The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-20
HE FOUGHT ON THE MONITOR.
Hans Andersen's Recollections of "a fa
nous Battle.

Hans Andersen, one OF the su v4vOrs.
II not the last. OF the lighting crew Of
the Monitor. went to the Swedish HOspi-
tai fair In Brooklyn and told the visitors
who crowded around the Monitor booth
his recoilectiOns of the battle with the
Mcrrimac and some incidents of the
first voyage Of EricssOns irOnclad. lie is
IN his scVenty-third year. and is inca
FACILITATED for bodily activity. having had
two broken ribs. a fractured elbow, an
injured ankle. and defective eye to
keep him pretty quiet for some years
but he Is of heavy frame. and apparently
vigorous constitution. He keeps a small
grocery at 80 Hall street. i'm Brooklyn.
where he lives with his family. and stil
sailor-like. bows through the window
10 the good-lOOking girls of the ncighbOr-
hood who look in and smile at him as
they pass.
He says ne remembers as though il
were but yesterday. not only the sea
combat. but the departure from New
YORK when the people ashore. as well
as the volunteer crew in the little Mont
tor. thought the probabilities were that
none aboard would ever come back. lie
had come here from Sweden when
twenty-five years old I'm 1Sfe and had
joined the navy i'm 1850. serving first on
the frigate Falmouth. and then on the
Congress. lie has three honorable dis
charges from the navy, one from each
Of the frigates. and the other received
the navy extending over nine years. ON
both frigates he mad been stationed of
frazil. and he came up on the Congress
just before Christmas 1861. Hearing
while he was in New York that the Mont
tor was almost ready 10 20 10 sea. he
went TO the rendezvous in Cherry street
and offered himself as one OF the Volun-
icer crew who were 10 take the new
ship out He was accepted. and he re-
members distinctly the trip down the
East river from the navy-yard He SAYS
that every pier all the way around 10
Castle Garden was filled with people who
chcered and shouted. The fears OF those
on board were increased when the Mon
itor had made only short distance by
the breaking down Of her machinery
There was more trouble further down the
coast. when the trouble became such that
no steam could be made. 10 was Satur-
day nrht when the Monitor got down of
Hampton Roads. and a small tug steamed
out toward her and asked: "What little
thing Is that
When the answer went ont thai Il was
the United States Monitor all aboard
the tug cheered. and the tug put back TO
report the arrival Of the Monitor TO the
Admiral. The Minnesota was aground
and the Monitor put In alongside her
where she lay until morning. The men
aboard had had nothing TO eat since
leaving Brooklyn except hlt OF salt
pork and some bread. and they could NOT
ret any food and did not Get any. until
they were through with the Merrimac.
II was In the morning that the Merri-
mae was first seen. Andersen was on
deck and looking through a glass. as
was the officer OF the deck. down toward
Norfolk when lot of black smoke was
seen over n point OF land. Andersen. on
his way up In the frigatc Congress. had
seen the Merrimac. and he was the only
one on the Monitor who had. lie told the
deck ofYicer. M tho boat making the black
snoke came into Wow mat that was
the MerrImac. and the officer al first
rather secuted the idea. Andersen SAYS.
Tne oficer said "Whv. she looks like
the roof OF house" Andersen told him
that that was what the Merrimac did
creffv soon the Officer agreed that II
Gust be the Confederate ship. and he