The National tribune., 1902-05-08

destruction by the ironclad Merrimac.
March s. 1862, history of heroiSm and
patriotism not often equaled in the records
of battles.
The Cumberland was one of the old
sailing frigateS, cut down, or raced, as
the term was, and rated in the navy reg
lister as slOop-of-war. She carried, for
those days, q formidable battery, consist
ing of n 10-inch pivot gun forward on the
spar deck, n rifed S0-pounder Dahlgren
gun aft, and on the gun deck, in broad
side, % 9-inch guns. She was great
favOrite among the older officers, being an
excellent sea yessel-cOmfortable speedy,
and easily handled in all weather. Full
spared. she carried cloud" of canvas,
requiring necessarily q large crew, which
numbered about $50. and contained a
large portion of trained men-Of-warSmen.
The Cumberland was probably the last
thorough representative of the navy of
former days, when the people fOstered it,
and when tars were tars and seamanShip
had its value.
We had spent several months cruising
off Hatteras, as part of the first blockad-
ing squadron organized, and upon being
relieved from duty proceeded to Newport
News for the Winter.
This was a newly-formed camp on the
east shore of the James River where the
latter empties into Hampton Roads. and
We found anchorage in about II faith
oms, distant few hundred yards from
some batteries on the water side of the
CAMP and about 10 miles from Norfolk,
Va. :
There does not appear to have been
much for us to do during the Winter
months of our stay at Newport News.
The daily routine of man-of-war life was
faithfully carried on, varied only, that l
can recall, by an attempted night attack
by our beats on rebel battery on the
opposite shore of the James, there several
miles broad.
But life was made interesting if not
inxious by almost daily reports of the
progress toward completion of a powerful
iron-clad vessel being constructed in Nor
folk. Our exposed position invited at
tack. and we looked for it day and night.
As the Navy Department had full infor-
nation on the subject, the subsequent loss
of the frigate was a needless sacrifice.
1t is difficult to imagine why she was left
there to become the easy prey of the enc
my, nor why, if the rebels, with limited
resources, could reconstruct the Merrimac
and cover her with iron in few months,
we could not have done as much in as
many weeks.
Ordinarily our ships-of-war are trim
and orderly in the extreme, but for months
the Cumberland was stripped for battle
guns dOuble-breeched, decks Uttered with
full shot racks, the small-arms within
reach, and the crew were constantly under
drill. until every man knew not only the
duties of his own station at quarters, but
those of every station as well. With plenty
of sea room, a breeze and an English fri
gate. or two OF them, as our foe. there
might have been a chance for victory.
But when the armored Merrimac steamed
out of Norfolk and threaded her way
among the shoals toward US, we stood no
chance-nOne whatever. 1t was iron and
steam against a sailing vessel of wood
in dead calm.
1t was ! o'clock in the afternoon of
bright Spring day. There were probably
10000 men in blue and in gray on either
shore of the river TO view the combat.
There was no wind to fill our sails, nor
was the tide making much. if any. As
soon as it became evident that the enc
my was about to call upon us, we went
10 quarters, opened magazines and shell
rooms, reloaded the guns, sanded the
decks so that the blood of the fallen
should not trip up the living, and then
waited-probably 10 minutes-fOr her to
come within range.
The Merrimac, after rounding the long
shoal off the point, headed directly for us,
firing once in passing at the sister ship,
the Congress, and receiving at the same
time a shot from our forward pivot gun.
Her first shot at us struck the starboard
quarter rail, throwing the pieces among
the guard marines, wOunding several of
them. The second shot struck the water
ways, under the forward pivot, and dis
Rbled it.
Our firing became at once very rapid
from the few guns we could bring to bear
as she approached slowly, heading for our
starbOard bow, where she rammed US IN
der or forward of the fOre-chains. The
shock of the collision was, of course, per-
ceptble, but was not violent, and was fol
lowed by a rapid fire from her forward
ports. The report speedily came up from
below of large quantities of water pour
ing through the gap made by the ram,
making it very evident that the good ship
was certain to go to the bottom.
Meanwhile the Merrimac was being
swung around by the making tide, her
ram breaking off in the operation, and
was soon in position abreast of us, dis
tant, say, 20 feet, both vessels firing rap
idly and every gun bearing.
Her shells found nothing to impede
them, and passed through the side of our
ship, throwing splinters and fragments of
iron among our men on the gun deck and
producing in the course of the half hour
ensuing scene of carnage and destruc-
ton never TO be recalled without horror.
In that time our loss was not less than
100 ont of about 100 men stationed at the
batteries on the gun deck. where occurred
most Of the fighting and casualties. The
wounded were carried below to the sur
geOu, from time to time, but the dead and
their fragments We're thrown TO the other
side of the deck out of the way.
1t was a hopeless fight. Our shot, strik-
ing the inclined sides Of the Merrimac,
bounded up and flew over. dropping into
the water beyond. The gun captains, OBJ
serving this, were cool enough-sOme Of
them-to reserve fire until the enemy.
opening a port 10 run out their reloaded
guns. appeared to present the opportunity
OF throwing a shell into the casemate. But
the openings were narrow and nearly filled
with the muzZles of their guns projecting.
The ship, slowly sinking by the head,
now had the water up to the gun-trucks,
on the gun deck forward, and probably
most of the wounded below were drowned
at this stage, but the firing continued. At
one time, when the current brought the
enemy close alongside, we were called
away from the guns to board her, but, the
two vessels widening again, prevented our
getting on her, which was undoubtedly
very fortunate The constructor of the
Merrimac has since stated that we could
not have penetrated the vessel, as she had
only one hatchway into the casemate, and
that a very narrow one.
Failing this. the men returned to their
guns and continued the action. but the
enemy now appeared TO consider the mat
ter settled and dropped astern. During
this wonderful combat there was no sign
of hinching. even at the most appalling
moments. Young boys, bringing powder
performed their duties attentiyely from