The Portland daily press., 1898-03-28
THE MONITOR MoNTAUK.
She Did Deeds of valor in the Days of the
Rebellion.
EspEc1A1 TO THE PREss.1

| Washington, March 26.-Lieut. Rush
now of the Essex at Kittery navy yard
is to command the monitor Montauk
after her arrival at Portland. Maine il
expected to furnish the crew, the govern
ment furnishing the vessel and the COM
mander. Ninety-five men will be required
for the Montauk.
The monitor Montauk is one of the
famous old fighters of the war, battle
SCARED veteran of naval combats that are
| immortal in history. The Montauk was
built by the builder of the original moni-
tor, Ericsson, in his yard at Green Point,
n. Y, and in style and appearance close
ly resembles the conQueror Of the Merri-
mac. Moreover, the first commander OF
the Montauk WAS John L. Worden, the
same who commanded in the battle with
the Merrimac.
The Montauk has single turret. of
iron. The vessel itself is built Of wood
water, and is propelled by screw pro-
peller- The COST OF the Mon1auK was
$400, 900.
The principal battery consists of Two
smooth bore Dahlgren guns, one fifteen
inches bore and the other eleven inches.
There was also added to the armament in
1864 small rified twelve FOUNDER.
The battles of the Montauk in the civil
war were glorious She distinguished
herself on January ", 1868, when she
participated in the first attack on Fort
McAl Ulster, ON the Great Ogeechee river
in Georgia. The Montauk also partici-
pated In the second attack on the same
fort on February !, 1867.
On February %, 1868, in the Great
Ogeechee, the Montauk attacked and de-
stroyed the Confederate steamer Nash
battle she was injured by the explosion
of a torpedo.
On April z, 1868, the Montauk was
among the ironclads attacking Fort Sum-
ter, and again on July 10, attacked Fort
Wagner on Morris Island, and on the
18th, with Admiral Dahlgren and staff
on board. silenced that fort. During the
subsequent desperate attacks on Charles
toms defences, on August 4, August II
and August "a, the Montauk took
part and on September took part in the
night expedition against Fort Sumter.
The guns of tine Montauk were an I'M
portant part of the batteries that laid
Sumter in ruins.
On February II and 10, 1865, the Mon
bduk UOOk ptTb III OIL ooc1aOA vi l. VI a IL
derson, in Cape Fear river. This was her
last battle, and in June, 1865, the old
monitor went out of commission.
During the war the Montauk was under
command of Commander j. L.. Worden,
Lieutenant Commander G. FL. Cushman,
Commander D. Men. Fairfax, Lieutenant
Commander John L. Davis, and e. E..
StoSe.
Since the war the Montauk has been
kaDt in vary Cood condition being most
of the time at Philadelphia.
AS monitors are low lying craft, with
somewhat restricted accommodation for
the crews, the correspondent of the TIMES
inquired at the navy department as to
their healthtulness, the report was that
the Montauk had a record of remarkable
healthfulness during the war and that in
one period of over year there was but
single case of sickness aboard. 1t Is not
certain when the Montauk Will arrive.
When Speaker Reed received the request
of the Portland city government he at
once went to see Secretary Long about
sending the monitor but the latter could
not say definitely when she would arrive.