Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-11-21
SERVED A GUN ON MERRIM
John Mcclellan, n Veteran of Battle
in Hampton Roads.

Philadelphia Press: John McClel-
Ian, who was the second loader OF a
| Beven-inch gun on the Confederate fri.
gate Merrimac in Its memorable con
| fiict with the union ironclad Monitor nj
Hampton roads during the civil var. is
now employed at the Pennsylvania
Steel company. at Steelton Pa. Al
though he Is 20 years Of age, he is still
hale and hearty and able to do a hard
days work As far as known to Mr..
Mcclellan, he Is the only survivor OF
the Merrimac crew.
Mcclellan enlisted in the American
navy in 1857 for three years and served
the entire term on the Wabash us an
honorary seaman under Captain Rog-
err When the war broke out In 1861
he re-enlisted in the confederate army
at Newport News and was assigned to
the Merrimac.
In speaking of the memorable fight
with the Monitor, Mr.. Mcclellan says
I'VE boarded the Merrimac al New
port News and crossed Hampton roads
about 80 O'Clock on Saturday after
nom | was assigned as second loader
of a seventeen Brooks rife bowgun.
James kshl was captain OF the gun and
Lieutenant Sims was lieutenant Of the
division under Captain Buchanan.
When the Union ship Cumberland APP
preached the Merrimac Captain Bu-
chanan was standing in the hatch wa
giving orders TO fire and VIII lie doing 50
was wounded He was then taken from
the ship and placed in an open boat 10
be removed TO the Norfolk hospital. !
put pillow under his head Just as the
boat was pulling away. when the cap
tain commanded the men to halt and
although his pain WAS severe. he raj
lied and called 10 Lieutenant Jones not
10 give up the ship lie said Sink
the ship and all hands before you sur
render
al this moment the Monitor. tho
ironciad Union vessel. arrived siDms OF
the men on the boat called her a cheese
box and some q dredge. As she ad-
vanced within a thousand yards she
opened on us and passed around MS
three times. Keeping mp continuous
fire The Merrimac's firing had little
effect on the chpcsebox. rs the turret OF
the Monitor revolYed SO that the shells
could not damage her guns. Every
time she passed tho guns in the ten
port holes of the Merrimac were fred
At the Monitor After c,fc.lng around
us three times and Keeping No a con
tinuous hre. the Monitor skipped over
10 Fortress Monroe. and We followed,
much 10 our sorrow as we stuck ON a
sandbar. and all effort 20 get our boat
on was ia vain.
we then received orders 10 place a
hitch anchor ottt IN a boat and try TO
pull her OF This effort falling. Lien
tenant Jones signaled 10 the jamestown
for assistance This being impossible
the captain became dishcartened and
saids We are wood and theY are iron
steam was again raised. and the oMni-
tor returned repeating her attack on Us
one of her shells struck the Mertimac =
coal bunker under the iron and our
boat began 10 lcat 10 conjunction with
the attack OF the Imitor, the newport
News land batteries. the Roanoke. IRON
side. the Cumberland tire Congress and
the Minnesota opened 6fe on ug and
gave rs hot shells We reDtered our
fire on tne Cumberland md In less
than 80 minutes She hoiste1 the white
flag
We were then ordered 10 board the
Cum boriarA and when half way there
in an open boat Lieutenant Minor was
stru1 ~ Yankee ball ana Jack Len
hart was wounded. Thus disabled. our