Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-23
MONITOR AND MERRIMAC.
Acting Master Howard Talks of That
Memorable Fight.

Mr.. Samuel Howard, who is the only Off
GER now living of those who served on the
Monitor curing her memorable fight with
the Merrimac during the war of the rebel
lion, has lively recollection of that con-
test. Although well advanced in years,
Mr.. Towards memory is quite clear, and
In conversation with Star reporter he
talked quite interestingly on the subject.
When the Monitor entered Fortress
Monroe he said, Il was an acting master
in the United States navy on board the
gunboat Amanda, N Goodwin, acting VOL
unteer lieutenant, L. S. N, commanding
Lieut.. Goodwin, who had been on shore
came on board and informed the officers
that the Monitor was coming up the bay
and said he would go down to meet her
/ asked permission to go along, which was
granted. We met the Monitor off Wilough-
by Spit lightship. We went aboard and the
Monitor steamed up the bay, anchoring off
the L. S. S. st. Lawrence. Lieut. Worden
went on board and reported to the captain
or the St Lawrence, who ordered him to
proceed to the assistance of the Minnesota
United States ship. The night was very
dark and We steamed up the bay by the
light of the burning ship United States
which was on fire at SewelI's point. We
came to anchor off the Minnesota and
laying aground, remained there all night
Next morning at O'Clock the confederate
steamer Merrimac appeared on the star
board side of the Minnesota, her two con-
sorts, Jamestown and Yorktown lying lust
ahead. The Monitor got under way, steamed
FOR the consorts and fired one shot at each
They both steamed for SeweIPs point
thinking they had fun enough, and re-
manned there all day.
The Monitor steamed for the Merrimac
and began the engagement, which lasted
until between and 3 o'clock in the after
noon. In rounding the Merrmac's stern a
shot that was fired from her struck the
pilot nouse of the Monitor and wounded
Lieut.. Worden, who then gave the charge
of the vessel to Lieut.. Green. Lieut. Green
ordered the vessel to Fortress Monroe and
l, of course, put her under way and then
went to the cabin to see Lieut. Worden to
tell him the Monitor had been ordered to
Fortress Monroe, and also to tell him that
If the Monitor did go there the Merrimac
and her consorts would capture or burn
all the government property, vessels and
transports, in the roads. Lieut. Wordeu
replied that he had given charge of the yes-
sci to Lieut.. Green. and that l should see
him. l met Lieut.. Green at the foot of the
turret stairs and told him of my talk with
Lieut.. Worden. He then altered the course
of the Monitor for the Minnesota and we
came to anchor beside that vessel, finding
1t deserted the crew and all the provisions
having been put ashore. There was no one
on board but officers and quartermasters
the latter being kept to set fire to trains
In case the Monitor went to Fortress Mon
roe. Shortly after We came to anchor the
Merrimac steamed for Norfolk, her con-
sorts following.
Had the Monitor gone to Fortress Mon-
roe, as it was originally ordered by her
commanding officer, the government would
have lost the fleet of vessels lying In the
roads, their value being between fifteen
and twenty millions of dollars, which was
saved by the altering of the Monitors
course"