Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-01-06
ON THE MONITOR.
Veterans "Reminiscences of the Battle
In Hampton Roads.

NV ss- NtSiNll SlNs
A Veterans "Reminiscences of the Battle
In Hampton Roads.
"The important part which op-
portunity plays in the lives Of men
is well illustrated by the career Of
the late Admiral Worden,' remark
ed Captain Louis N. Stodder of the
United States revenue cutter service
and United States supervisor of an
chorages, port of New York, as he
sat one day last week in his room in
the barge Office. Captain Stodder
has the distinction of being the last
survivor Of the officers who were
assigned to duty on the Monitor
when it began it's career, and who
remained in constant service on the
vessel until the end off Cape Hat.
teras.
By singular coincidence Captain
Stodder' IS 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 overplenti-
full 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, a great
many officers were enrolled from
F.. the merchant marine service. /
went into the service from the mer.
chant marine myself I think the
fact that Worden, then ranking only
as lieutenant, was placed in COM
mand of the Monitor would show
that that vessel was looked upon as
rather a doubtful experiment by
the government and that the selec-
ton of man to take command was
not made by reason of any special
fitness for the position.
at was Worden's good luck that
he was assigned to the Monitor, for
the result of the fight made the yes
sci and all on board famous.
1.-The brave part that he played
in the fight was recognized by con-
gress, and he was rapidly promoted
to high rank, which other officers OBJ
tanned only after 20 years of service.
Il 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 appearance of one dying from
fever complaint. I never thought
it possible for him to live long.
During the fight he was cool and
collected. Irecall an incident which
I do not remember ever seeing pub.
lished. The pilothouse was situated
in the bow Of the Monitor, quite
away from the turret. During the
fight I was in the turret with other
officers, when suddenly we saw
Lieutenant Worden climbing up
where we were. Without saving
anything he opened one of the tur-
ret doors and stepped out on the
deck in full view of the enemy.
Why, captain, what's the trou-
bleS' exclaimed several of the Off
GERS in astonishment at his fearless
act.
l can't see we'll enough from
the pilothouse, came the quiet re.
ply. I wanted to get out here for a
moment to take in the whole situa-
ton. Then, looking around for a
few moments, he came inside.
Lieutenant Worden was very
popular with officers and men alike.
They all worshiped him. Although
only As years old at the time of the
Monitor Merrimac fight, he looked
almost so. He wore a long beard at
the time, and looked just as the re-
cent pictures made him appear.
II last saw Admiral Worden at
the ceremonies attending the re-
moval of Ericsson's body to it's final
resting place. Only handful of
persons were admitted to the cere-
mony. They were those who sur
vived from the officers and men of
the Monitor. Admiral Worden was
in carriage with Secretary Tracy.
He was very feeble, and his end
even then seemed but short way
off, and yet that was several years
ago. Troy Times.