New-York tribune., 1902-05-04
MONITOR-MERRIMAC FIGHT
INCIDENTS RELATED BY GENERAL
VIELE THE WEEK BEFORE
HE DIED.

General Egbert L. Wells. the soldier OF the Mexi-
can War and the Civil War who died the other
day gave some bits of Civil War history IN a
speech made at the Westchester County Grand
Army Association dinner April IT, 1t was in
connection with the Virginia campaign. and he led
up 10 the Merrimac-A Monitor fight, which has al
ways been regarded the turning point in the
Civil War. 1t was in the winter of 1S61-'62 that
General Viele accompanied the President. Secre-
tary Of War and Secretary Of the Treasury 10
Fortress Monroe. when he planned and later led
the advance Norfolk. and on its surrender was
made the military governor. The occupation OF
the navy yard by the COnfederates; the raising and
rebuilding OF the Merrimac subsequently named
the Virginia by the Confederates, but popularity
known the MeTrimac) iTOnClad; the de-
structiOn by her OF the frgates Congress and Cum
berland; the OppOrtune arrival of the Monitor,
under Lieutenant Worden. by which the Merrimac
driven back 10 Norfolk and afterward held
for months bockaded in the Elizabeth. and the
recapture OF Norfolk by the United States forces
under the immediate direction OF President Lin
con in May. 1862, are all we'll known matters OF
history.
General Wells held his audience Of two hundred
old veterans. fun OF personal "reminiscences. while
he told Of how he established a Gordon OF pickets
under most minute instructions 10 inspect all per-
sons before they were allowed TO the lines.
and to take from them anything that supposed
10 be cOntraband- No one was permitted to pass
beyond the pickets except with a special permit
woman with a little girl. and she told most
heartrend1ng story OF the child being separated
from its parents and that she wished reunite
them about ten miles out from Richmond. General
Vies had his suspicious aroused. but having great
confidence in his picketS he issued the pass. The
woman and child were examined by the inspectors,
which was intended for che commanding general
OF the COnfederateS at Richmond The woman
so inCenSed with the search by the piCkstS that
General Ntele was summoned. which resulted in
the piCketS being repTimanded BY him in the
WOmans presence and the restoration Of the papers
But notes had been made from the papers, and
after the woman had gone with the child Gen
eral Nele recalled his reprimand OF the picets and
assured them that IL policy to deceive the
woman This suggested TO General Viels the idea.
of establishing postOfice branch, which he placed
thizer. who had no suspicion OF General Weiss
motive. After this there more freedom given
to the transmission of correspondence outside the
lines of the Union forces But General Wells also
appointed an assistant. who not suspected by
the Confederate postal superintendent to be
friendly with the Federas and he often intercepted
correspondence which of help the Union
forces One day COmmuniCa ton was found with
In copy Of one of the Richmond papers which
outlined a plan 10 attack the Federal feet and TO
destroy Norfolk This communication told that the
Merrtmac would be ready for service about the
first OF March and that il would then pOunce up0n
she and other Confederate vessels would lombard
Norfolk The information communicated to
the President at once. and the Monitor. which was
then IN course of construction at Cireenpoint,
hurried 20 completion. and she arrived at Hampton
Roads on the night before the memorable Sunday
OF March 9, the day that she engaged with and de-
feated the Confederate irOnclad.