropped into the water and struck
out, knowing il would be dangerous to be In
the vicinity when the ship sank.
After few moments L looked back and
saw the Cumberland go down. She first
careened on one side, then partially right
ing. with bows first, plunged beneath the
surface.
soon saw it would be impossible for me
to reach the shore. | succeeded in remov-
ing my coat aad cartridge-b belt. but was I'M
able to get off my boots, which weighed me
down terribly. L was beginning to aban-
don all hope, when L heard the sound OF
oars and l was saved.
Semi-conscious and thoroughly exhausted,
] was dragged into the boat and carried to
the camp hospital on shore, where stiff
drink of whisky and good nights rest
brought me around all right.
Early next morning we heard OF the ar
rival Of the Monitor, and in company with
others | went down to the point Newport
News, and witnessed the great duel which
has since become famous in the naval his
tory of the world.
What was left Of the marine guard Of the
Cumberland was sent to Washington. l
afterward served to the close Of the McClel-
Ian campaign on the James River.
The career of the Merrimac was memora-
BILE, but short. Just two months after the
fight the rebels blew her up on Craney
Island. Her engines were very poor, and
this, with her added weight, made her
clumsy. unmanageable and unseawoTthy.
GEDarAR-r II 4 RRotUN