Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-10
A TRAyESTY UPON HISTORY

The New York Herald correspondent
on the Herald's dispatch-boat with Samp-
sons fleet Is another of those engaged In
making the history of the present who
might do well 10 study the history of the
past This correspondent opens his de-
scription of the sinking of the Spanish
torpedo-boat Terror with a reference TO
the defiance OF the big Confederate Mer-
rimac (VirginiD by Ericsson's little mont
tor" and declares that as "audacious as
was the little craft (Monitor) that made
Ericsson famous, the small Terror was
much more so in boldly attempting to
run the gauntlet of the powerful Ameri-
can fleet assembled about the entrance 10
Santiago harbor. Unlike the Monitor"
continues the correspondent. "the Terror
failed TO catch the enemy mapping, and |
the American feet demolished the little |
stranger as quickly as Ericsson's Cheese |
box disposed of her more formidable |
looking enemy at Hampton Roads"
This isbut one Of the many gross viola
tons by direct Misrepresentation. impli-
cation, or suppression the canons of his
tory have suffered since the war COM
menced, at the hands Of writer's for north
ern papers. The facts about the engage
ment between the Merrimac Virginia)
and the Monitor so clearly establish the
contrary of what the Heralds correspop-
dent implies, that to repeat them would
be an act Of supererogat1on. These facts
can be found in q dozen unquestionable |
arrf1F Apff |
say that the honors of the fight were not
With the Confederate ship. AS to the I
lain that the Monitor disposed Of" the /
derrimac, nothing has been more I
VIGOROUSLY discredited. For information
N that point the Herald's correspondent !
iced not trouble himself further than to
cad the record Of the first attempt made :,
efore Congress to get prize money for
he officers and crew of the Monitor.
Apropos of this matter we would say
hat some of our northern contemporaries | g
re tumbling over one another in their eff =.
orts to get to the front in proclaiming | :,
ne loyalty" of the South during the | :,
resent war, and in descanting upon the :
act that we are again one nation. Well,
lere is no question that the South is as 80
ne TO the Union as is the North, and -
'ere is no question that we are one ma
on But we notice that those same con-
in seeking parallels furnish
during the civil war for certain nota- 80
G American achievements of this war,
tirely disregard the Confederate record. y,
ewey's Manila victory is constantly
impaired TO Farragut's fight in Mobile
,y and Hobson's magnificent exploit to r
at of Gushing in sinking the Confede-
te ram Albemarle. We see, however, IT
thing of Buchanans desperate daring -
Mobile, Of the splendid heroism of -
asset and his companions in attempt -
! to blow up the United States frgate A.,
w Ironsides, or of any of the other =
perb deeds that stud the annals
the Confederate navy. We would p''
the last to pluck laurel leaf N-
m the brow of Dewey or Hobson. Both ,'' ''
mes stand for the highest type Of
lerican valor, patriotism, and devo- y,
n to duty. Both add imperishable NJ,
tire to the roll of American heroes -
t if we are one people it is a fragrant o,,
vesty upon history, and a scathing ,bo
nmentary on the sincerity of the a. "a
,ers engaged in the work, to conflne orr
one seVtioh 'he Se"Ioh Ior prototypes will
those who especially distinguish them n
yes in this war. If we are "al or
and that is TO be our pride IA,
boast. the brilliant acts of courage
individual Confederates put as much H.
or upon the American name as SINH tene
acts of individual Federals, and to tIrr
're the fact IL as Illogical as it is able
lst, ABSURD, ana petty. | dom