The National tribune., 1892-09-08

into the Regular Army, and rose to be full
Brigad ier- General. AS such he was with
Taylor at Buena Vista, in Mexico. After thai
war he commanded the Department of the
Pacific. and was in operations elsewhere. He
succeeded Butler at Fortress Monroe, and in
1862 he occupied Norfolk.
Wool was wont to say, when the question oil
age was referred to, Young man, / have no,
seen as many birthdays as you" the fact being
lie was born on the 29th day of February. At
Fortress Monroe he took pride in letting it be
known that he mounted his horse-alway q
spirited one-from the ground. wiry, bull
let-headed man, with piercing eyes, not weigh
ing over $50 pounds, he could do things thai
many much younger one could not do, and
his power OF endurance was extraordinary. He
was great discplinarian and not little vain,
and could make veterans of recruits in the
shortest time. He knew tho service throug Oh
and through, and was ever alert. He com
manded at Fortress Monroe before and at the
time of the Merrmac naval battle, and in vain
tried to have better preparations on our side
1t was his nephew, John A. Griswold, who was
mainly instrumental in having the Monitor
built and providentially, it almost seemed, in
the fight at the critical moment; Griswod and
his associates taking their chances for getting
their money back from the Government.
l had been at Fortress Monroe consider
able time previous to the Merrimac's arri val
and was acquainted with nearly every rumor
and fact known at Headquarters concern
ing her construction and the intentions OF
the rebels. Gen. Wool had communicated
these to the authorities at Washington, all
of which pointed directly to the certainty
that this vessel was not only novel in con-
struction, but formidable in armament and
every other respect. 1t was with much diff
Guilty he finally awakened proper apprecia
tion of this, aud induced the Government 10
take steps looking toward preparations for
meeting the newcomer.
1t was only short time before the coming
out of the Merrimac that rough looking man
applied for admission to the fort saying he
had an important communication TO make to
Gen. Wool. He said he had come from Nor
| folk-precisely how he would not say-and the
| General, if he only knew what he had to re-
late, would be glad to see him. Capt. Clinton,
the Generals Military Secretary. put the man
of by saying the General was taking his after
dinner nap, and no one was ever permitted ia
disturb him on such occasions. But so persist
ent was the man and SO sure was he that Wool
| would thank him that Capt. Clinton ventured
| to awaken him, and the result proved the man
was correct. On being ushered into WOODS
| presence he proceeded to produce from his uHder
garments map or drawing of the Merrimac on
| which he had worked as ship carpenter for
| months, and he declared he was familiar with
| every part of the ship. The information was
| in such minute detail, seemingly go accurately
! painted and pencled on cloth and paper, that
there could be no doubling the stOry's entire
accuracy. Wool was convinced, and in his
mind there was left no kind Of doubt oil
| the Importance of making formidable and
| instant preparations for dealing with the
| visitor whenever she should make her ap
| pcarance, the date of which the man fixed
! as it appeared afterwards, with surprising
accuracy. The same night Wool sent the mar
| with member OF his staff to Washington
| having rewarded him with considerable sum
| of money for the patriotic and valuable service
| he he'd rendered. Still, the authorities at Wash
| ington acted tardily, and seemingly with un
belief. When tho Merrimac did come, tn,
| arrangements for dealing with her, though
considerable, were insufficient. Inteliigen
| action, with much information on hand al
| the Government possessed, would not have
| found the historic frigate Cumberland in
| position to render her All easy and almost un
resisting victim. A single stroke from thu
| Merrmac sent her to the bottom. with score
OF brave men. The frigate Congress also fell
prey not less easy and complete to the new
rebel creation, as 10 the character of which the
| Washington authorities wond not believe TIN
reports with which they were furnished.
No account that / have seen has given a,
accurate idea of the panic at Fortress Monro
l
not only loose, and had already destroyed tn
| Cumberland with heavy loss, but had mad
tho Congress. surrender-afterwards the latte
| reconsidered and committed selt-destructon
Not only in the Fortress but among the flee
In the harbor did the panic prevail. Yes
sells that were there TO meet the Merrima
started for her, but generally they eithe
grounded and thus became useless even to say
themse yes, or backed out az the better course
The frigate Minnesota consort Of the Merrima
originally, became helpless-hard aground
Navy people who know do not like to admi
the fact or to even have it spoken of bu
nevertheless il is Interpretations were mad
that night to blow the Minnesota up to proven
her falling into rebel hands. The execution {
that purpose was prevented by the energy
Capt. James M. Hunt, Capt. Talmadge's Harbo
Master, man who had sailed in all seas an
seen almost everything of sea life. 1t is tru
that his promise to float the frigate at high It'd
WAS not realized, so hard on" was she, bu
time was obtained and the fate for which tn
great Minnesota had been stripped " was pre-
vented and she had years of usefulness aitel
ward.
The turning point was when the Monito
unheralded. entered the harbor-herself ignol
ant Of the true state of things that existed
her way into tho Roads having been lighte
| BY the burning Congress, fragments of thu