The National tribune., 1892-06-16

| the court declared the same to have Deen un-
necessary. Capt. Tatnall then demanded q
| court-martial, which the rebel authorities also
granted. This court convened July 5, 1862,
and took considerable evidence bearing on the
case and rendered the following decision !:
Wherefore the court do award the said Capt.
Josiah Tatnall an honorable acquittal."
Capt Tatnall was formerly an officer In the
q. S. Navy, and resigned thcrefrom Feb. 21.
| 1861, and Joined the Con federate forces.
Another memorable event in the North At
lantic Squadron was the ascent Of the James
| River by tho gunboats Galena, Aroostook, Port
| Royal, Monitor and Naugatuck, under Capt.
John Rodgers, and their repulse at Drewry's 8
| Bluff, May Is, 1862.
Flag Officer Goidborough was relieved at his
| own request July To- 1862. His successor in
command was Acting Rear Admiral Samuel 2.
| Lee; his flagship was the Minnesota. He
rendered important service as commander of
the guuboat Oneida on the lower Mississippi
at the capture of New Orleans in April, 1862.
| LOSS OF THE LITTLE MONITOR.
An event worthy of notice in this connection,
| which occurred on the waters of the North At
lantic, was the loss of the Monitor, which en-
| countered and defeated the Merrinac in Hamp-
ton Roads. The Monitor, Capt. j. 7. Bankhead
| commanding was ordered to Charleston, S. C.,
| and left Fortress Monroe at 230 p. M, Dee 90,
| 1862, conveyed by the U. S. S. Rhode Island,
| Capt. S. d. Trenchard commanding.
The weather was clear and pleasant, with
| light southwest wind, and nothing serious &C.
cured ntll,~about 6 a. N. next morning, gale
of unusual severity was encountered in the
vicinity of Cape Hatteras. The Monitor was
tossed about on the waves in a fearful manner,
and immense quantities of water entered
through the turret and extinguished the fires
in the engine-room. The storm increased in
severity, and it became evident that the vessel
would go down. Signals were made to the
Rhode Island for assistance, and boats were
dispatched at once TO save the crew, whose noble
efforts 10 save their vessel were eommendable,
but entirely useless under the circumstances.
When it was found that she was sinking, the
Captain ordered the crew transferred to the
Rhode Island but before they were all rescued
the Monitor went down. taking II men and
two officers in an iron coffin to wateTy grave.
So ended the career of the noble little vessel,
whose history should be familiar to every
patriot. The Monitor was the first turreted
ironclad built, and carried two guns 776 tous
steam propeller.
During the latter part of 1862 and all of 1853
the North Atlantic Squadron maintained an
effective blockade of the extensive coasts of Viz
ginia and North Carolina, where many valuable
prizes were captured in attempting to enter
the Confederacy with arms or 20 to sea with
cotton.
By direction of the Navy Department Acting
Rear Admiral Lee established four divisions of
the squadron, one on the James River, one in
the sounds of North Carolina, and two near
Cape Fear River. Each division was under an
experienced officer. Headquarters were re-
moved from Hampton Roads to Beaufort, n. c.
When Lees army invaded the loyal Statcs
some of the vessels were sent to Annapolis
Baltimore and Philadelphia, where their crews
were detached for shore service, and the writer
met some of them in the interior of Maryland
w hnr ha haff 10 pf Strr fpu
the line in Pennsylvania.
THE Ram ALBEMARLE.
This formidable ironclad was for time a
source of annoyance TO certain vessels Of the
North Atlantic Squadron stationed in the
Roanoke River, where she inflicted consider
able damage TO scme of our fimsy guuboats
Capt J. W. Cooke who commanded the Albe-
marie, was formerly an officer in the United
States Navy, from which he resigned May 2.
1851, and died at Portsmouth, Va. in 1863
It was deemed essentially requisite that the
Albemarle should be disposed of some way. and
the following extract from the report of the
Secretary of the Navy on the subject shows
how il was done:
Lieut.. w. b. Cushing young officer who
had on previous occasions gained the admra-
tion of the Department by his daring and ad-
venturogs heroisn, was selected TO destroy the
Albemarle by torpedo properly arranged in q
The torpedo is the invention OF Chief Engineer
w. w. Wood and possesses extraordinary power
Lieut.. Cushing was directed TO have the means
for carrying out the views of the Department
prepared. aud when these were completed it
was quickly and brilliantly executed With
II brave officers and men, who volunteered for
the service, he on the night OF Oct. 81, 1864.
asceuded the Roanoke TO Plymouth. assailed
the ram at her wharf, though guarded by a
military force on shore, well as by her crew,
and sunk her. Only himself and one Of his
party escaped death or capture"
On Oct. 81 PlymoutE was captured By naval
force under Commander w. II. Macomb. Sew
eral prisoners, % cannon, some small-ar and
ammunition fell into our hands
During the Spring and Summer of 1864 the
vessels OF the North Atlantic Squadron oper-
ating on the James River consisted of the fol-
lowing, viz: The Onondaga, Mackinaw,
Hunckback, Eutaw, Dawn, Cohassett. Poppy,
Rose, Young America, Commodore Morris,
Stepping Stones. Commodore Perry, Commodore
Barney, Csnonicus Sangus, TecunIseh, and
Agawam. These vessels rendered imporlant
and effective service in conjunction with army
movements at White House Landing, Bermuda
Hundred, City Point, Yorktown, and other
places. The presence OF torpedoes in the river
was made evident by the total loss Of the gun
boat Commodore Jones May G. 1851, near Four
Mile Creek, and on the following day we lost
the gunboat Shawsheen near Turkey Bend
These torpedoes rendered navigation extremely
dangerous.
MR. sTEPHESs's UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT.
an event worthy Of passing notice was the
unsuccessful attempt OF Vice President A. Fl.
Stephens to pass through the blockade on q
fag-of-tTnce steamer and visit Washington with
g view TO the cessation of hostilties. Acting
Rear Admiral Lee refused to grant the desired
permission and informed Mr. Stephens that
the customary agents and channels are ade-
quate for all needful military communications
and conferences between the United States
forces and the insurgents. To allow the So
called Confederate steamer TO pass this block
ede and display its assumed sovereign flag at
the Nations Capital is an act of recognition
wholly at variance with my feelings and sense
Of duty"
BIZ. Stephens was also given TO understand
that while the United States was anxious for
peace il could only be secured by submission
Of the insurgents 10 the National authority.
In justice to Mr.. Stephens it may be said in
this connection that he bitterly opposed the
Secession movement and boldly predicted its
defeat at the beginning, but when the empty
honor of the Yice-Presidency was given him
he embraced a cause which he had previously
denounced in public and in private After the
return Of Dir. Stephens to Richmond it was
learned that he had 10 authority to act in the
matter.
Army operations against Richmond were
vigorously pushed in 1864, and In the month
Of april, whes headquarters were established
at CulpePer Courthouse, Gen. Grant, in q letter
TO Gen. Halleck, wrote as follows: