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

the other confederate sunboats
Between and o'clock the grim DESTROYER
GOT under way, steaming toward the ship she
had marked down for her prey the night be-
fore. The Monitor was also ready the officers
and crew at their stations, Worden burning to
test the lighting capacity Of the machine under
bis command He placed himself in the pilot
house, well forward. to maneuver the ship;
GREENE was IN the turret to work and fight the
guns. AT this date he was only twenty-five
years old lie had watched the building Of the
Monitor, studied her qualities. had confidence
IN her success and sought service Oh board her.
Norden afterward said Greene exhibited an
earnest devotion to duty unsurpassed in his ex-
perience.
THE GREAT NAVAL DUEL
Worden steered directly for the enemy's
heet, the wooden ships OF which Immediately
retired out OF range when they discovered the
nature OF the thing they had to deal with The
newcomer had been observed DIT once by the
Merrimac's people and they knew it was Esics-
sons Monitor. Nevertheless she confidently
came forth to the combat and Immediately
opened fire from her bow pivot, both at the
helpless Minnesota and her new and unknown
defender. But Worden made no sign until he
got alongside the Merrimac. when he gave the
| order to Greene; Commence firing" Greene
ran out one of the heavy ll-inch guns and
pulled her OF. and the battle was on. Even
that old sea dog Van Brunt OF the Minnesota.
who had been trembling in his grounded ship
since the night before, was surprised, but none
the less pleased, no doubt. at Wordeu's bold
front lie afte-ward reported that, much to
my astonishment." the Monitor laid herself
right alongside the Merrimac.
The MerriElac's first broadside struck the
Monitors turret heavily, but Greene says the
shots had no effect whatever, for it continued
TO revolve, land a look of confidence passed
over the mems faces" The fight thus opened
continued for Sryaral hours nf ;.na
at very close range, sometimes the vessels be-
ing not ten yards apart. Both seemed to be
invunerable to the heaviest shots.
Tho Monitor was quick TO answer her helm
and hence could be rapidly Unanswered and
being of light draft. could go anywhere:
whereas the Merrimac was slow and numbering
and dared not leave the main channe! of the
roads on account of her great depth in the
water. For these reasons her nimble adver-
sary practically controlled the choice of posi-
tions during this long fight. This proves what
powerful vessel the Merrimac mus. have
been TO resist the heavy shots of tine Monitor
| at such close range and planted where she
pleased
Worden skilfully handled his ship and once
endeavorcd to ram the Merrimac in the stern
| 10 destroy or disable her screw, only missing
| her By two feet. Then the Merrimac tried
turn at the ramming business and she also
missed her mark, merely grazing the Monitor
with aglancing blow. At the same instant
| Greene planted 1s0-pound shot square
against the casemate of the confederate, but
| 1t bounded of without apparent effect; but il
| appears the impact was terrific, as Col. Wood
| OF the Merrimac says that all the crews of the
| guns OF this part OF the ship were knocked
down and bled at the nose and ears; that il
| started the wooden framework several inches,
and expresses the opinion that another shot in
| the same spot would have stove in the Merri-
mae. Greene thinks that if the powder charge
| had been thirty pounds instead of fifteen, the
| shot would have penetrated the armor.
LIEUT.. woEDEN WOUNDED.
During one of the lulls in the conflict the
Monitor hauled off to replenish the turret with
shot. After the battle had been in progress
four or FIVE hours Lieut.. Worden was severely
injured by the explosion of shell from the
Merrimac, which struck the pilot house over one
of the peep holes, through which the comman-
der was looking. He was partially stunned by
| the blow; his eyes were blinded by the powder
one remaining permanently so, and the blood
/ gushed from his face in torrents. Unable TO
| see, Worden concluded the pilot house had
| been hopelessly damaged. and ordered the
helnsnian to ''sheer off, thus taking the Moni-
! tor temporarily out of the fight The confel-
! crates supposed she was disabled and that they
/ had won a victory. and have since claimed the
| Monitor was the first to abandon the field, but
this was undoubtedly an error
Greene, who had been Instantly sent fo- BIZ
| his superior, says Worden was q Ghastly sight;
| be ordered Greene to take command and Il yht
! the ship. Alter an examination the new COM
! mander promptly turned the Monitor on again
andreopened his guns, but before he could get 10
! close quarters the enemy was IN retreat. Greene
says that few shots were fired at the retreat
/ ing vessel and she continued on to Norfolk a"
! The Monitor then returned to the side of the
| Minnesota and the fight was ended.
| Col. Wood, on his part, says that after the
| light had been continued six hours or more the
| Monitor Withdrew over the shallow water where
the Werrimac could not follow. but il is sisBifi-
cant that she still carefully maintained her
| position between the Merrlmac and the Mime
| sofa. which makes it perfectly clear the federal
| vessel was not trying to escape or avoid her
| opponent. After waiting. as he says. Az hour
| for the Monitor to return to the fight the Mer-
/ rimac steamed away for Norfolk. This of
course refers to the time when Worden Was
| wounded. Greene SAYS the time lost after the
Monitor sheered off through Worden's misap-
prehension was perhaps twenty minutes; then
| finding the steering apparatus all right he
headed her for the Merrimac again, but found
that vessel in retreat.
TIE NERRIMAc's OBJECT DEFEATED
1t is undisputed that the Merrimac was de-
fcated in her object on the eth. which was the
destruction OF the Minnesota and the federal
feet saved as Col. Wood comedies, by the
Monitor He says the Monitor was well
Dut WIS door. lnls
is explained by Greene 20 have been owing to
| the lack of experience with the turret
machinery ard his inability to see well; in fact,
| he corfcsses that there was more or less
| random firing. Practically, the Monitor was
demonstrated to be the most effective vessel,
and capable off neutrnlizing if not DESTROYING
I her enemy. for it is obvious from Col. Woods
| own statements that she could have disabled
the Merrimac quickly and easily by aiming at
| her water line. Wood claims that the light
WAS a draw, but admits frankly that in general
results it was favorable to the Moultor.
The Merrimac was repaired and strengthened
and continued for time to be an important
factor III military and naval operations. There
never WAS another encounter between the two
ships, though the MerriInac, under Commo-
! dore 1atuall, afterward made demonstrations
down the roads, not however, with the same
confident boidncss that marked her first
memorable appearance.
| When Mcclellan undertook the peniusular
campaign, first considered at Washington
about the time OF this battle, the presence Of
tho Merrimac prevented the use Of the James
river a line OF communication, and he even
feared she would move over to York river and
discomfort army movements, fears shared by
| the government, but Commodore Colds
borough gave assurance that the Merriraac
could not get past his fleet on to the York river
line. The rebel ironclad entered largely into
McClellans earlier calculations.
On the night of May 9, the confederate
foreas bav evaruafad NarfolE tba NJ;