The National tribune., 1893-03-16


had gone to seek shelter elsewhere save
only steamers and the war vessels.
The troops in the fort were under arms,
and anxious suspense ruled supreme. Gen.
John E. Wool was in command at Fort
Monroe, and Gen. Mansfield at Newport
I! News. 1t was understood at the time that
Gen. Magruder was in command of strong
force back of Mansfeld's position, ready to
take him and his garrison in after being
driven out by the Merrimac. Such was the
1t was the settled determination to fight to
the bitter end.
The Minnesota we considered as good as
lost, as it was an easy matter for the Merri-
mac to set her ON fire. or blow her to pieces.
History states that Lieut.. Worden on arri-
val went on board the Roanoke and got a
pilot, and then went to the relief of the Min
nesota. This is not so; and l will relate
the facts, never befors>printed
/ was on the outer post of the water
battery, quite distance up the beach.
had strict ORDERS to hail every boat passing
and learn their business, as once past me,
going north, the coast was clear. About
half-past nine, as near as / could judge, for
/ was relieved at 10, heard boat rowing
rapidly In my direction. ! could not see the
boat, owing to fog that clung to the water,
though overhead the stars were brightly
shining. knew it was large boat, and in
a hurry, from the rapid stroke Of the oars.
/ yelled out, Boat ahoy!" No answer. l
repeated the challenge three times, and
announced that / would shoot if they did
not come ashore. A reply promptly came
rolling in through The fog, We are coming"
In about minute, more or less, q large
eight-oared boat came dashing up on the
sand beach where / stood. Little did ]
dream what glorious news / was about to
learn.
"What boat is that ?" I asked
"The Monitors boat, Lieut.. Worden in
command"
The answer almost took my breath away,
but quickly asked:
"What do you want?" and the answer
came as quickly,
"a pilot to 90 to the relief of the Mime
sofa!
FOR GODS SAKE DON'T DETA1N ME J"
l should have held Lieut.. Worden and
called for the officer of the guard, but time
was precious / directed him where to find
the lighthouse wharf, and from there he
could soon find his way inside the fort to
Gen. Wool.
The opinion we had formed of the Monitor
was that she was big enough to run down any
vessel that ever was built-that she was a
monster in size and power. On being relieved
l reported the glad news to my comrades. We
could hardly wait for daylight to come, and
when it came no Monitor was in sight. The
Minnesota in striking the sandbar swung
partly broadside to the fort, and on the opposite
side lay the Monitor. Serious doubts existed
in my mind as to what had challenged-a
rebel spy, perhaps My doubts did not long
exist. The fog raised at about a. m. There,
| under the guns of Sewell's Point lay the
Merrimac and her consorts, the Jamestown and
Yorktown, all ready to renew the work of cap
ture and destruction. The Monitor was not
visible from where the Merrimac lay. About
7o'clock the jamestown steamed out IN the dl-
rection of the Minnesota and Mt the same time
the Monitor crawled out around the bows of
the Minnesota and ad vanced to meet the bold
rebel craft The Monitor opened the engage
ment by firing at the jamestown. She ac-
| knowledged the compliment by turning around
and getting out of range rs fast rs her paddles
| would take her. The Monitors shot missed,
| but it was near enough to satisfy the James
| town that she had no business with the
Yankee cheese. box on q raft" Both IRON
| clads approached close before shot was fired.
The Monitor opened the battle. Her 11-inch
shot struck the Merrimac near tho bow and
| almost on the water-line. 1t must have sur
prised the rebel commander, for he immed-
| ately put his vessel about and fell back mile