The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-07-11
HISTORIC NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS

war vessel, the Merrimac, by Con-
federate naval constructor. in the
early part of the War between the
States, completely rcvolntionized
naval warfare. This iron-clad not
only displaced the wooden men-of
war, but also did away with the
Old style of "boarding' the enemy.
The marines were armed with pis-
tolls, knives and cutlaSses for this
hand to hand conflict.
When the Merrimac was put into
commission Il recruiting officer came
to Yorktown, where Dreux' Battal-
ion was camped. At dress parade,
Captain Beard stated to our Com
pany QLe Shreveport Grays) that
twenty volunteers were wanted tor
"extra hazardous duty" asking
thom to step three PAGES to the
front. The entire Company all
vanced. Captain Beard smiled,
salutcd the Company, and in few
words complimented them for their
gallantry. The same meritorious
spirit was shown when an equal
number of volunteers were called
from the other companies of the
battalion. This, however, was usual
with Confederates in both the army
and the navy.
Ouly few men, however, were
accepted, principally mechanics, IS
it was afterwards decided that only
a few "boarders" would be needed,
if at all. But, when the iron clad
Monitor came into the engagement,
between the Merrimac and the fleet,
Commodore Buchanan concluded to
board her, but the breaking of the
PROV of the Merrimac while ramming
the enemy prevented this attempt.
1t was afterwards learned that the
Monitor had provided for Il possi
ble boarding party, by so arranging
steam pipes with boiling water that
the "boarders" could have been
seaided to death, had they ever
reached the deck. This scalding
water mode of warfare is departure
from the honorable rules of war.
| We heard the cannonading Of
that great sea-battle-the greatest
iu history-at Il distance of thirty
miles, and felt that the success of
our cause depended a great deal
npon that engagement. When we
heard, later, that she had been
blown up to oprevent her from falling
into the possession of the enemy we
realized that the Confederacy had
lost force equal to an army. Had
it not been for the treachery, or
cowaldice Of the pilots, the Merrl-
mac could have been taken up the
James River, and perhaps would
have destroyed the Federal fleet
thus preventing the escape of tha,
army after the Seven Days Battles
The uselessness of wooden war
} vessels was farther demonstrated
later by the construction of the iron
, clad Arkansas. She was built hk,
the Merrimac-with a PROV, be-
hull protected by railroad iron ant
ribbed with log-ciiains. She car
ried only ten guns-twO forward
two afr, and three on each side
Her objective duty was to attacl
with view of destroying the uppe
. aud lower fleets menacing Vicks
, burg. She was So heavily armore,
that she could run ouly about fou
miles an hour. But, that matter,,
, not with Captain Brown, who said
"she was built to fight; not to run.
Steamlng down the Yazoo O
+ that memorable morning of Jul
= l4th, 1862, Captain |. N. Brow
= called the officers aud the me
f around the shield where be stoo(
0 aud said: "Gentlemen-ID seekin
: the combat, as We now do, We mus
ri, Ch~n1l c..Jl