Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-11
copsrsght, 1909, by Gurus 7otcnsend Brady
By CYrxS TosvnSend Brad1
luther of Woven With tho Ship" "HohenxoIle-n
 .... Tho Quiberon Touch." Etc. -.

nocuous. That and the admirafs fore thought in going in with the flood tide. which turned the percussion caps away from the onrushing ships, saved him. In a moment he was safe over the line. It was few minutes after 8 o'clock. Grim and black before him loomed the Tennessee and the gum boats ahead of her-their position giv- ing them immunity-raking the Hart ford again and again. The Tennessee made for the flagship as if to ram, but by clever maneuvering and her faster speed the Hartford prevented this. The two vessels exchanged broadsides, however, and shells from the Tennes- see passed through the wooden ship. while the solid shot from the Hartford rebounded harmlessly from the iron sides of the Tennessee.
 Shot and shell were coming in from all sides on the Hartford, still within range of the fort, and so rapidly were her own guns served that she looked like ship on fire. A ghastly process sion of wounded men were being sent to the cockpit, and the decks were covered with dead men weltering in their blood. The carnage was fearful.
 Meanwhile, inspired by the example of the admiral, the Brooklyn got her head around at last and, followed by the Richmond and the Pensacola and the others, rushed desperately for the torpedo line, the captains thinking to go to a noble death with their ad- mira1 Owing to their anxiety and hurry the regular order was aban- doned, and the ships passed up as they could, sheets of flame and smoke pouring from their broadsides upon the fort.
 Meanwhile Buchanan on the Tennes- see ran down the fleet. He tried to ram one ship after another, but with out success, while he himself was Into each one, however, as he passed her he poured his terrible broadsides, indifferent to the return fire from the heaviest guns they carried.
 The tremendous broadsides of the great ships in the lead had kept down the fire of the fort, but when the ves- sels of less gun power came swinging by the Confederates returned to their positions, punishing them severely. The last one in the procession, the rear ship of the fleet, was the Oneida. Except the Brooklyn and the Hartford she suffered more than any other be- set both by the Tennessee and the fort. A shell from the fort exploded her boiler, killing or wounding every man in the fireroom, leaving her help less, while another from the Tennes- see took off the arm of her command ing officer. Her consort, however, and the drifting tide finally carried her past the fort and up to the rest of the fleet. The Selma was captured by the Metacomet. The Gaines was wrecked by shells, beached and burned. The Morgan succeeded in gaining the pro- tectton of the fort, whither the Ten nessee presently joined her.
 At half after o'clock the Hartford anchored above the middle ground, fol- lowed in succession as they arrived by the other ships of the fleet. The pas sage had been made, but at heavy cost in shattered ships lost monitor and dead and dying men.
 ''What we have done, admiral" said Drayton, "has been well done, but it counts nothing so long as the Tennes- see rides wonder beneath the fort"
 II know it." returned the admiral, land as soon as the men have had their breakfast am going for her"