The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-24

h SAs.ss.. - hshed at Norfolk,
80 ds--ss. Va, recently had +
9 30 ~ report Of an address
by Captain L. y.
{ ~ ~ White on tie pre-
III lVe<zI - eeding evening in
70 ~ which ne gave an
eseount of the fight
beta cen the Union Monitor and the
Confederate iron-clad Merrimac. March
3, 1862. Captain White served on the
Merrimac as junior engineer, and his
story is decidedly at variance with the
accepted version. The Merrimae stuck
for a while on the middle ground Of
Hampton Roads, and it was there. ac-
cording to Captain White, that most Of
the damage was done by the Monitor
OF what happened after the Merrimac
was once more ahoat Captain White
says:
I'VE caught and did run into the
Monitor, and came near running her
under the water; not that we struck
her exactly at right angles, but with
our starboard bow drove against her
with q determination Of sending her to
the bottom, and SO near did we come to
accomplishing our object that from the
ramming and the shot Of our rifle gun
that blinded her commander, she with
drew to shOal water near the Mime
sofa, whence we could not follow
never again to offer or accept battle
from the Merrimac. After waiting on
the ground of victory, without any
signs Of her return, for possibly an
hour or more, we steamed up to the
navy yard, receiving the shouts and
huzzahs of the thousands Of our people
that had Witnessed our great victory.
/ wish to emphasize the facts Just re-
lated Of the purposed collision with the
Monitor and our desire TO repeat it,
and Of her withdrawal from the field
and her refusal then or thereafter to
engage in battle with the Merrimac,
Notwithstanding that this statement is
in positive contradiction of the theory
accepted at the North, and even pub
lished in the school histories Of to-day
Captain White also relates as con
irmatory Of his story that he visited
the Monitor and Merrimac cyclorama
in New York, and called the attention
of the lecturer to some erroneous state
ments regarding the fight, but the lee
turer, while admitting that he was
wrong, said he had to misrepresent the
facts in order 10 make his show pOpu-
lar" And again Captain White re,
turns 10 the charge, aud says the Mer-
rimac, after undergoing repairs and
having Improvements made to her,
went down to Old Point and offered
battle to the Monitor and all. the great
wooden war-ships Of the United States
Navy, including the Vanderbilt, which
ship had been specially brought for
ward to accomplish our destruction.
but neither the Monitor nor any one
Of the large ships the United States
had ordered there would
come out from under the guns Of Fort |
ress Monroe" "
At the time of the engagement
George S. Geer, of this city, was an
engineer on the Monitor Mr.. Geer
was shown the above extracts from
Captain Whites speech. upon which |
he commented as follows
1T is true that the Merrimac did run
INTO the Monitor, but instead Of com |
ng near running us under water. as
Captain White states, the blow was
hardly preceptible on board our vessel.
Captain White would have his readers
nfer that the ramming and shot Of the
riAe-gun. which blinded
occurred about the same time,
out such is not the case. The Merri-
nae rammed us half an hour after the
Iction began. and fully an hour elapsed
lefore the shot was fred that caused
'ur commanders injuries.
As to the statement that the Moni-
or withdrew to shoal water near the
whence we could not follow
never again 70 offer or accept battle
With the Merrimac, il is entirely con
rary to the facts We chased the
derrimac into the Elizabeth River I'M
Il recalled by a signal from the Min
lesota, the commander Of which, Wor-
lens superior officer, feared to have
Is go further on account Of the line of
orpedoes which the Confederates had
attended across the river. The Mer-
imac made as rapid progress as she
ould In her sinking condition to Nor
ok, where she underwent repairs.
We lay in Hampton Roads a month
INVITING her to come out Of the Eliza
eth River, but she declined to accept
he challenge. Three days in success
ion we came out and steamed around
D open water 50 as to give her an op-
for an engagement She
'ould come down the Elizabeth as far
s the torpedo line, and then when we
dvanced she would retreat toward
Iorfolk, in her endeavor 10 lure us on
, the torpedoes Hal the choice been
18th the crew we would have followed
er up the river. torpedoes or DO tor I
edoes, but we we're acting under
irect orders from the President and Q
ere compelled to keep in Hampton {
Oads. /
= At any rate we accomplished our y
urpose in the end We intimideted 4
he Merrimac and kept her from com
g out until finally to prevent her 2
ON falling into Union hands she was
lown up
A1lr1fnr, 20 Ts,.t,s, yrLst.f- II a.