Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-21

CONVERSION OF THE MrERIsAc.
The hull Of the Merrimac, when raised
and put in the dry-dock. was found to be
abont 275 foet in length. About 100 feet OF
the central part Of the hull was covered
over With roof Of oak and pine wood,
"a Inches In thickness, inclined at an
angle of % degrees. Upon this structure
OF WOOD inches OF iron. consisting OF
plates about inches wide and 2 inches
thick. were bolted. The first course OF
iron was placed loneitudinally, the outer
course up and down. The forward and az
Ter ends at the roof were rounded. and the
apex OF the roof WAS fiat on top. about
feet wide, and covered over With perma-
nent gratings Of two-inch square IRON.
ihe grating was pierced Tor Tour
hatchways 10 permit egress from the gun
decks 70 the grating, or outside OF the
ship, where alone was there standing room
on the outside. That part OF the ship, DOW
and stern. not covered by the cssemate
(about So feet AZ each end was covered
with decking planks and was under water
Inc vessel when in fighting trim mad much
the appearance Of the roof Of a house
ahoat. Her PROV was OF cast iron. pro-
jected two feet from the stern. was under
water two feet and weighed 1900
pounds. Her battery consisted of
four Brooke rife-guns and SIX 9incn
Dahlgren shell-guns. Her engines and
steam. power were inadequate. They
had not improved them, and with all our
efforts they continued 20 be defective and
source Of anxiety TO the last. 10 the
future historian of the South one OF the
most remarkable phases OF our struggle
will be how people. so unused TO arts
and manufactures, 20 poorly equipped
WITH tools and shops and materials, could
have eccomp lished what they did. Delays
and obstacles of oil sorts lmpeded the con-
structiOn of the vessel. All the plates OF
iron for the casemate had TO be rolled al
the Tredegar IN Richmond and shipped to
Norfolk. Each step towards compile
ton seemed but TO disclose new obsta-
Giles. not the least of which was to Sc
cure crew. We had no merchant
marines and but few sailors. Some f'w
were secured after the defeat aud disper-
sion OF our gunbOats at Roanoke Island;
some as volunteers from our army, Gn0 a
detachment from the Norfolk United Artil-
lery brought the number up TO 800 men.
They proved 10 be as gallant and trusty q
body OF men as any one would wish 70
command but what a contrast they made
10 crew OF trained jack tarsl The United
States Government were duly informed by
spies of the completion of the Merrimac.
March 9Th gave out that the new vessel
had proved to be a failure and great dis
appointment to her projectors. | douot
much whether they relied upon our
statements, for on March 18th, Mr.. Welles,
Secretary Of the United States Navy, wrote
10 CAPTAIN John Marston, United States
Navy, commanding at Fortress Monroe
send the 81. Lawrence, Congress, and
Cumberland Immediately into tho Poto-
mac river. Use steam to tow them up.
Let there be no DELAY" This order was
modified by telegram OF March sth from
Secretary Welles TO Captain Marston, as
follows: 1.-The Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy will he at Old Point by the Baltimore
boat Of this evening. Do not move tho
ships until further orders. which be Will
carry" Had the first order been executed
and these vessels moved up the Potomac
river the victory of the Merrmac would
have been shorn OF it's chief trlumphs.
TIE ACTION OF SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1862.
On this day the United States Govern
ment had at anchor in Hampton Roads
near Fort Monroe, besides twelve gun
boats. mounting from one TO five guns, the
frigates Roanoke (fOrty guns, Minnesota
(fortv-eight guns), st. Lawrence (ffty
guns. Brandywlne (fiftv guns, and the
frigates Congress fifty guns and Cumber-
land thirty guns lying at Newport News
under the guns of a strongly edland-
battery. Without trial trip, with work
men on board up 10 the last minute, with
a crew and officers strangers TO each other
and To the ship, with no opportunity to
Get things into shape or TO drill the men
at the guns or instruct themi In their vari-
ous duties. the Merrmac, under CON-
mand of Captain Franklin Buchanan, at
II A. VI. of March 8th cast loose
from the navy-yard and started on
her venture III the game of war, attended
bv the eunbOats Beaufort Captain W. III.
Parker and Raleigh Captain j. w. Alex
ander). These two vessels mounted bur
one gun each Ga banded rlfied 32-pounder,
for which we are indebted 10 the inventive
genius Of Captain Archibald Fairfax, Con-
federate States Navy. and were the sole
survivors of our disater at Roanoke Island.
Az we passed the wharves OF Portsmouth
and Norfolk we discovered the landings
to be we'll crowded with men, women, and
children, who gave us salutation. but SEEM
ed too deeply moved by the gravity OF the
moment 10 break into cheers.
At this time the Merrimac was drawing
% feet aft and q forward. and seemed TO
be making "A speed OF four and one-half
miles The two gun-boats, whose ordi-
nary speed was about seven miles an hour,
kept along with her under her nearly half
speed. All went well until we were abreast
III Craney Island five miles from Norfolk.
when the Merrimac was so near the bot
tom that she would not answer her helm.
The Beaufort being called TO her assist
aoce. took hawser from her and towed
her mast Cranev-lsland hight. where, the
water getting deeper. we let her 90. The
ounboats drew but feet of water and
we're able 70 cut across the flats Of Craney
Island, whilst the Merrimac had to keep
the channel until abreast of our batteries
at Sewell's Point. at which position she
could turn up the south channel OF
James river, making the distance to
Newport News about tour or five miles
further. The day was fresh and clear, and
we could see the Congress and Cumber-
land lying quietly at anchor of the land
batteries ~ Newport News. apparently so
unexpectant of danger that their boats
were swinging at the lower booms and
washed clothes we're hanging IN the rig
ging. As the Merrimac headed up the
south channel, IN n moment inactivity
gave place TO stir and hustle. The evil
deuces of "wash-day' quickly dIsap-
neored: the boats were brought alongside
and hoisted. booms were swung IN. and
both ships cleared for action. The Beau
fort aud Raleigh steamed at half speed
across the fats awaiting the detour or the
Merrimac. At about 2:2O Z. Nj. the Beau
fort. having got within range, opened the
action with shot az the Congress, and at
tended by ths Raleigh slowly approached
the enemy until favorable position on
the quarter Of the Congress was secured
and maintained until this vessel was sur
rendered.
THE GREAT NAVAL FIGHT.
Al about 2:4O L. Nj. the Merrimac, havin 2
reached position, went into action. In
passing the Congress she fired her star
board broadslde at this vessel and. re-
ceivIng hers in return without damage,
made directly for the Cumberland. then IN
position of the upper end OF the land bat
tery. II appears that the Cumherland, TO
prevent being rammed or TO ward of noat-
ing torpedoes, had endeavored 20 secure
protection by placing raft of few heavy
spars at her bow. Dashing through these,
the prov of the Merrimac struck the side
of the Cumberland. at right angles. under
the fore-rigelng. on the starboard side.
Lieutenant Catcsby Jones, the executive
officer of the Merrimac. says: The noise OF
the crashing timbers was heard above the
din Of battle. There was no sign OF tne
hole above water. 1t must have been
large. for the vessel soon began 10 careen.
The shock TO us was slight. Backing oil
from the sinking vessel, we headed mp the
James river 10 turn round and engage the
Concressn To do this, "a most tedious