The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-12
STORY. OF AN EYEWITNESS Y y I. lll='s7
TII 40 q, q. ~
Description of'the Fight Between b: the
4.Monitor and the Virginia.
Yours very truly
JOHN c. HASKB.lLl,.L.g

Description ofthe Fight Between the
4.Monitor and the Virginia
Manchester. Va.
| IIditorSof The Times Dispatch:
So much has been printed descriptive
OF the great fight between tho Virginia
| (Alerrimac) and the Monitor in Hampton
Roads III 1862, much of which was true
and a great deal Of which came from the
Imagination, that doubt not your read
ers would like to have an account OF inc
fight from ono who had no preduJice IN
Its favor and certainly none against IL;
an account giving what really happened,
and that iii simple, Sunvnrnlshed way.
"A / was then about eighteen years OF
age and, was personally present and saw
with my own eyes the fight 3on Doth oc-
$caslons from start to! finish. There was
inota movement Of any one OF tho ves-
sells that did not soc. for was on the
qui vive from the first hour to the last
OUR FLEET. 5
'rhe James river fleet, composed OF the
Patrick Henry, Jamestown and Ieaser.
had assembled between Mulberry Island
and Hoe Island on James river about
ten miles above Newport News, and one
week before lie battle, dropped down 70
Burwells Bay, and remained there N
daily expectation that the Virginia Woulu
come out from Norfolk. $5
A sharp lookout was kept each day
until Saturday. March Sth. zlS62, between
s bells and 9 bells (between - and !
o'clock tho quartormustcr on the James
town TO which shipiI belonged), e who hold
|, the watch, reported the Virginia In sight
ana approaching the Roads. Signals were
given to the little fleet, and
orders were passed to -"pipe all hands;
up anchor" and Iii a very few minutes
the anchor was gotten home go Old
Peter Taft the boatswan's mate then
piped "nll hands to quarters"
The two hig guns were q t once run
out and shoited, aud fires that had been
long banked were Quickly spread full
steam gotten up, and every preparation
was made to start. ri.
soon four bells full steam) were rung
and our ship moved from her moornss
to meet her triumph or her fate, Rlt every
eve was turned to the great leyiathan.
! which came stendily on in her majestic
movement, without hindrance Or delay.
| She was apparently at her best speed,
| and careless Of what the result might be
| and was seemingly bent OH running down
any obstacle that might bar her way
THE 5FIRSTs BLOW.s
Our little fleet was about opposite New
| port News and within aboutthal mile of
| the Virginia, when the Virginia suddenly
\ shearcd slightly and ran squarely into
4 the Cumberland. striking her nmidship,
Threading a hole In her side about twenty
! feet long-as near as could be seen from
/ our standpoint.
A SO great was the terrible Impact and
i tho resulting. damage that the Cumber-
/ land sank INSTANTLY but not without
striking back, tor sudden MS was hel
doom, She gave no sign Of surrender; II
4 Twas not thought OF: she vent down with
4 her guns firing and giving the Virginia
1.-THE best she had In her shop" She sank
and mon STARING fate In the face" and
i 1t may liave been truly said OF her "she
hath done what she could"
/ The shot from the Cumberland's guns
4 ratified over the metal casing OF the Viz
i ginia like marbles. or a storm OF hal
i against the window panes Of a building
some Of the shots glanclng or, seemed
4 that the Virginia did not fire on the Cum
berland. IA ,5
The PROV OF the Virginia seemed t.
enter the Cumberland ten or more feet
/. and when the Virginia reversed her en-
gines to back off she lost her iron prov
and was thereby greatly impaired In hel
usefulness as u ram. Is
The Cumberland was n wooden shin
and not over-strong. Had tho Yirginit
been what Is termed "a ful-nowered'
ship. she would have gone through TIN
Cumberland Ike a knife and cut her II
4 two. The Virginia suffered from thu
same disadvantage al did all tho othe
Il war vessels Of the Confederate navy; he
engines We're of mn old type and incnpabl,
or driving. at n fast speed, vessels tina
were encumbered With iron armor,
SHORE BATTERIES.
8 While the Virginia was engaged il
ramming the Cumberland. tho James Rly
or fleet engaged the shore batteries a
Y Newport News and for time the cannon
aiding was fast and furious. During Thu
cannonade n solid shot truck the Fatricl
Henry and passed through one Of he
steam chests klllns several men ,ant
disabling one OF her engines. She. how
ever, remained In the fight and did goot
work.
4 The whole combined Confederate flee
now turned their guns ON the Minnesota
and Congress The former was aground
4 After desperate resistance, the Con
gress ran her white flag VIZ to her mizzel
peak and surrendered When the Con
federates went TO take the prisoners Of
the ship and after quite number hat
been transferred TO the Confederate yes
sell some of the Federal officers asket
10 be allowed 70 return 70 get their be
ilonRings having given their parole t.
return. Some of the Federal infantr,
and artillery came fown TO the shor,
and commenced firing on the Confed
crates. killing and wonnding several q
the men,
i, The Federal officers. though on parole
, failed 10 return Jumped overheard ant