The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-19

handed, a fleet of the best material in
the United States navy, composed OF
the frlgates Congress, Minnesota, Roam
oke, st. Lawrence-each with batteries
Of 90 guns, and the Cumberland. with
81 guns. It was ten guns against 300
and 500 men against 1900, and at the
same time exposed to the fire of the
batteries at Newport News. manned by
90 guns and 1000 men. Surely the crew
OF the Merrimac We're brave men.
In the meantime we. We're getting
nearer and nearer the fleet. CHANGING
out the port, I read the signals from
the bright-colored little flags running
up and down the riggings. They read:
The Merrimac has come down, but, OF
course, she Will not dare to attack our
large force They all thought she was
going to escape up the James river and
run away, but they were soon to be un-
deceived. Suddenly the Merrimac
! headed directly towards the Cumber-
land. This caused the scales to drop
from their eyes. Topsails are shaken
out, and the clothes-lines holding the
sailors clothes are pulled down uncere-
moniously. Just at this time, Admiral
Franklin Buchanan, one of the grandest
men who ever drew a breath of salt air
assembled the ships crew around him
on the gun deck and addressed them as
follows: Sailors. In a few minutes
you will have the long expected oppor-
tunity to show your devotion to your
country and our cause. Remember that
you are about to strike for your coun-
try and your homes, your wives and
your children. Every man is expected
to do his duty. Beat to quarters.
1.-THE surrounding shores for miles are
lined with people. Norfolk and Ports
mouth are emptied of their Is, 900 troops
Nearly everyone in the two cities rush
ed to the waters edge to witness the
result of what many considered an ill
starred enterprise. No naval battle was
ever witnessed by more people.
CRASH OF ARTILLERY.
Suddenly there was a puff of smoke
and fash from the rified pivot gun
of the Cumberland, followed by a con
tinuous crash of artillery from the
Congress, the Newport News batteries
and the gunobats. The Merrimac
churned her way grinly towards the
! Cumberland and reserved her fire.
When we we're much nearer, Lieuten-
ant Charles Simms, in charge of the
forward seven-inch rife, gave the or
der, and the Merrimac fired her first
gun. She followed this with a star
broadside, which was delivered with
ACSSA LII S4LSSS-ctS W Z dll6IM dIQS lSalnSO
against the black hull of the Con
gress, which vessel we were then pass
ing.
Now came the crucial test. Would
the Nferrimacs hide of iron protect her?
Would our ironclad ram be a success
The Congress belched forth q most ter
rife broadside against our shield, tons
of iron rained on our easement. Hur-
rah and hurrahi The iron hail glaces
! off like pebbles. The crew give cheer
after cheer.
I'VE are exposed to very hail storm
of iron prOjectiles of all descriptions
from ashore and aioat We are a tar
get for 300 guns. The balls strike,
glance upwards, fall back on our shield
and roll harmlessly into the water. In
the meantime we are nearing the
Cumberland. All on the ship are. still
as death. Not a sound is heard save
the pulsations of the engines. Blu
chanan stands alone and exposed on
the upper grating. He enters the pilot
house and sends for me. I am ordered
to reverse the engines Immediately af-
ter ramming the Cumberland, and not
to wait for orders to do so. / salute