The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-03-10
Story of the Great Naval Contest in
Hampton Roads
MOST GRAPHICALLY RELATED.
she First Days Fight. Destruction of
ihe Cumberland and Congress and
Flight of the Federal Navy.
The Second Days Contest.
a Four Hours Duel.

known as thea 'MerrimaC," aB she
passed down the Elizabeth river.
When the Federal forces evacuated
ahe Norfolk Navy yard in 1861, they
set on fire and scuttled the steam
Irigate Mcrrimac. Her upper works
Was burned but her hull was intact.
md the Confederates raised her and
converted her into an iron clad. She
,Vas covered amidships with q roof 10
fcet long, built at an sugle Of 40 de-
Grees, and constructed of 2U.inch heart
pine covered by finch oak. Upon tins
wood bncking there were two lengths
of iron plates, 2 inches thick and
inches wide, one laid horizontally and
the other vertically, bolted through
abe wood and clinched on the inside.
Slcr bow was armed below water with
cast iron PROV feet long to be used as
ram. Her weakest element was her
motive power, her old engines and
boilers, which had beeu condemned.
Sler ordnance consisted of ten guns,
two inch steel banded Brooke rifles.
mounted as pivot gune at the bow and
stern, two 6-lnch rifles of the same
pattern, and six 9inch smooth bore
hroadside guns. Her commander WAS
Commodore Franklin Buchanan, Que
OF the nblest and bravest officers Of the
old service. Her second in command
was Lieutenant Catesby Ap Il.
Jones, and the crew counted 800 meu,
most OF whom had volunteered from
the army for the occasion. The emer-
xency of the service allowed no time
1or testing her engines or drilling the
crew,
THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
Leaving the navy-yard at II a. m.
on Saturday, March Sth, 1862, the
Merrimac made her way down the
Elizabeth. about eight miles to It's
mouth, where tho Confederates had
erected land batteries on its cast bank.
1n tins channel, OF Fortress Monroe
and under its guns, lay the greater
part of the Federal fleet, while further
mp the Roads, at the mouth OF James
river, the Cumberland and Congress
were anchored of Newport News point.
THE FIRST DAYS FIGHT.
When the Merrimac reached the
mouth Of the Elizabeth river she had
the choice of attacking the fleet of
Fortress Monroe, or (going up and
across the Roads, to encounter the
Congress and the Cum berlsnd oil New
port News. Commander Buchanan
chose the latter. 1t wns beautiful
day, more like May than March. The
sailors aboard the Congress and Cum.
berlund mud been washing their clothes
dor Sunday, and the riggings were full
OF garments hing out to dry.
The appearance of the Merrimac
wrought an instantaneous trnnsformn.
fion. The drums beat to quarters and
The men took their places at their
guns. Meanwhile tho Mcrrimac held
her way, accompanied by two little
gunboats, the Beaufort, Lieut.. Parker,
and the Raleigh, Lieut. Alexander,
each mounting one gnn. As she ap
preached the Congress shu opened on
her with her bow gun and when within
BU0 yards delivered broadside and re
ceived one III return. Passing the Con
gress the Merrmac made for the Con-
stltutiun. Tint ship received her with
full broadside from her heavy guns
thnt would nave sunk wooden vessel.
but against her iron roof the solid shot
rebounded as rubber balls from q brick
wall. Driven through tho water under
full head of steam tho MerIimac
etruck the Cumberland under her star
board fore channels with her iron prov.
ripping her as wild boar would rip
fts victim.
For moment the two ships were
held together by the prov. then the
Merrimac, reversing her engine, backed
clear OF tho Cumberland, but Mt the
expense Of her prov, which was broken
OIL. The decks OF tho Cumberland
were covered with the dead aud wound.
ed, but the MerrImac was not un-
ecuthed. Two shots from the Cumber-
land had entered her ports while
opened for firing, breaking of two Of
her guns at the muzzie, killing two
men and wounding several. Her boats
anchor and flag staff were shot swny,
aud her smokesiack riddied Besides
this the loss OF her Prov caused her to
spring aleak. The Merrimac kept on
MP james river far enough to turn.
then came down TO finish her work.
The fate OF the Cumberland was sealed
nnd she was fast sinking, but she kept
up the hopeless fight with galantry
beyond oil praise. Her commander
was Lieut.. George u. Morris, who
proved himself hero TINT day. When
called on to surrender by the Copfed-
crate commander, he replied I'm
fnk, but I'll never surrender" And
90 the good ship fought on as she sunk,
pring her guns as long az they were
LOu{ilngH M, fE5r1 o,ono