Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-12-29
ON BOARD A
GUNBOAT IN
JAMES RIVER.
Extracts Taken from the Log of
the Engineer on the Manga
tuck During Civil War.

Civil War stories, especially when
told by the veterans themselves, are
very interesting to everyone today.
The following article, as its title
shows, was taken from the log-book
of the engineer on the %gunboat Maui
gatuck. The engineer is a well known
citizen of Perth Amboy and has lived
! here many years. He has consented
TO have this article published, but for
various reasons wishes his name
withheld.
TAKEN FROM THE LOG BOOK
OF THE ENGINEER OF THE GUN
BOAT NAUGATUCK, LYING IN
HAMPTON ROADS, OFF FORTRESS
MONROE, MAY 9Th, 1862.
At 10 A.. NJ. received order to get
under way and proceed in company
with the squadron, under Commo-
dore G~oldsberough with the follow
ing men-of-war: Monitor; Decator;
San Jamie; Seminole; Susquehanna
and Naugatuck. The flagship of the
fleet was the Minnesota. The object
was to shell Sewell Point batteries
for the purpose of drawing out the
Merrimac into Hampton Road sc the
fleet could attack her. The Merri-
macs anchorage was off Craney ISL
and. At II A. M. we got under way
and stood out along side of the Mon
itor waiting the movement of the rest
of the squadron. At 1890, noon, adj
vanced with the feet off Sewell Point.
Batteries engaged them at 100 P. M.
and continued to fire at intervals,
with shot and shell, for one hour,
when the Merrimac made her appear
ance. The batteries being silenced,
we fell back to induce the Merrimac
10 come out in the Roads. The Man.
gatuck stood across Hampton Roads
awaiting with the rest of the squad
ron the advance of the Merrimac. At
8 p. NJ. the Merrimac changed her
course and steamed back toward
Craney Island. The Monitor again
advanced and we moved over, regu-
lating our speed by the Monitor. At
5 P. M. the flagship signaled the fleet
to resume movings. We followed
the rest of the fleet and steamed back
to our old anchorage at 5.45 P. M.
, During the engagement we fired
sixteen shot and shell first silencing
a two-gun battery, then directed our
fire at the main battery, four shells
exploded near our bow and in two
cases threw water on our deck. Sew
en- other shell and shot struck the
water in close proximity. Our ship,
being submerged, We were a small
target in comparison to the rest of
the fleet. In maneuvering at times we
were less than three-quarters of a
mile from the main battery and with
in one-quarter of the effective range
of our parrot gun. This being the
first time l was eve under fire have
to note the first and peculiar sensa-
ton. For the first half hour it was
a peculiar weakness in my knees and
after this feeling passed | would say
that | had no fear. OF the effect the
inhaling of gunpowder and smoke
has in the excitement, you have an
eager desire to see all that is going
on and you Danish the thought of
fear entirely. l note some of the
Baltimore papers have a very accur-
ate account of the affair.
On the morning following (Sun-
day. May II, about 5 A. NJ, the Off
Ger of the deck came into the cabin
o,d o,roI,o +ba ooptoio opd on
nouncing that the fertilization in
Craney Island was on fire. We both
Jumped out of our berth and ran out
on deck. We saw the black cloud
arise from an explosion which we
supposed was the magazine at the
fort. OF course all was excitement in
the fleet. The guard ship had sig
nailed the flagship; shortly a tender
of the commodore came alongside
with an aid of the flag officer, with
instructions for us to get under way
immediately and go as an escort to
the Monitor in the direction of Nor
folk. The Monitor and the steam
frigatc got under way before w got
our orders to take the position as
signed us by the commodore. These
orders came just as we were chang
ing watch in the fire room, laying
under banked fires. | gave order for
the coal passers to bring a barrel of
rosin down into the fire room, as |
had several barrels of rosin for such
emergencies. 1t was mixed with the
coal and shoveled into the furnace.
We were not long in passing all of
the %squadrons and taking the posi-
ton assigned to us with the Monitor.
| had shortly before made, through
Captain Shipper, a reqnisition on
Commodore Goldsberough for a Fan
Blower. / had a steam blower at the
time but saw the necessity of some
additional draught.
An amusing incident occurred as |
boarded the flagship. An orderly
mnntod tn take nv to