Evening journal., 1903-05-29
An Eye Witness
Account of the
Battle at Han1p-
ton Roads

There are probably not more than
several hundred persons living today
who can boast of having witnessed the
fierce fight at Hampton Roads between
the Merrimac and Monitor during the
civil War, but Alfred Gawthrop, of this
city, has the distinction of being one
Of the few living who saw that great
naval battle.
Mr.. Gawthrop was first lieutenant Of
Company G., First Delaware Regiment
The regiment was stationed at Fort
ress Monroe, but Lieutenant Gawthrop
In command of a picked squad Of twen-
ty men, had been sent to protect
Hampton Seminary. now used as
the Soldiers Home. several miles
men on March g. 1862, amid great eX-
citement in and around Fortress Mon
roe, as the Merrimac had just steamed
into Hampton Roads. When he arrived
at the seminary, with the aid OF a
strong field glass although several
miles away, he could see every move
made by the boats i'm the river.
The sloop of war Cumberland, the
frigate Congress and the batteries were
all firing on the Merrimac, but with
no apparent effect Mr.. Gawthrop
could tell when the balls would hit the
Merrimac, and they would glance off
the same as pebbles rolling off the back
OF large tortoise. He witnessed the
sinking of the Cumberland by the Con-
federate monster, and also saw the
Congress when she ran ashore and was
later burned, TO prevent the Confeder-
ates from getting her.
The destruction Of the Union boats
by the Merrimac, Mr. Gawthrop
states, caused great excitement, for IL
promised TO have a great bearing on
the war i'm case the boat would get out
and break the blockade along the coast
The Monitor arrived, however, during
lthe night OF March s. and on the morn
ling of the 9th the two boats fought
that historical battle. The MerrimaC
! had no effect on the Monitor, so II
withdrew W the Elizabeth river. The
battle could be plainly seen from where
Mr.. Gawthrop was stationed, and he
characterizes 1t as the most important
event he witnessed during the war.
MIR. Gawthroa was stationed In the
vicinity of Fortress Monroe from Oc-
ltober. 1861, TO April 1859. and during
that time he had some peculiar expert
ences. I'm speaking Of the time he spen
near Fortress Monroe to n reporter foi
the Evening Journal, Mr. Gawthrol
related the following instances
Il was sent out to the woods on'
day In charge Of squad OF men 10 Gu
some wood. IL was customary whel
on such errands to send out pickets
In the squad there were about twent.
men with rifles and about twenty will
axes. Shortly after we started 4
work an old man who owned the liant
and who lived but short dlstanc
away came sauntering up to where tn
boys were hard at work. He neve
said word but seated himself on
log and looked on.
Well, IL was not long until we ha
three large army wagonloads cut an
loaded and were preparing to leav
for camp. Just at this time the oil
man. who had been sitting quietly o.
the log for so long got up and said
. you uns unload that wood and &c
out OF here quick" We were all yer
much surprised and did not know wha
he meant until he produced a safe
guard signed by General Wool. AS
9 meant death 10 disobey a safegdar
there was nothing left for US to do br
unload the wood and leave.
Il said TO the old man: why didn
o you tell US at first that we couldn
Z have the wood?' Well, he said: I jus
needed some wood cut and thought yo
uns might as well cut it as anyor
else
"The old man." said Mr.. Gawthro
"was evidently Southern symps
thizer, but he had his safeguard an
that had TO be obeyed. Il was a p'
J. culiar coincidence" added Mr.. Cav
throp but that old mans house WI
burned down shortly after the exper
.e ence an the woods. and / never did in
o,t oxactlv how IL hannanQd %