Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-01-08
ON THE MONITOR WITH woRoEN
A Veterans "Reminiscences of the
MonitOr-Merrimnc Battle.

The important part which oppor-
tunity plays in the lives of men is well
illustrated by the career of the late
Admiral Worden, remarked Capt. Louis
n. Stodder, of the United States rev.
enue cutter service and United States
supervisor of anchorages, port of New
York, as he sat one day recently in his
room in the barge office. Capt. Stod
der has the distinction of being the last
survivor of the officers who were as
signed to duty on the Monitor when it
began its career, and who remained in
constant service on the vessel until the
end off Cape Hatteras.
By a singular coincidence Capt. Stod-
der's room almost overlooks the statue
erected in Battery park to the memory
of Ericsson, once his intimate friend.
You see, continued the captain, naval
officers were not over plentiful at the
beginning of the war, and the officials
at Washington had to make the best
use of the material they had in hand
In fact great many officers were en-
rolled from the merchant marine ser~-
ice. 1 went into the service from the
merchant marine myself. l think tic
fact that Worden, then ranking only as
lieutenant, was placed in command of
the Monitor, would show that that ves-
sci was looked upon as rather doubt
full experiment by the government, and
that the selection CT man to take COM
mand was not made by reason of any
special fitness for the position.
1t was Worden's good luck that he
was assigned to the Monitor, for the
result of the fight made the vessel and
all on board famous.
The brave part that he played in the
fight was recognized by congress, and
he was rapidly promoted to high rank,
which other officers obtained only after
90 years of service.
/ remember him we'll 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 appear
ance of one dying from fever COM
plant. 1 never thought it possible for
him to live long.
During the fight he was cool and col
lected. l recall an incident which do
not remember ever seeing published
The pilot house was situated in the bow
of the Monitor, quite away from the
turret. During the fight l was in the
turret with other officers, when sud-
denly we saw Lieut. Worden climbing
up where we were. Without saying
anything he opened one of the turret
doors and stepped out on the deck in
full view of the enemy.
"Why, captain, what's the trouble?"
exclaimed several OF the officers in
! astonishment at his fearless act.
81 can't see we'll enough from the
pilot house." came the quiet reply. 81
wanted to get out here for moment
to take in the whole situation" Then,
looking around for few moments, he
came inside.
Lieut.. Worden was very popular with
officers and men alike. They all wor-
SHIPPED him. Although only As years
old at the time of the Monitor-Merrimac
| fight, he looked almost 60. He wore n
long beard at the time, and looked just
| as the recent pictures made him ap-
| pear.
last saw Admiral Worden at the
ceremonies attending the removal of
Ericsson's body to its final resting
place, Only handful of persons were
admitted to the ceremony. They. were
those who survived from the officers
and men of the Monitor. Admiral Wor-
den was in carriage with Secretary
Tracy, He was very feeble, and his
end even then seemed but short way
off, and yet that was seversl years ago.
Troy Times.
Have a useful and GOOD wife in the