The Saint Paul globe., 1904-11-27

guns on tine DroaQSideS, SIX Six-lncn
rifles, and twN Dahigren smooth bores.
The guns / commanded threw hot shot.
which were heated red hot in the fur
naces below and hoisted in iron buck
cts through the hatchway, and put IN
the gun with wet wads between them
and the powder. All guns at that time
were muzzIe-loaders. My guns were
the only ones ON the Merrimac that
threw solid shot, the rest throwing
shells. Yet with this small battery,
backed by the dauntless courage OF the
men behind her guns. she met and van
quished full complement OF $50 guns.
and with her 500 men she oyercame
3,e0e men. and left a name for herself
absolutely unparalleled in the history
of the world.
s.It was on the sth of March, 1862,
that the Merrimac, rechristened the
Virginia, started out on her trial trip
The start was made. so Tar as anyone
but the commander knew, with the
most peaceable OF intentions. Comnlo-
dore Franklin Buchanan was In COM
mand, a man then well into the sixties.
THE wharves on both sides OF the
James river, both the Norfolk and
Portsmouth sidess were lined with
cheering thousands OF people. very
much as the levees OF New Orleans are
thronged to watch the Emperor Rex
arrive. They waved their handker-
chiefs to us and cheered as We went
by. 1t had all the appearance OF a hol-
iday excursion, only the bright red and
white ensign that futtered defantly
above the Virginia, and the black muz-
zles of her guns, showed that she was
intended for more serious purposes.
THE frigates Congress and Cumber-
land were lying at the mouth OF the
James, blockading the river. Ten miles
away. under the guns of Fortress Mon
Ec1n Ia n no
sofa, formerly sister ships, and the
sailing ship ST. Lawrence was within
easy access. These ships each had for
ty or fifty guns, compared to the ten
Of the Virginia. Formidable federal
batteries lined the shores OF Newport
News. and they barked at us as we
went by.
Appearance Of Congress
Now, as we steamed slowly down
the bay, making experiments with the
steering qualities and the speed of the
new vessel. the Congress came into
clearer view on the port bow. She pre-
sented curious appearance 1t was
early morning, and the men had been
washing their clothes From bow to
foremast, across the tops OF mizzen-
mast and mainmast, and down again
TO the waters edge, hung long stream
ers of clothing of all colors, Tapping in
as II they had been trying to decorate
her for some auspicious occasion, and
having no proper coIors. were forced
to make use of makeshifts.
1 buchanan beat to quarters and
made stirring speech to the crew.
He told us. in short words, that we
had come out for business: that we
were going, that day, to make history.
remember the last words he said.
We are going to fight them to a fin
ish. boys, and we are sure of victory
Cheers answered him. There was
not man who wanted to back out, al
though he never asked II there were.
We would have followed Buchanan
anywhere on earth or In hell he want
ed to lead us.
fWhen the Congress saw our strange
looking craft heading fun speed toward
her. and heard us beat to quarters,
her holiday colors came down with
rush to the deck. and her drums and
fife answered ours.