The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-07
ON THE MONITOR.
4 Veterans "Reminiscences OF tho Battle
In HMM nton Honda.


In Hampton Roads.
''The important part which op-
portunity plays in tic lives of men
is well illustrated by the career of
tho late Admiral Wcrden, remark
ed Captain Louis II. Stodder of the
United States revenue cutter service
and United States supervisor of an
chorages, port of New York, as he
sat one day last week in his room IL.
the barge Office. Captain Stodder
has the distinction of being the last
survivor of the officers who were
assigned TO duty on the Monitor
when it began its career, and who
remained in constant service on the
vessel until the end off Cape Hat
teras.
By a singular coincidence Captain
Stodder s room almost overlooks the
statue erected in Battery park to
tho memory Of Ericsson, once his
intimate friend.
"You see, continued the captain,
"naval officers were not overplenti-
full at the beginning of the war, and
tho officials at Washington had to
make tho best use Of the material
thoy had in hand. In fact, great
many officers were enrolled from
the merchant marine service. !
went into the service from the mer-
chant marine myself l think the
fact that Worden, then ranking only
as lieutenant, was placed in COM
mand Of the Monitor would show
that that vessel was looked upon as
rather doubtful experiment by
the government and that the seleC-
tion of lnan to take command was
not made by reason of any special
fitness for the position.
at was Worden's good luck that
lie was assigned to the Monitor, for
the result of the fight made the yes
sci and all on board famous.
THE brave Iart that he played
in the fight was recognized by con-
gress, and be was rapidly promoted
to high rank, which other officers OBJ
tanned only after 20 years of service.
II remember him well when he
first came on board the Monitor
about a month before the fight He
had just been released from prison
and looked thin and sallow. He had
the appearance of one dying from
fever complaint. 1 never thought
it possible for him to live long.
During the fight he was cool and
collected. l recall an Incident which
I do not remember ever seeing pub.
lishcd. The pilothouse was situated !
in tho bow Of tho Monitor, quite
away from tho tulret. During the |
fight was in the turrct with other
officers, when suddenly we saw
Lieutenant Worden climbing up
where We were. Without saying
anything he opened one of the tur- |
ret doors and stepped out on the
deck in full view Of the enemy.
" Why, captain, what's the trou-
bleG exclaimed several Of tho Off
GERS in astOnishMeut at his fearless
act.
:" 4 can't see well enough from
the pilothouse,' can the quiet re
ply I wanted u &c, out here for
moment 10 take in the whole situa-
ton Then, looking around for a
few moments, lie came inside.
"Licutcnant Wordon was very
popular with officers and men alike.
They all worshipod him. Although
only 4j years old at the time Of the
Monitor Merrimac fight, he looked
almost GO. He wore long beard at
the time, and looked just as the re-
cent pictures made him appear.
Il last saw Admiral Worden at
the ceremonies attending the re-
moval Of Ericsson's Lody to its final
resting place, Only a handful of
persons were admitted to the cere-
mony. They were tLoee who sur
vived from the officers and men of
the Monitor. Admiral Worden was
in a carriage with Secretary Tracy.
He was very feeble, and his end
even then seemed but a short way
off, and yet that was several years
ago. "--Troy Times.