The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-19

WllH PLlIllGIH slS iliS dSSlSlelit' '@e'NAh of the two guns in the turret was man ned by crew of eight men, explained respectfully by Boatswain's Mate John Stocking and Seaman Thomas Loch- rane. First Assistant Engineer Newton had charge of the engine and fire rooms andN Acting Master Weber of the pow der division on the berth deck, the lat ter being ably seconded in the dis charge of his duty by Gunners Mate Joseph Crown.
 As the Merrimac came up from Sew alls Point the Monitor got under, way and headed straight for them, it being Lieutenant Worden's aim to meet and engage them as far as possible from the standed and helpless Minnesota. The fight began with a broadslde from the Merimac directed at the Minnesota. The Monitor did not return h2r fire, but steamed ahead until within close range of the Merrimac. Then Lieuten- ant Worden, changing the course of the Monitor. by manoeuver as quick as it was skilful, brought her alongside of the Merrimac, stopped the engine and gave the order to begin firing, In- stantly Lieutenant Greene triced up the port, ran out gun. took careful aim and pulled the lockstrlng. The Merri- mac answered with another broadside from it's ten guns. The fight had begun in earnest
 After the first shock of the combat had passed and it was found that the shots from the Merrimac had failed to penetrate our armor and that the re- volving machinery of the turret was uninjured, all on board the Monitor took heart. We had been confident from the first that our vessel could do good ser- vice in quiet waters, Now we knew that we were a match for the Merrimac and all doubt as to the issue of the con- fiict disappeared. Following the first exchange of shots the fighting went on at close quarters. Often the distance between the two vessels was not more
 than few yards Once, when they were almost touching each other, Lieu- tenant Greene trained a gun on the Merrimae's water line. The shot struck exactly where it was intended it should and apparently penetrated the ship.
 Splendid. Splendid, sir exclaimed
 Lieutenant Worden through his speak
 ing tube. "A few more like that and the
 day is ours. You made the iron fly
 The speaking tube from the turret to the pilot house broke down early in the action and thereafter Paymaster Keel CT and Captains Clerk Taffey passed Lieutenant Worden's orders and mes- sages to Lieutenant Greene and the lat ter's inquiries and answers to the com mander. It was then that Lieutenant Worden gave the men in the turret un- expected and shining proof of his quiet and fawless bravery. During a mo-
 mentary Hull in the fight he suddenly appeared in the turret room and, with out speaking to anyone. stepped through the port hole to the deck outside-in full view of the enemy.
 | Why, captain, what's the trouble?' we all exclaimed, astonished at his fear less act.
 "I can't see well enough from the
 pilot house, was the quiet reply, and I wanted to get out here for moment to take in the whole situation Then
 with another quick glance. about him. he came inside.
 Lieutenant Worden's action was not without reason, for by this time thick cloud of smoke enveloped both vessels Indeed, the duel between the Monitor tIlA VIGIItlldC WdS IOuSHl dilllQ ct NEI- itable rainstorm of iron and to thun- | derous accompaniment of all the bat | teries around Hampton Roads and from i the Confederate warships Jamestown I and Yorktown which lay at safe dis, l tance to the south. The Confederate l batteries at SewalPs Point, Crany Isl l and, Big Point and Barrel Point all 1 hurled solid shot at long range at the i Monitor; Fortress Monroe, the Fedora batteries on the Rip Raps5 and at New } port News. Point, and the Minnesota {, aground nearby, kept up continua l firing a the Merrimac, while the smoke
 of the smouldering Congress, added te l the dense clouds of smoke which made
 the bright day dark.
 l The fight went on for hours. A shoi from the Merrimac weighing 1Ot I pounds, striking the turret of the Moni l tor, would produce concusson whicf occasionally knocked the men down, bu
 caused no other injury, while the Con I federate signally failed in her attempt.
 to run us down Again and again sht | tried to run the Monitor, but each time i Lieutenant Worden, by the sllillful ust l of the helm, avoided receiving a direc' | blow Once the Merrimae crew at | tempted to board us. but the Monitor | swung just out of reach, and at tha short distance Lieutenant Greene plant | ed solid 1S0 shot fair and square .upor | the forward part of the Confederate: | easement. The shot bent in the Merri macs iron side, knocked her gunner l to the floor, and started every mans | nose to bleeding But it did not pene trate. However, had the gun beer l loaded with thirty Gnstead of fifteen | pounds of powder, the charge used late in similar guns, the fght "r----'7 'at i doubt have ended then and there,
 "Soon after noon a shell fired at clos l range from one of the Merrimac's guns 1 struck the pilot house of the Monito and shattered the side. Lieutenan | Worden was knocked down, stunned
 and utterly blinded by the powde which filled his eyes. The dayligh 1 through the opening cut by the shel ! made him think the pilot house hat
 been destroyed, and he, accordingly, or
 dered Williams to put the helm to star I board and sheer off. At the same tim he sent for Lieutenant Greene, who leaving Sinners in charge of the turre T had been slightly injured a shor
 time before and forced to go below-a 1 once responded and was directed t take command of the ship. He did no