The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-03-14

ern shore was lined with forts and
camps of the Federal army. The order
for the Federal vessels anchored north
of the channel within range of friendly
guns to seek safety in fight had not
taken effect when the ram hove in sight
about noon the 9Th OF March. On board
the Congress and Cumberland the sail
ors' freshly washed clothing was dry
ing in the rigging, and their boats were
swinging from their booms.
Heralded by a pillar Of black smoke
rising out Of the mouth of Elizabeth
river, strange craft steamed from un-
der the Confederate batteries and head
ed for Newport News in the direction
Of the Congress and Cumberland and
the Federal shore batteries. These ships
and batteries, aggregating 100 guns,
opened on the stranger at three-fourths
Of mile,
The broadsides OF the thirty-two
Founders of the Congress rolled harm
lessly from the plated shield of the
ram, which passed the frigate and NOV
ed slowly toward the Cumberland to
get position to ram. She kept well out
of the way of broadsldes for a time,
but at last the Cumberland's pivot rifle
and forward guns bore on the target.
duel of fifteen minutes at 300 yards
followed, and the shots of the ram cut
the wooden war sloop with frightful eff
feet. The tide was slack, with no wind,
and the Cumberland was a still target
for the steam ram. Entire guns crews
were aunihilated by single shots.
At the end of fifteen minutes firing
the Merrimac headed for the Cumber-
land, striking her ponderous beak up
on the wooden bow. The sloop imme-
diately began to sink and carried the
ram down with her until the iron beak
which coupled the antagonists broke
off. AS the ram backed away she
stood motionless for some time under
the broadsides Of the Cumberland, and
the heroic sailors of the sloop, although
they knew their ship was doomed,
poured shots upon the Merrimac at
close quarters till she fairly reeled un-
der the blows on her plating.
Not shot broke through the armor
of the ram. The Cumberland contin-
ued sinking, and the commander of the
ram hailed to know If she would sur
render. "Neverw cried her captain,
the gallant Morris. Wen sink along
side.,' AS the water rose the crew climb
ed higher and continued working the
guns until at last their muzzles were
a., +y,k xr,n&o.. THO MAJ, x.yhr, freI +1,x,
last shot as deathknell was mortally
wounded in the act and one of eighty
killed in that short fight. The flag
was flying from the staff as the old
ship rested on the bottom. with her
rigging above the tides
After finishing the Cumberland the
Merrimac turned to the frigate Con
gress, which could only be reached by
taking q tortuous channel that brought
the ram under the guns Of the Federal
batteries on shore. If the batteries
had had few more heavy guns or
more solid shot for the ones in position
that day, there would have been no
Monitor and Merrimac fight on March
8. At one time the rams keel dragged
In the mud while she was making a
long turn 800 yards from the Batteries.
Well aimed shells tore away her dav-
its, knocked the muzzle Off one Of the
guns and stove two firing ports into
one, The rams commander Admiral
Buchanan, was struck by one of the
shots. and sailor who crawled out on
deck to replace flag shot away wa
instantly knocked into the Sea-
/ While the Merrimaf was fast under