Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-01
Houston CTex.O Chronicle.

10 a Texan belongs the honor Of having
constructed and commanded the vessel
that revolutionized naval warfare and dis
placed wood hulls for those OF steel
Throughout the world It is stated that
the Merrtmac and Monitor were the first
successful opponents OF ironlad architec-
ture. This idea is taught in the public
schools from one end OF this land to an
other and teachers have impressed and
continue TO impress Il upon their pupils.
But IL is not true history.
Designed conformity by Captain John A.
Stevenson and Captain Charles w. Austin,
and constructed and commanded by the
latter. the Confederate ram Manassas was
the first ironclad ever built. Captain Aus
tin was a Texan, a relative Of Stephen
+. Austin. and his family resides today in
Houston at No. PIP Fannin street. But
for the success OF this vessel the Merrimac
would never have been built. and Eric
son would never have submitted his plans
for the cheese box on a raft"
The first ironclad. the Enoch Train,
towboat on the Mississippi river, was pur-
chased by Mr.. Stevenson before the Fed
erals had been driven from the field OF
Bull Run. II was a powerful vessel, with
twin screws. and mammoth engines for
craft Of its size. One hundred and eighty
feet I'm length. it was registered at about
100 tons Hauled upon the ways at New
Orleans. builders swarmed over its hull,
while all the city laughed at the plans laid
down by the two captains. 1t was sheath
ed above the water line. under the direc-
ton OF Commander Austin, with two
thicknesses OF railroad rails, and was fit
ted with a ram of iron pointing out be-
meath about five feet in length.
Before the vessel bad been completed
the blockade OF the Mississippi was estab-
lished. A commodore stationed at New
Orleans refused to man the vessel and
shared the accepted belief that she was
useless. Permission to call for volunteers
was given, however. With crew OF u
men she steamed down the river to its
mouth. There lay four sloOps of war
bearing a total armament Of IS guns.
OF all the % souls aboard, Captain Aus
tin alone stood upon the deck. Bearing
down at full speed upon the blockading
feet, he aimed for the steam sloop OF war
Richmond. . guns. In the teeth OF hail
OF fire laundering from half a hundred
cannon the intrepid commander, standing
alone and In open sight from every YES
sci, commanded the engineer to pile more
coal under the boilers. Broadside after
broadside came crashing about him like
the fury Of hell. Flowing through the
water with all the speed of which the YES
sci was capable. IL was seen too late
that a coal schooner lay between the ram
and Its NlCLlfn. MllnOul HNGANAhbt NAAN
Manassas steamed on. Solid shot crashed
and broke upon the iron sides, but still
Captain Austin stood unhurt. With an
awful shock the ironclad cut through and
through the sailing vessel and plunged
her spur far into the wooden sides OF the
Richmond. just as every cannon aboard
beIched forth its load Of canister and
shell.
The Manassas backed away unhurt, with
A. - uff afa rdfnr the
deck. His clothes were torn to shreds,
but burned and blackened as he was. not
a wound appeared upon his body. The
Richmond. however. was a wreck, while
the coal schooner was already at the bot
tom Of the sea. In hot haste the remain
der OF the Federal fleet were steaming
away from the monster that had attacked
them. The Confederate vessel was LETT
alone and the blockade was temporarily
broken. But in getting away from it's
victims the port engine OF the ram had
been broken. Pursuit was impossible.
Slowly the Manassas steamed back to
New Orleans, only to be later vitality in
jured. She was run upon sand bank to
save the crew, and was there abandoned
by force OF circumstances, never TO sail
the sea again.
But the advantage OF an ironclad vessel
of war had been demonstrated. The Ma
nassas had been unarmed. At the same
time the power of a craft of her stamp,
manned by a sufficient crew and mounted
with guns OF large bore. was recognized.
Upon similar lines the Merrimac was
built on the Atlantic coast, and the Mon
itor was evolved from the brain Of Scan
dsnavian. Captain Austin and Captain
Stevenson had won their victory in more
ways than one. They had taught the
scoffing world a lesson. and In doing so
developed a hero for the southern states
whose record is unsurpassed.
And yet his name is almost unknown.
while those OF lesser lights have been
brought into publicity that will live for
ever. There was much to be desired in
the chronicled histories of the southern
navy and it's official records. No man
who ever fought upon the seas showed
more intrepid valor than did Captain Aus
tin in his service beneath the stars and
bars. In the north his name is unknown,
while IN the south few recognize the fact
that a hero came out Of Texas who set
a standard for the world in fortitude and
daring With his death in 1889 the major
part Of his life's history was lost. Like all
true men. he seldom talked of his achieve
ments.
A Distinguished Family.
Roger Sherman, one of the New Eng
land ancestors of Captain Austin, signed
er OF his relatives. Stephen f. Austin, is
known as the Father of Texas"
His home was in the Lone Star State.
At the breaking out OF the war. he COM
manded one OF the Harris and Morgan
line steamships plying between New Or
leans and Galveston. He built and fought
with the Manassas. He has a brother
who was an officer in the Confederate
! army, now a resident of Atlanta Ga.
For four years his life was filled with
daring exploit after exploit. Three times
he was in prison, twice escaping. Now,
but few OF his adventures are TO be re-
membered but those same few are enough
TO brand him as one OF the greatest naval
heroes OF the age. After the Manassas
had been abandoned he took to blockade
running, and from that time one feat OF
daring crowded rapidly upon another.
Capture Of the Fox.
From New Orleans he went to Mobile.
where the blockade was close. A great
feet was anchored off the town which
practically forbade all entrance to the
| harbor. The days dragged by until final
| IL Captain Austin. driven by waiting to
/ an uncomfortable desire for something to
| turn up, sailed out OF the harbor in the
murky blackness OF q cloudy night on a
q a.