The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
MERRIMAC AND MONITOR.
TIE STORY OF THE GREAT NAVAL
DUEL TOLD IN n NEW WAY.

TIU1SCt nv uNV "
march o. 1899. In Hampton Ronds-Th,
Monitor was tho More Powerful Vessei-The
INJURY TO worden nj tho Crisis OF the Fight.
In tho battle between the Monitor and Mcrri.
mac had charge OF the Mcrrimac's forward or
first division OF guns, and as she did much Of
bor work "bo Tvs on" was In n very favorable
position TO SEQ what occurred.
II Is unnecessary at this day TO 70 Into full
details OF the construction OF the two vessels;
but there are one or two points which have n
direct bearing on tho lessons taught by the con.
test, with which alone instructive history 10
now concerned.
The shield OF tho Merrimac was mainly COW
erod with SCRAP iron, nowhere moro than four
inches thick. II had been fastened upon the
old wooden huI,. burned to the waters edge
whom tho Norfolk Navy Yard was abandoned
by tho United States forces. The shield was
Inclined at an angle OF about 30 degrees,
forming a covering for tho fxhtlng deck, and
the men at the guns had to work STOPPING.
The greatest beam CT the Merrimao was
where the inclined shield Joined tho perpendi-
cular wooden sides, forming q Joint, elbow, or
knuoklo, which was considered 80 tender that
Il was necessary to hide and protect II by in
~croasInG the drauRht TO 2216 feet. and so bring
Il about ak inches below the water line. Tho
gun ports were only four inches perpendicular
~ above the water limo. A mass of iron weigh
ing about two tons. and forged into the forr
OF q V. to serve the purpose of a ram or beak,
was bolted across tho old wooden bows about
TOUR feet below tho water line.
The Merrimao had u powerful battery as
against wooden vessels: but her only service.
able guns against the Monitor were two d
tnoh Brooke rifles, one forward and tho other
nft Thn AT1nlto. ,,,,tl staoI rlt,Ar r,,,~h
weather, had eight Inches OF well formed iron
on q turret; carried two 1I-inch guns side by
side and pointing In the same directions; drew
only fourteen feet of water..and m~anpuvred
with case. Tho Merrimao was n great. UNI
wieldy. patched-up scarecrow, without buoy
ancy or ability to mannuvre; hut she was the
best the means OF the South enabled II to do.
On the morning Of March 8. 1869. the day
previous to the arrival of tho Monitor in
Hampton Roads the Merrimac, sailed forth
from Norfolk against the Federal forces as
sembled there. "All hauds'' had boon up
through tho previous night. preparing the
vessel to move, but without time for exercise
at the guns. as everything had been rushed on
board. working dav and nigLt for weeks
previous In the desire to get tho vessel out. In
fact; most Of the fighting crew were green
hands. put on board at the last moment.
ARRIVING In. HAMPTON Roads the. Merri-
mac directed her course for the rooden 'ig-
Newport News. The Congress- was The near.
est. but abe was close In shore and tending
down stream, The cumberland wa anchored
well out and lying across stream at he time.
thus presenting a far more favorable object
for ramming. which Admiral Ruchana.. who
When one vessel rams another. 1T does not
harpen once In n thousand times that the ves-
i III sa or a Dsr sISs Il iin and s fse sidS Sp in III sns same the
glance OF tho blow. the effect OF the helm. the
movement OF the vessel ramIned. the effe { of
or twist hetor, her ram Is fairly free again.
This occurred with the Merrlmso when she
beak was wrenched from her old woodsn bows.
and her butt ends. npened and from that mo-
msnt she leaked freely. and required to he
hres. The heak did not part from fits bolts.
however. without n struggle, but m entering
Cnmbs:ian rolled once toward and anSsrently
mediately bec1ms depressed. untn the sill Of
body In my forward division exclaimed: "We
are going down with the Cumberland! J" There
but one small hatch over thi. part Of the ves-
eel, an" tho ladder was unshipned for action:
there was no eScape for the many. Suddenly.
self. The iron bosk had been wrenched of.
and We caught our breath again.
guns were disapnearinR. her flag still waving.
For tho glory Of the struggle I would far rather
nave commander tho Cumberland than the
Merrtmac. experiment "a the Merrimac was.
ete Congress and destroyed her. Admiral Blu.
the squadron of wooden vessels accompanying
her. had a brother on board the Congress as
no longer directed the moSemen, Of the Merri.
mac: which thenceforth. devnlved upon Gates.
BY Ap r. Jones, one OF the most perfect gen.
had tho honor to know.
Night came on after the days work-battle
way. 0ghtins wooden sailing vessels at anchor.
does not give them battle. The officers and
ere% OF the Merriinac were exhausted With
II In. stooping positions. under the, Inclined
shield. Catesby Jones wanted 10 anchor some
tinue the destruction the followinE day: but the
pilots. not liking the looks of the weather.
R5sfssrr .,h t. R,S 60 as close no,t to the mouth Of ths
refuge. II necessary. from rough water. This.
washinx up the, Inclined sides. into the very
. leaking vessel; for. as ] have said. tn. great
eat beam was already below tho water line.
any circumstances. and especially so IL leak.
ing. for she bad the smallest mite OF reserve
of Rotation. Had she. at any dime. gone into
the least, she would not have lived half an
hour: and on two subsequent occasions abe had
count OF q whole topsail breeze only.
Taking the advice sf the pilots, Jones rim over
-f~ - ~ So 'thASs llkAl
even say ''at quarters" for the probability Of
9 boarding attack during the nirht ad been
discnssed. and there was little rest on the hard
deck, although all were so weary.
II was in this condition OF the Merrimac,
with the ram bow disabled the vessel leaking,
the officers and crew well worn. and every
thing out of order In engine room and battery
after sucn a days work as that past, and with
an experimental vessel, that he sun. on the
9th OF March, 1852. shone upon the most i'm
combat of single ships In history.
IL was my morning watch. as Lieutenant in
charge. The weather was nearly calm. and a
hazy atmosphere prevent d objects from being
distinctly seen during the first hours.
was tho first to observe the Monitor. An
chored over near Ne ort News. She doomed
TO an enormous size under the influence OF u
partial mirage. so often seen II. the Chesapeake
and the adjoining waters. At first ! could
not imagine what IL was. 40 totally different
was the general outline from ANYTHING / had
ever seen or heard OF. In a few moments. how
ever. ! recalled the information we had not
long before received from New York in refer
ence To tho Monitor. | Immediately sent be-
low TO lot Jones know that she had arri> cd and
was anchored In sight. Jones came on deck In
q Toinent. and his face showed that no under
ST. cd tho situation. He was u very quiet. re-
served man. and so asked him. What are you
going to dor" Fight her. OF course" was tho
prom pt reply. He aid not quite understand me.
My idea was 10 continue III. WORK OF destruc-