Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-19

shipwreck when the confederate iron monster
steamed down Hampton Roads on the Sth Of
March, 1852. The success on that day OF this
invincible ship threatened the immediate de-
struction OF Washington; it imperiled the
safefy OF the northern seaboard cities; it dis
concerted the military plans Of the govern
ment and Gen. Mcclellan; it meant the break
ing OF the blockade; perhaps immediate for
eign recognition of the south, and no end Of
disasters. /. 1t is hard now to fully realize the
gloom and CONSERVATION the news Of her first
days operations created here in Washington,
which miGht-probably would-be the next
object OF her attack. Secretary Stanton i'm
medlately said the Merrimac had changed tho
whole character Of the war" and he looked icr
cannon shot through the White House at any
moment.
his seems exaggerated now, but when we
consider the tremendous catastrophe that had
happened within few hours sail of the cap
itai In local waters; that a strange new sea-
gong monster, seemingly impervious to the
heaviest shot and shell, had suddenly thrust
itself into the arena of war, with unlimited ca
pacity for destruction. it is no matter Of as
constituent il our military and naval authori-
ties were momentariiy staggered.
But all unknown to them when they heard
the news Of that disastrous first day the crisis
mad already been met and a second revolution
wrought within twenty-four hours. The same
guns that rang down the curtain on the old
naval regime were heard far over the waters
by the officers and crew of a nondescript little
warship, wallowins heavily through the seas
on her trial trip out from New York. 1t was
Ericssons Monitor. Unexpectedly called upon
TO do battle before she was fairly ready. she
yet proved equal to tho emergency and speed
lily turned the tide again in favor of the Union.
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAo
When the Gosport navy yard at Norfolk was
abandoned by the fcderals on the breaking out
OF hostilities in 1861 the buildings and ship
ping were generally destroyed by fire. Among
the national warships scuttled and fred was
the submarine screw steamship Merrimac, of
forty guns and over 5000 tons burthen. The
confcderates Immediately took possession Of
the dismantled navy yard. Between LOCO and
LOO serviceable cannon of various dimensions
thus came into their possession, and from that
vast ssorehouse Of guns the confederate forts
along the seacoasts and rivers Of the south in
every direction were armed with very little
expense and without much delay This aban-
donment of Norfolk under the circumstances
was one Of the unaccountable pancs OF the re-
bellion. Little noted at the time, at this day
it appears to have been a much greater dis
aster to the Union cause than the fall of Sumter.
John NJ Brooke, a lieutenant in the old navy
who had resigned to ego with his state" out
lined a scheme to the confederate naval author
tiles to raise the hull of the Mcrrmac and re-
build her as an ironclnd and ram. After some
delay Mr.. Brooke's plans were approved and
means provided for the work A confederate
writer who was an officer of the Merrimac, Col.
John Taylor Wood, has described the trans
formation OF the steamer in a most interesting
manner. which is here cip:onized
She was raised and cut down to the old
berth deck Both ends for seventy feet were
covered over, and when the ship was in fight
ing trim were just awash. On the midship
section 10 feet in length was built a. an Angie
OF forty-five degrees roof of pine pitch and
oak twenty-four inches thick, extending from
the water line to height over the gun deck of
seven feet Both ends of the shield were