The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-27
A CONFEDERATE PARALLEL
THE MERRIMAC,S EXPLOIT IN
HAMPTON ROADS
Compares with Dewey's mt Manila
Both Dewey and Buchanan Had I'm
tried Men.


Both Dewey and Buchanan Had I'm
tried Men.
The expressions regarding Admiral
Dewey's magnificent victory, at is UNI
parelled, it is phenomenal" followed
by such remarks as that the Amerol-
can people will not forgive Sampson II
he does not win a victory or make a
triumph so dear to the Spanish that
they will not survive another, brought
forth the following from my old friend,
the ex-Confederate officer: "This is all
very well, but the action of Dewey's
squadron at Manila, while phenomenal,
is not unparalleled, as claimed. The de-
struction of the frigate Cumberland
and Congress, the silencing of shore
batteries at Newport News, the par
tial destruction of the Minnesota and
The driving back of the United States
steamer st. Lawrence and other YES
sells sent to the assistance of those
named, was accomplished by just as
New casualties up to the time the Con-
ayress struck her colors and the trans
Ter Of prisoners from her began"
"Of course everybody will understand
that it was the historical performance
of the Virginia, better (but less proper
Iy) known as the Merrimac, in Hanp-
ton Roads, to which my naval friend
and authority referred. He continued:
s'It was after that time, and while
the white flag was flying on her, that
Admiral Buchanan, Lieutenant Taylor
and other Confederate officers and men
were killed or wounded. In both cases
1t was the expected, but not the I'M
prepared for that happened. The Fed
eral vessels attacked by Buchanan
\ were for that day more up-to-date, bet
ter equipped carrying more guns and
better dri1led) than was Montojo's fleet
III this new era. Looking at the stu
1 ZION, therefore, in the light of the past,
as well as that of the persent, think
4 the gallant Dewey's action more nearly
resembles the then really unparalleled
attacked made by Buchanan than it
does the passage of Admiral Farragut
into Mobile bay.
1.-THE latter commanded vessels and
cnen flushed with success at New Or
leans and on the Mississippi. He knew
almost to nicely the capacity of his
own ships and men, as well as the ma
fure of the ships and defences, both
hfioat and shore, which they were call
ed on to assail.
AS in Buchanar's case, Dewey COM
manded entirely untried men and a
class Of modern built ships whose
capacity to resist up-to- date artillery
shore batteries, torpedo boats and sub
marine mines was altogether an I'M
known quantity. Montojo, with the
latter to support him, evidently felt as
secure as did the gallant commander OF
the Cumberland, when, on the appear
ance of the Merrimac, he called his
crew to quarters, and is stated to have
thus bravely addressed them:
My lads, here comes the great
ssSouthern bug-a-boo" Stand to your
guns, and in fifteen minutes she is
ours"
They did stand to their guns, and
furnished an unparalleled example
which our foemen at Manila have just
emulated by firing their last broadside
as the ship sank with them in Hamp-
ton Roads.
THE geographical situation al
Manila may have more nearly re-
sembled that in Mobile bay, but I sub
INIT that all the conditions are almost
identical with those of the Hampton
Roads fight, and to that extent re-
dound more to the credit Of our gallant
new admiral.-F'rom the Richmond Dis.
patch.