The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-19
REAR.ApM1RAL JOHN L. woRpES.

R~EAR.ApMIRAL JOHN l. woRpES.
been fred, but preparations for n fight could
either be seen or heard Of in every part Of the
The two points Of most interest at that
time in connection with these preparations were
Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor and Fort
Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, in the harbor of
Pensacola. Both forts were held by Govern
ment troops, but both were invested by the
Confederates, and both were badly in need OF
reinforcemcnts and supplies. As 10 Fort Pick
ems, a most curious condition OF affairs pre-
vailed. Commander Henry Wake, in defiance
OF orders from n superior officer, had concen-
trated the Government troops previously scat.
tered among three forts, and so had saved Fort
But Gen. Bragg was daily strengthening the
Confederate forces around this one post, and 1t
was defended by but ffty.two soldiers In all.
Rarely was a fort in greater need Of reinforce
ments, and never was the need OF such rein
forcements more manifest. Moreover. the re-
Inducements and supplies were at hand in the
United States sloop OF war Sabine, commanded
by Capt. ii. A. Adams, but Adams, incredible
as 1t now seems, declined to land the reinforce
ments until he should receive specific orders
from the Navy Department 10 do SO. He re-
fused to recognize an order from Gen. Scott to
q hostile act and would be resisted to the ut
most" 81 he wrote TO the Secretary OF the
Navy. He did not wish to precipitate a con-
fiict unless he knew that it was the wish Of the
Administration for him to do so. Mails and
telegraph were still in operation among the
States, but 10 get an order TO Capt Adams TO
land the endorsements a trustworthy messen-
ger was needed. There was nothing to pre-
vent any one going to Pensacola. bat this mes
senger would have to go off shore TO the Sabine,
and to do that he must first get n pass from
Gen. Bragg, who commanded the insurgent
forces there.
4 man who was at once fearless and a diplo-
mat was needed, and Lieut.. John l.. Worden,
Of brilliant renown," was summoned before
Secretary welies. lie, was told to prepare for
20 Gi, me- nsx perhaps t9sIn S g d4REerTS bs 5 JSnTnf % ca AND
Adams was given TO him in an unsealed en-
yelope, and away he went, Before Richmond,
people SO determined on war that he com
mitted the despatch to memory and then de-
stF9oyed it; and ! h vas fortunate hn xont 70 r.,
Bragg and asked for permission TO
cate with the fleet outside.
ward, authorizing me TO 60 to the Sabine, and
upon handing it to me he asked II | had de-
nps aTiit tGr o Sspt' but AaT tRst / | h bSGa'I q re sHai c 6aa
munication TO make to him from the Navy De-
partment."
Bragg would have no doubt seized written de-
spatches, but TO his great chagrin afterward. he
let the young man go with the oral one. Wor-
munications with the sabine lying Outside, and
then found that the bar could not be crossed.
1t was a weary and DANGEROUS delay, but he
night the reinforcements were landed and Fort
Pickens saved. But when Worden had come
c6aSrined over allowing the Lieutenant to
go forward that he forgot whatever instincts
as a gentleman he may have possessed, and
consequence Of this Wordon was detained for
cry, the Grst prisoner in the war OF the rebellion.
paper describing his condition, there tthe
eminent was moved TO effect an exchange.
II yas on y Noy. q: lSs Ss,,v that h. Wo5den
in prison was a good thing Tor him. for he
reached Now York at o time that gave him
command of the ship with which his name will
OF naval warfare. There was at that time in
course Of construction, over at Greenpoint the
seen. Although that was tho day OF high
wooden walls and lofty spars, with thousands
St ynsd os John 81 sf EricssO sp hsS de 70 eae a g sraft ,b ths
neither spar nor rail-, and that was armed with
| oid.fashioned sea dog the new ship. made OF iron
| and heavily plated, and propelled by a steam en-
ahne fi ostedtem PC Siiy andisouidht the the slight light
al hands. Lieut.; John 1. Worden had no preju;
OF the floating coffin, and he accepted the order
The story OF the fight with the Merrimac that
followed in Hampton Roads Is 30 we'll known
that 1t need not be recounted here, but Worden
fought the ship from The coming towerCa hut
drove her between the Confederate ironclad
and the wooden walled Minnesota that it had
| Btnrtcu 10 ueSITDy. ITO TdIBcu up DBslue The
powerful antagonist, although his ship WAS but
an experiment, and 80 took tho fire OF The heayi,
est cannon the Confcdcrates had ahOat when
the ships literally touched each other. He
found his guns did not penetrate the MerrImac
and went cruising about her TO find "a vulnerable
point, He strove to ram her and missed by
the narrow margin Of TWO feet and then "A shell
burst against n chink In his iron log pilothouse
and spurted flame and red hot dust into his
eyes and utterly disabled him. How his Lieu,
Tenant, Charles Dana Greene, took his place
and how the battle ended is well known to ali.
Most beautifully has the little Monitor sus.
mined herself" said Capt. John Marston, The
senior officer OF the fleet, in his first report OF
the fight to the Navy Department, while one
wild shout Of JOY and relief swept over the
anxious North.
The ship that John Ericsson built and Johu
Lorimcr Wordon fought saved the American
republi-. The battle Of Hampton Roads wa.
one OF the decisive battles OF the worlds his
tory. and tho good fame OF the inventor and The
warrior were secure for all time.
1t was characteristic of the man that when
he had recovered consciousness his first thought
should have been, In spite OF the frightful pain
for the work he had had In hand.
Have ] saved the Minnesota were his frat
words when life returned 10 him.
With the applause OF u nation came reward
more substantial than words. 1t was on sun
day, March y, 1862, that the great hight tool
place. by joint resolution of Congress, ap
pro red July IL. 1t vas resolved that "tht
hanks OF Congress and OF the American peopl,
- dua and ara horOby tandanSd "a IIaut. InhT