The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-03
In HAMPTON ROADS
CAPT. ANDERSON'S NARRATIVE, or
THE BATTLE BETWEEN MER-
RIMAC AND MONITOR.
CHEESEB0x ON A FLAT BOAT
AND IT'S GREAT TRIUMPH DE.
SCRIBED BY 4 SURVIVOR OF
ITS CREW.
THE ERICSSON MONUMENT FUND
Receives Handsome Benefit From
the Entertainment at Market
Hall Last Night

eve trained two of our double-shot
guns on her and fired them together.
tearing a big hole in her bow into
which you could drive a horse and
wagon; then she hauled away"
In this dramatic manner Capt. Hans
Anderson, the last survivor of the gal
liant crew of the MOnitor-the Cheese
box on the raft"-told of the struggle
between the Yankee craft and the Con-
federate Merrimac, and the sensational
routing of the latter
The grizzled old hero spoke before a
large audience at Market hall. under
the auspices Of the John Ericsson Me
mortal association. and in talk, which
lasted not more than twenty-five min
utes, dealt with the scenes and Incl
dents surrounding the memorable con-
f1ict.
The officers of the local association
had arranged quite an extended pro-
gramme, and it was nearly 10 o'clock
before Col. R. NJ. Newport. in a few
words, introduced Capt. Anderson.
Col. Newport alluded to the immortal
John Ericsson and led up TO the cir
cumstances attending the construction
of the Monitor and her signal vic
tory. Ericsson was a Swede. but was
filled with the spirit of patriotism
which moved Americans to deeds OF
valor and daring, as was shown by his
consistent efforts to aid the country Inn
the hour when aid was needed. The
speaker told of the difficulty which be
set the Inventive SWede in the attempt
to secure recognition from the naval
board, and his quotation from Lincolu's
remarks, when he said, i'm speaking OF
the Monitors plans: L believe there is
something in it," brought forth much
applause. Col. Newport told i'm inter
esting fashion how Minnesota and some
of her brave people were associated
with the memorable struggle. A hand
full of his hearers raised their hands
to show they had actually Witnessed
the naval battle. Brave Capt Morris.
who preferred to sink rather than sur
render married a Minnesota girl. and
Col. Newport exhibited q memtntO
from the old battleship Cumberland iu
the shape of a powder magazine handle,
the precious property of little Alfred
Johnson. son of the late Capt Johnson,
of the United States army.
Then Capt. Anderson was introduced
He looked the veteran naval officer
with his bright gold-trimmed unifoun
and his determined weather-beateu
face. In spite of the fact that he is
over seventy years Old he spoke with
much vigor. He said
I'VE left New York March for Hampton
Roads. The following day we encountered
a heavy gale. Our machinery gave way. the
floors were filed with water and the steer
ing apparatus got tangled These thng5
were finally adjusted and we proceeded. When
within one and half miles OF Hampton
Roads we heard heavy cannon firing. The
matter was reported to the captain. He said
TO clear the decks for action The sea was
mountains high.
ION reaching Hampton Roads a tug came
down and wanted to know what the Monitor
was. On being told. the captain Of the flag
ship sent for Capt. Worden to come aboard.
He did so as soon as We got up to where
the flagship lay; remained some ten or If
teen minutes and then returned 10 the MOni-
tor. He at once called the men around the
turret and said that the outlook was a hard
one. There was nothing to eat except hard
tack and pork. and not water 10 drink,
and that matters ahead looked still worse.
But he said we were TO 90 up alongside
the Minnesota and protect her, as she was
aground He inquired If she was leaking.
and received an answer i'm the negative. He
said that his orders We're to protect her but
he added that he did not know whether or
not we could protect ourselves. as the guns
of the Monitor had never before been tried.
They were two eleven-inch guns. the first
ever put on man of-war up 20 that time.
They had been built by Andrew Dahlgren
for the navy.
I'VE got alongside the Minnesota at 7.2o
o'clock one Sunday morning early in March.
| was acting quartermaster at that time, and
was stationed at the top OF the turret /
looked towards Norfolk and saw huge vol
umes Of smoke / said 10 one OF the crew
that I would not be surprised II the Merrt-
mac would come down. The fe low asked
me what [ knew OF the Merrmac. told
him ] had seen her on her trial trip sure
enough there soon appeared away OF 4 plarN
object We took the glasses and decided II
was the Merrimac approaching she looks
like a house said he. Yes that is the way
she is built I replied.
We called Capt. Wordcn and all the men
we're at once ordered to take their h1mmGcEs.
Eeave them on the garnet and not 10 stop
to lash them up. l went TO the engine room
and told the engineer TO get a iulI hs'd OF
steam on quick the Merrimac was ccm-
ing He threw in a lot Of grease and talloW
and got up steam qu ckly. Then ! returned
to my station on top of the turret. When one
mile away the Merrimac lay and looked at
us then she tried 20 get in on the Mime
sofas stern but we headed her OF ard
she opened fire on the Minnesota. As sh'
did we gave her one eeven-inch shot which
struck her slOping roof and glanced or. Again
we fired and took the flag out Of her. Wordau
ordered the guns charged and agdn We fired
and injured her badly above the boilers. a
shell from the Merrimac struck near wners
Worden was standing. broke bar a foot
thick and the powder flew into his face.
He came into the turret and wanted 20
go on deck. / pulled him back by the coat
tails. Meanwhile the MerrimaC had hauled
away. We sent WOrdeu aboard the flagship.
The Merrimac soon returned under full
head Of steam and steered direct for our bow.
We trained our double-shOtted guns ON her.
each shot weighing 80 pounds and fired into
her bow tearing a hole large enough tl drive
a horse and wagon in. She then hauled
away.
Lieut. Green then had charge Of the Mont
tor and as the Merrmac lay at Souls point
I said IL was a shame % allow her tp
escape from us. The men said, Anderson.
speak for yourself and us. too The chief
engineer tapped me on one shoulder and said
he hoped | did not intend 10 commit mut'uy.
Shortly the rebel tugs came from Norfolk
and lowed the Merrimac back to that point.
There was water in her hull seven feet deep.
A few days later we drew down on Norfolk.
The rebels the Merrimac ashore fired
and evacuated the town"
Herman Stockenstrom spoke briefly
for the Ericsson Memorial association,
and what was being done to secure thu
funds with which to build a suitable
monument to his memory in the state
Of Minnesota. Gustave SjOstrum made
a witty speech. and musical numbers
were contributed by the Svea band, OF
Minneapolis, the Orpheus Male quar-
tette and Miss May Sundberg.
Points I'm the InGersOlI VIII.
Judge Kelly has filed a supplemental deci-