Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-11-02

Roads, and after a fierce battle with
the waves reached the shore at a point
just below this city.
The engagement between the Merri.
mac and the Congress took place on
March 8, 1862, day previous to The eel
ebrated marine battle which revolu-
tionized naval warfare-the fight be-
tween the Merrimac and the Monitor.
About II o'clock on the morning of
March the Merrimac steamed up
Hampton Roads to a point near the Con-
gress, and commanded her to surren-
der. IN see you in HI first," replied
Captain Joseph Smith, who was in COM
mand of the Congress. After firing one
shot at the Congress the Merrimac
turned and went toward the Cumber-
land, which was anchored short dis
tance away. Ten minutes later she
sent the Cumberland to the bottom.
Then the victorious vessel again turned
her attention to the Congress, which in
the meantime had grounded, and could
not retreat. The Merrimac lay across
the stern of the Congress, and lost no
time in beginning the attack. The
guns on the vessels were soon belch-
ing forth shot and shell. In few
minutes scores of the four hun
dred and fifty men on board the
Congress had been killed, while but lit
Ie injury had been done to the iron
covered Merrimac and her crew. Capt.
Smith and his second lieutenant were
killed early in the fight. Mr.. Curtis
was second captain of gun No. s.
While at his post of duty shell en-
tered the port hole of gun No. Z, dis
mounted the gun, and killed seven men.
1t soon became evident to those on
board the Congress that it would be
suicidal to offer further resistance, and
her flag was hauled down, signifying
that she had surrendered. Many of
the crew took to the boats and pulled
madly for the shore, but nearly one
fourth the number were killed by shots
from the Merrimac. The tug boat Bu-
ford, with detachment of the Merri-
macs crew on board, came alongside
the Congress to make prisoners of the
defeated seamen.
AS the Buford reached one side of the
Congress Mr.. Curtis sprang overheard
from the other side. Great confusion
prevailed at the time, and he was not
detected. Thirty prisoners were re-
moved to the Buford, the other men on
the Congress having been killed or
having escaped in the boats. Several
jumped overheard and were drowned.
Mr.. Curtis, who was clothed in his shirt
and trousers, had to swim nearly mile
before he could touch bottom. Owing
to his intense excitement he was in no
condition for such a trying ordeal, and
was about to give up the struggle when
he at last reached shallow water. 1t
was bitterly cold, and he was almost
frozen when he crawled out on the
river bank, completely exhausted.
Encamped near the shore was the
Fifth Indiana regiment, and the bold
swimmer soon found himself in the
midst of friends, who gave him hearty
welcome, and furnished him with dry
cloGhing. The next day he witnessed
the fight between the Merrimac and
the Monitor. He remained with the
Indiana regiment few days and then
went aboard the Minnesota, which was
lying in Hampton Roads, near Fort
Monroe. When one hundred volun-
teers were called for to join Burnside's
feet at Hatteras Inlet, N. c., his voice
WdS oiiC Va WAC hiob iCSpOlu. Ilc EC-
manned in the navy until the close of
the war, and came out without scratch
Only four of the men who were on
board the Congress when the fight took
place are now living, SO far as Mr.
Curtis knows. They are, besides him
self, William Banks, woodworlSer, of
South Boston; John Purse, farmer, of
bingham county, Mass, and Amos
Galoot, of Summervile, Mass.
Mr.. Curtis is man OF sixty, al
though he does not appear to be
that old. He is contractor, and has
constructed many buildings in Boston.
"As looked out upon Hampton Roads
and the surrounding country to-day"
he said, "the stirring scenes of the
three decades ago were vividly re-
called; and could easily picture in my
imagination the faces of my old COM
rades on the Congress. 1 was married
soon after the war, and my wife and
are now on our wedding tour, never
having had an opportunity of taking it
before.-Newport News (ya.) Cores
pondence N. Y. Times.