The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23

An Aecsunt or the right rs rt was sees By m
Observer on shore.

Mcrrinnc from the shOrc:
"Somc have written that our Navy Depart
mcnt was taken nawaros by the advent OF the
Merrimac on that evontful March afternoon.
but such was not the fact. During the fall and
winter OF 1861 Information was frequently re-
ccivcd ut Fort Monroe concerning alterations
being made TO tho Mcrrimac. This information
came from contrabands and whites who had cs-
capped from Norfolk; among the number were
mechanics who had worked on the vessel and
had deserted, crossing over 10 tho fort In boats
at night. This information was always for
wardod to the naval commander in Hampton
Roads and TO tho proper authorities at Wash
ington for their information and guidance.
"on a quiet afternoon in early March all our
expectations were realized; the sentry on tho
ramparts of Fort Monroe gave the alarm. and n
great cloud Of black smoke was seen. as we'll as
n largo rebel flag, over Scwcll's Point. As every
one near by ran up tho slope they could see the
Merrimac as she slowly made her way across
our horizon and toward the James River.
Immediately all was commotion, drums beat
ing, ordcrlies dnshing hithcr and thithor with
dispatches, and civilians making for the Balti-
more boat, which LEFT every afternoon; this body
OF civilians, stampedcl by great fright, caused
much Of the North's excitement over this days
work. On the water all vessels there for profit
were making their way out Of port, slowly or
fast, as their powers OF propulsion permitted.
Other vessels were moving up to the James, no
doubt with the laudable intention of taking part
in the coming conflict. Gen. Wool, commanding
the department, had his headquarters in the
fort; he directed everything in the fort to DO
prepared for a~ction-not that he expected the
Merrimac to come under his guns, but merely as
precautionary exercise for his garrison. lie
sent for an old regular Sergeant named Welsh,
who lived with his family Mt the fort, occupying
some important subordinate position. When
Welsh entered the room the General particu-
larry inquired Of him II he was ready and pre-
pared; for the Sergeant was 'Brigadicr.Gcnoral
in ommand of the two large guns mounted on
the beach and called Union and 'LincOln;'
the shot of these were fifteen inches in diameter
and weighed over 500 pounds. Two companies
of the Tenth New York Volunteers manned
these weapons, which commanded the soaward
channel. not half a mile distant from tho beach.
Welsh reported everything in order.
Soon we heard the guns at Newport News,
but could not sec anything. Among the rein
forccments sent up to Gen. Mansfield at New
port News two troops of cavalry, the New
York Mounted Rifles, armed with Sharp's rifles.
Their commanding officer was Major {. c. Dodge.
Galloping all the way up from Fort Monroe, he
reached the scene OF action and found no special
necessity for cay airy, so he turned his command
tlto hoISc ilhll z tlSIllOllltu lntlH, vi nl1
their horses from the fire of the Merrimac. which
threw over the bluff Immense shells that gem
orally went two miles before they struck any
ously affected the nerves of men and horses.
Major Dodge, selected about fifty of his best
went down to the beach, and all opened
fire on the Merrimac and her consorts. which
T TSis a 1sk wns so th snh p % tS t Gb M ShS ESnsf that
she was compelled to give IN the undertaking.
She drew off TO a distance and opened her guns
N IN fhn " nod frtfEnf a "a hnr an HHA 81.
CONGRESSES masthead was u white flag. and the
Confedcrates found fault with the army for not
fairs might makes 81 laws. and .JoSnny' S Wss not "lt
Sam, When Gen. Mansfield telegraphcd to Gen.
Wool that the Congress had raised the white
flag, the old veteran took out Il plug of tobacco,
pulled a leaf off it and put it into his mouth;
Mansfield to disregard It; shoot ii down: don't
let them have her The blame Of the firing on
that flag rests first ON the cavalry troop; sec
ondly on the Union commanders.
when Buchanan was wounded, his successor
rs commander of the Mcrrimac. seeing that tho
went back to Norfolk. That night was the
greatest night that sesbo,rd ever saw. AT tho
aSr1 the the ' sdidi MSsG sS S%' up CALLING kim i Hnd wo MSEs nst
At headquarters we knew by tele raph from
washington that n monitor was coming. from
New York. Having seen the Merrimac, She did
not impress us as the work of II genius. The
average Northern man is mechanic or has
lived in tho vicinity Of shops. and has ideas
than looked anything but a formidable warship.
A floating shanty; was the remark heard of her.
Whipple. Assistant Acknowledgement. were
making arrangements to get some sleep. the
The Assistant Secretary Of the Navy. Gustavus
V. F0x: he brought the news from the dock that
the Monitor had arrived. Col. lie Grand B.
volunteer aid on Gen. Woods stan, called for his
horse and taking, an orderly with him rode out
of the fort to the navy dock. where ho di-:
mounted and went down a ladder to the deck o.
n vessel whose outlines in the dark could
scarcely be discerncd. She was taking, on coal,
and we who were present remember that the
burden OF men and officers was that they were
rcjoiced at r%enching port. for their passage had
was towcd up TO the Minnesota. which was
aground near Newport News Point. At this
still be seen; the wreck blew up about midnight.
Next morning some Of MS Mounted Rifles
were detailed as orderlies TO two Of Gen; Wool's
staff. Major Van Ncgersack and Capt. William
Jay; WHO were ordered to report to Gen. Mans.
field at Newport News. which place we reached
manned above water OF the sunken Cumberland.
we passed many of her crew as they walked
ing supplied by their comrades Of the army.
Soon the Mcrrimac was again deserted over
Mansfield and his staff mounted and rode down
to signal Point, from which signals could DO
tween us and the Merrimac lay The Minncsota.
still aground. Alongside OF her. toward us. lay
the Monitor. When the Merrimac got In range
of the Minnesota the latter fired u broadside at
the Merrimac. hoping also that the conclusion
would release her from the mud; but it failed.
After the broadsidc the Monitor steamed out
from the, Minnesota and headed for the Mer-
rimac. which soon stopped TO examine the
Yankee machine. Around swung the tur-
ret and out beloved "A shot. johnny was
not frightened. He never was frightened
very much; there were some Generals who
thought they could scare him. hut they took u
not frightcn Johnny Itcb. Fulton's fcrryboat
kept the British fleet ont OF New York Hnrbor
in 1912 and Joshua's horns took Jericho. but
that was another day and another people.
This business was kept up without result I'M
til = O'Clock; both vessels were over on the Sew
ell Point side OF The water between tho Fort and
Norfolk. Suddenly some one shouted: Tho
Monitor Is rctreatlng" Sure. enough she was
going back to Fort Monroe; the Merrimac was
seen to fire q shot at her and then TO slowly re-
turn to Norfolk"
Fully Convinced.