Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-18

made the il.ied States navy so glorious IN
its achievements and helped to make such
an indelible mark of prowess and pa
triotic devotion upon the pages of his coun-
trys history. For Leariy two-thirds of a
century he was naval officer. having been
appointed a midshipman from Fshkill,
Dutchess county, n. Y, January IL, 1854,
over sixty-three years ago. He was a ma
tive of New York state, born at Sing Sing.
Westcncster county. His career was full
of exciting incidents, and his name long
ago became a synonym in the navy for all
that meant honorable devotion to duty
under the most trying circumstances.
The Monitor md Merrinrc.
The crowning achievement of mis- career
was in Hampton Roads. March 8. 1862,
when he commanded the famous Monitor
in her duel with the confederate ram Mer-
rimac.. This engagement has passed into
history as one of the most wonderful naval
battles on record. July ii following PresI-
dent Lincoln approved the joint resolution
of Congress rendering the thanks of Con-
gress and the American people to Lieut..
Worden and to the officers ani men of
the ironclad guaboat Monitor under his
command for the skill and gallantry ex-
hibted by them in the late remarSab BILE
battle between the Monitor and the rebel
ironclad steamer Merrimac" Later in 1s62,
upon the recommendation of the President,
another vote of thanks was passed by Con-
sress to Lieut.. Worden. who had mean
while in July of that year been promoted
to be a commander. authorizing his ad-
vancement one grade for highly distin-
guished conduct in the engagement between
the Monitor and the Merrimae. March IL.
1SG2. Immediately after the battle, Secre-
tary Gideon Wells of the navy addressed
tc Lieut.. Worden the following impressive
letter:
Sir: The naval action which took place
on the 9th instant between the Monitor
and Merrimac in Hampton Roads. when
your vessel with two guns engaged a
powerful armored steamer of at least eight
guns. and after a four hours conflict re-
PEELED youc formidable antagonist. has ex-
cited general admiration and received the
applause of the whole country.
''The President directs me- while deeply
al earnestly sympathizng with you in the
injuries you have sustained. which ii is
believed are but temporary. to thank yod
and your command Cor the heroism you
have displayed and the great service you
nave rendered.
THE action of the 9th and the per-
formance of the vessel shows that The
powers and capability of the monitor must
effect a radical change in naval warfare.
Flag Officer Goldsborough in your alb
sence will be furnished by the department
with a copy of this letter of thanks and
cause ii to be read 10 the officers and crew
of the Monitor
Universal Acclaim Extended.
Worden had received the acclaim of all
accentuated by the Navy Department, AID
SO substantially echoed by Congress. and
from the shores of the Union his fame
quickly extended abroad. In the cities of
the Atlantic coast north Of Chesapeake
bay public meetings were held and resolu-
tions of gratitude to Lieut.. Worden pa ss-
ed with great enthusiasm. BY his bravery
and self-sacrifice he had relieved that coast
of the terrible dread they had experienced
from the stories of the Merrimac. which
ii was expected would deyastatc the Union
fleet at Hampton Roads and then start on
81 voyage of destruction up the Atlantic
Admiral Worden bore his honors simply
and with the modesty that characterized
him through life.
Provfdential Assignment.
His assignment to the command of the
Monitor has long been regarded by students
of the war as prov.dential. On the 9th of
April. 1861, Lieut.. worden reported at
Washington under orders for special duty
connected with the discipline and efficiency
of the naval service. Because of his long
experience in the navy and his familiarity
with the necessities that confronted 1t in
the time of war. Finding that the ships
were being rapidly fitted for service, how
ever. Lieut.. Worden asked to be relieved
from that duty and applied for service
afloat. The next day, April T. at daylight,
he YVES sent to Pensacola with dispatches
for the commanding officer off that port,
ordering him to reinforce Fort Pickens. A
heavy gale blowing on April IL prevented
him from communicating with the squad
ron, although he spent the entire day i'm a
small boat and narrowly escaped losing his
life several times. The next day at noon,
however, he managed to deliver the dis
patches. and at 3 pm. the same day left
the squadron with orders to return to
Washington by rail. He started for Mont
gomery. Ala, at o'clock that night, and
the nextssfternoon was arrested just out
side of Montgomery and taken to the latter
city, where he was detained a prisoner
of war until November L. 1861. He was
exchanged for Lieut.. Sharp. a confederate
prisoner captured by Admiral Goldsbor-
ough, and whose deliverance 10 Gen. Huger
at Norfolk, Va, ended Lieut.. Worden's
patrol. He was ordered to the naval rem
devious at New York November 20. 1851
and remained there until January Is 1862
when he was ordered to the perilous duty
of commanding the Monitor.
A Daring Experiment.
Ericsson's marvellous fighting machine
was then naught but an experiment. andf