Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-08-08
Bill HEADs

-~A % S"N'A =. ~tN NiC ioE just
below the sight hole. and then ex-
ploded. Ii broke this 5 inch log of
iron in two. 1t threw one end of
it upward and the LOG. held there in
the air by the dovetai with which
it was fastened to h. box. The
splinters of the shell flew through
the slit. With then came powder
and flame. These Got INTO Captain
Worden's eyes and blinded him.
They cut his face. 81 that it was
covered with blood. .. his clothes
and mine were covtr with dust
and powder. Captain Worden ex-
claimed that he was sba lie could
not see, but the ligh- nat came in
made him think tEa, . pilothouse
was ruined, and he SEE orders to
move off. lie then . his way
through the floor lu., .awer part
Of the vessel. where cabin was.
and gave the commauI over to Lieu
tenant Greene. Tia shot came
near destroying d.. dollhouse.
Had we been "a secCut .nr IA turu-
ing, Captain Worlc1 and myself
would surely have bee -llcd. As
it was, we were save only by that
dovetailed log standirg ira the air.
Had it fallen, it would have crushed
Us both. Had the s been less
slow in moving the sh. would have
struck the pilothousy -euare, and
We were so close that ur.hlug could
have saved us. As was. IL hit the
iron logs at an angle o.. g. deSrces,
and only broke ther Captain
WOrden was terribIu lght as he
moved off down into p. cabin. The
blood was rushing from very part
0f his face. His eyp. re closed,
and his skin was blar ed with the
powder. His Won however.
seemed to have his '..t thought.
He did not faint, aua ue kept his
mind upon the battl.. lie gave
over the direction OF he vessel to
Lieutenant Greene. and we had to
report to him every few minutes as
to how the fight was going on
How Howard Saved the Minnesota
Did the officers of the Merrimae
know that they had shot Worden at
this timer | asked.
Il think not, replied Lieutenant
Howard, 'for they moved off so
shortly afterward. NJ first orders
from Lieutenant Greene were to
move off and made for Fortress
Monroe. | did no nov at this
time that he had bcuu made chief
in command. thougl' this order
a great mistake, for / .ncw that If
we left the Merrimac would come
back and destroy the MIuncsota.
Instead of obeying Lieutenant
Greene, | went down to see Captain
Worden. | said to him. Captain,
they want me to move Of to For
tress Monroe. If W do this the
Merrimac will surely destroy the
Minnesota. | don't " nt TO do it,
You must see Lieutenant Greene
replied Captain Worieu. 'He is
now in command. and YOU must
get your orders from him"
i went to Lieutenan Greene and
begged him not to lc.y. the Mime
sofa. | showed him tie danger Of
the Merrimac coming back. and al
ter a while persuaded him to allow
me to take the Monitor 20 the Min
nesota. This we dil and anchored
there. In the meantiwe The Merri-
mac was slowly moyjas Il towards
Norfolk, and her shr in the bat
tie was over. Duriug the ongage-
ment her men. | unda lad, were
anxious to get clio 4ough to us
to board us, hoping - they could
destroy the machIu.s in the tur-
ret with sledgos al. wedges. |
think such thing would have been
impossible. Shortly ter the Mer-
rimac moved off, ! as.sd Lieuten-
ant Greene if he woull not like to
take a shot at the Yorktown and
the jamestown, two Confederate
men of war, which were anchored
of Sewell's Point, half d mile away.
Ua consented and We steered for
them We fired a shot at each Of
them. and as we did go, they slip
ned their cables cud left
Did you go on the Minnesota ?
/ asked.
'Yes,' was the reply. we board
ed it while we were lying beside it.
We were surprised to find no one on
it. The ship had been deserted BY