Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20

cnor III front OF the Minnesota. A darker
night l don't think ever came out Of the
heavens. You could almost feel 1t. and It
was only by the light Of the burning Com
gress that l was able to get nay beariE ss
This made fair light, and I steered by it,
The Minnesota was a fine vessel. She was
a frigate. bearing eighty-four guns, and
she looked very grand in comparison with
tne httle Monitor as we sailed by her. We
moved to short distance in front of her
and then waited for day.
THE sun rose that morning on waters like
a millpond. 1t was beautiful Sunday. and
you could see for miles on each side of
you AS the day broke the Yorktown and
the jamestown, two of the confederate
ships, came out and started for the Min
nesota. We at once got under way and
sent shot ct them. They left at once
Ihey didn't want TO have anything to do
with the 'cheese-box on raft as they
called 1t. In the meantime the Merrimac
had reused up and came on toward the
Minnesota. The Monitor rested little In
front of the Minnesota and waited for her
The officers were in the turret. Capt
Worden stood by my side and gave the or
ders. The Merrimac first fired at the Min
nesota, and then Capt. Worden gave the
order for the Monitor to go for the Merri-
was mile off when we started for
her. The shots were at once concen-
trated on the two fronclads. We turned
this way and that, firing about every seven
minutes. We kept moving about the Mer-
rimac and getting in good shots at al
most every fire. The vessels were often
not more than thirty feet apart, and the
engagement was terrible. The turret Ct
the Monitor was made of heavy plates of
iron, so that its walls were about eight
inches thick. The shots Of the Merrimac
pounded great dents in 1t, but they did not
go through. Our guns tore the iron from
the Merrimac, and had We understood its
construction. we might have sunk her.
We should have aimed for her at the wa
ter line. Her iron plates did not extend
much below this. I have always thought
that we did send one shot into her, and
think we would have surely sunk her had
we continued to fire in this way.
Capt. Worden's Narrow Escape.
when was Capt. worden wounded?"
at was some hours after the beginning
Of the engagement, a little after noon,"
replied Lieut.. Howard. He was standing
at my right, and was bending over and
looking out of the slit. We were just go
ing by the Merrimac, and were not more
than ten yards from her when. shell
and then exploded. 1t broke this eight
inch log of iron in two. 1t threw one end
of it upward and the log held there in the
air by the dove-tail with which II was fas,
flew through the slit With them came
powder and flame. These got into Capt,
Worden's eyes and blinded him. They cut
his face, SO that 1t was covered with blood.
with dust and powder. Capt. Worden px-
claimed that he was shot. He could not
see. but the light that came In made him
think that the pilot house was ruined, and
he gave orders to move off. He then felt
his way down through the floor into the
lower part of his vessel, where his cabin
was, and gave the command over to Lieut.
Greene. That shot came near destroying
later in turning. Capt. Worden and myself
would surely have been killed. AS 1T was
We were saved only by that doVe-ta1led log
standing in the air. Had it fallen 1t would
less slow in moving the shot would have
struck the pilot house square, and We were
so close that nothing could have saved US.
AS 1t was 1t hit the iron logs at an angle
them. Capt worden was terrible sight
as he moved off down into his CABIN. Ine
blood was rushing from every part OF his
face. His eyes were closed, and his skin
wounds, however. seemed to have his least
thought He did not faint, and he Kept
his mind upon the battle. He gave over
the direction of the vessel to Lieut.. Greene,
minutes as to how the fight was going
ou."
How Howard Saved the Minnesota.
did the officers of the Merrimac know
that they had shot Worden at this time?"
asked.
II think not" replied Lieut.. Howard, 'for
they moved off so shortly afterward. My
first orders from Lieut.. Greene were to
move off and make for Fortress Monroe.
did not know at this time that he had
been made chief in command. I thought
this order q great mistake, for l knew that
If we left the Merrimac would come back
and destroy the Minnesota. Instead Of
obeying Lieut.. Greene l went down to see
Capt. Worden. / said to him, Captain,
roe. If we do this the Merrimac will sure
~ destroy the Minnesota. / don't want to
do it.
''You must see Lieut.. Greene replied
Capt. Worden. He is now in commando and
you must get your orders from him.
Il then went to Lieut.. Greene, and beg
ged him not to leave the Minnesota. /
showed him tie danger of the Merrimac
coming back, and after while persuaded
him to allow me to take the Monitor to the
Minnesota. This we did and anchored
slowly moving off toward Norfolk, and her
share in the battle was over. During the
engagement her men, I understand, were
anxious to get close enough to US to board
us, hoping that they could destroy the ma
chinery in the turret with sledges and
wedges. 1 think such thing would have
been impossible. Shortly after the Merri-
mac moved off, asked Lieut.. Greene If he
would not like to take shot at the York.
town and the jamestown, the two confed7
crate men-of-war which were anchored off
Sewalls Point. half a mile away. He con-
sented, and we steered for them. We fired
they slipped their cables and left"
n