Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-24
THE TRUTH At LAST,
Most Interesting Volume Of
Naval War Records,
EXPLOITS OF THE VIRGINIA.
A Persistent Northern Error Exploded
by DiSinttreSted Testimony.
INGENUITY OF THE cONTEDERATEs
Their Introduction to the "orid oi
the Torpedo-Proposed Purchase Oh
stock Farms in Virginia Ds
wealthy New Workers.
wealthy New Workers.

WASHINGTON, ID. C.' NoNeinD0i
(special)-Advance prints Of Volume IT,
~ the Naval War Records have been 1ur-
nisbed the officers Of the Navy Depart
r,ent engaged on the work. and the COM
pleted volumes will be ready Tor olslri-
hutton TO congressman ana others entitled
20 the hooks one day next week, the DIS
trib,ition beginning with Alabama ana
going through the States alphabetically
The volume begins with the appearance in
HAMPTON Roads Of the famous Confede-
rate ram Aerrimac 0he Virginia. ana
covers naval operations from this point
10 cane Fear River. y. C.. embracing all
the operations ia the North Carolina
sounds
Nothing more thriniagly dramatic IN
the annals Of warfare ever occurred than
the exploits Of the Merrimac when she
dashed down into the thick Of the for
midabie Union fleet, protected, as they
were. by heavy shore batteries. and that
other wonderful encounter of the Merri-
mac with Ericsson's monitor. The book
is a striking contribution To American
history. because IL sets right a salient in
cident OF the war about which a great
deal OF erratic opinion has obtained.
AN ERROR EXPLODED.
THE frequent expression Of the notion.
heard in Congress and read in newspa-
per- of the North, that the Merrimac was
ANONYMOUSLY defeated by the Monitor on
thar memorable morning Of March u.
lsfs is utterly routed by this volume and
a uuch-needed contribution TO the truth
OF history gained. The wrecking Of tins
mistaken idea of the wonderful COMBAT
is from the reports of the officers. NOT
onlv u bofr Union 1rr fonfecetst7 NJ
vies who participated, but oi the rtehch
and British officers who witnessed the
battle. The breathless concern with
which they gazed upon the spectacle OF
these two strange-looking metai-l!an
craft for hours Intellectually pounding
| each other ~ close range with the
heaviest guns. IS related with clrcum-
sfanti9l interest The Monitor. being he
smaller. lighter vessel. the foreigners
| agree. was much the more easily handled.
COMPARED 20 her. the Merrimac. with her
! greater draft and crude engines, thr pio-
! duct u shops i'm which az the beginning
| Of the war there was not even q tool 10
| fashion q piece Of marine machinery. was
clumsy and an times almost helpless.
THE VIRGINIA WE'LL MANAGED.
Yet. IL is well noted how admirably the
| Confederate ir0nclad was managed, aud
! IL fs noted too. that the men behind the
| guns Of both craft so decidedly proved
| the prowess and demonstrated the genius
| of Americans IN war emergency. thai the
| whole world was asl-ateu, and just n.
| soon as the story of the conflict was told
| the ship-yards " an countries or the
| Old World became scenes % extraordinary
/ activity. all fastening % build ir0ncllds,
| metal-sheathed rams. and monitors 10
| conform % the American naval inn0ya-
tion.
| MOST INTERESTING OF SERIES.
! Volume VII is the most Interesting OF
| all the interesting series which VIII con-
triblte 10 the true history of the war
! barveen the States and the vital part
| horne in the struggle by the nayies 0i
| the Union and the Confederate States.
II viii contain officers reports Of the
1 most thrillingly tragic and momentous
/ struggles Of the war-sea battles that
/ reyolutionized naval warfare
CONFEDERATE TORPEDOEs.
! The work deals also iustrUctively with
| the carly period OF effective torpedo prac-
| tics nv the Confederates the first people
] suceeeefully 20 use tOrpedOes IN Wariare
| "a destroy life and property. and VINO
| first and last. duriag the way. DESTROYED
| Union war vessels merchant SHIPS ana
| naval property amounting IN value % iaI
| r-ora than the sum Of the Alabama
! 9vrard. which itself embraced the cost Oi
| vessels destroyed b. other Confederate
/ srips than Semmes's famous cruiser
An the prominent ships NAMED within
| the period Of these operations are Illus
| trated in the new volume
| FOREIGN CAPITAL FOR VIRGINIA.
have authentic Information 10 the et-
/ feet that August belmont. James X
| Keere. ". c. Whitney and other wealthy
I gentlemen who are interested IN horses.
/ are considering the purchase Of stock
| farms in Virginia. IL Is suggested tnat
/ owners of such property should appIr-
| ciate this tip. and instead of asking Dis
prices. make concessions Wnlcn VIII -
e,ilt in the location 0f the proposed
stock-farms In Virginia
PERSONAL
| - NJ Sweetzer. I.eesburg. Va; MIL
tree Folkes and wife. Richmond. Va
r Moore. Virginia: Word Stockton
Metropolitan.
Nessrs. {. 2. NcEnery and ". Leon
peop.rman left by the afternoon train. %
visit friends in Richmond for few days
Charles L. Emory. North Carolina; J.
| v-Iflia Jenkins. Leesburg. r. r Aeachum
and wife. Petersburg-The Raleigh.
y f. price and wife. Roanoke. Va
3. Cook. Petersburg. Va; Mrs II W
| cobb. Mrs. j. p. Cobb, Virginia, GeoTge
Il. Adams. Richmond-St- James
General 7. l. Lomax, Captain W H.
Fowle. and Mr. II. c. stuart of Eik
Garden Va, were conspicuous ana dis-
,lnglished group In the oflce of the ale-
| tropCi.tan Hotel to-day.