The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-14

speed, and soon heard great cheering or
Geek. sent one of my assistants To learn
the cause. He reported that we were pass.
ing the Confederate batteries at Craney
isiand on our way to Norfolk. and the
cheers were from the soldiers OF the rortlfi-
cations. ~
GAVE UP A VICTORY.
My heart sank at the Intelligence.
Were we TO relinuuish the fruits of our
victory, leave the Minnesota hard aground
where she had been for twenty -four hours
and return to Norfolk to run away appar-
entity for that Is the way 1t mas since
been regarded fastened at once on
deck to interview Jones. and on INV re-
monstrntine with him for leaving without
| nnishlng the Minnesota aud capturing
| The Monitor, he said that on committing
with some of his lieuienants he thought
| II better to return TO Norfolk and finish.
arming the vessel below the watai line.
that the Monitor had proven herself TO be a
formidable opponent, and now that she WAS
badly crippled he thought II bust to take
advantage OF that fact aud nut his ship in
hgftins trim. ] begged him az least to
sond the Minnesota TO the bottom or TO
Walt another d9y. but he declined.
beth river. trailing the large and beauti-
AS the Merrimac steamed up Eign-
full ensign Of the Congress beneath tbs
Stars and Bars. she was the recipient OF
perfect ovation. Cheering, waving OF
handkerchiefs and flags people yelling
themselves hparse. hundreds of small
boats following in our rear AS history
records. the Monitor would never IN ct
the Merrimac again, although we repeat-
eddy went down the roads and dared her
TO fight
When II was decided TO evacllate Nor
folk. n plan was made to tighten the
drsught or tho Merrimac and take her 10
new fields OF usefulness. signal was to
Fave been given us to stenm away, hut
the plans miscarried and there was nothing
left us but to blow her up. ! may add
that when her ,lraught was reduced 10
eighteen feet--the point demanded BY the |
pilots-they refused to steer her over the |
bars. claiming at that late hour that her
draught was then too much We contem- I
plated shooting ono of the pilots thinking |
IL would bring the other one To his senses. |
We also discussed the plan Of sailing into
the fleet and fighting until we went down
with colors flying. but that WIS discarded |
as We felt that tho confedcracy could III |
afford to lose the 900 men aboard. There |
was nothing left for us 10 do but 10 blow
her up, which we did that night with
aching hearts.
II am confident that II Admiral Bu-
chanan had not been wounded. and had I
been in command the second dny VIII
we met the Monitor. the result would
have been different He would have RAM
med her with fun and terrific blow,
and the very inertia Of the Merrlmsc
would have sent her TO the bottom In
that event We would have comselled Ftrt
Monroe TO eyaruate. and then Josnrely
steamed I'D TO Washington. and compelled
the capitulation OF that city Just as Lin
coin feared.
II would like 10 say In closing that the
North never did Commodore Worden full
jiIstlca Ericsson received all the CORY
rrd all the credit The officers OF the
Merrimac realized the splendid fight made
by Worden. and the wise course he pur-
sued both during and after the fight"