The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-08
OLD MINNESOTA
SAVED BY MONITOR
Thrilling Story Of How the Old Mime.
sofa Escaped Destruction.
Special to Tho Journal.

Newport News, Va, April s.-Minne-
sofa visitors to the launching today
were on the scene of the memorable
naval battle between the Monitor and
Merrimac. This occurred March .,
1862, forty-three years and one month
ago tomorrow. The old frigate Min:
was saved from destruction by the
Monitor. The students of history in
the party did not forget to ask old
residents to point out the spot where
the Minnesota lay aground during that
battle, unable to move, but with guns
in condition for good service. The boat
which took the official Minnesota party
to the launching passed over the line
of battle going from Fortress Monroe
and returning. 1t was the success Of
led first to the construction of iron
clad vessels for the navies of the
| world, and later of steel-armOred ships,
| of which the new Minnesota is the
latest type.
One. Of the histories Of the war tells
| the story Of that memorable day as
| follows:
| Such was the state Of affairs when the
Monitor arrived at Hampton Roads that
| the sturdy commanders trembled in the
| face of the coming day. The sloop- Of
bottom. with only her topgallant masts
and pennant above the water. The Con-
gress = lay on shore with the
| flames kindled by the Merrimac now
| sweeping out her hull. The Roanoke and
Minnesota, steam frigates of forty guns
1, EACH. the pride Of the navy and the most
| perfect of any men-of-war Of the period,
| lay hard and fast on shore, with broken
machinery and as powerless as II they had
l ar nod. T1,. t,{,,
struction of the entire Federal fleet at
Hampton Roads and the escape Of the
! Merrimac and Confederate cruisers
! seemed inevitable.
Arriving on the evening Of the sth of
| March, the Monitor anchored near the
frigate Minnesota at Newport News. At
half past five In the morning all hands
were called, and the ship was immediat ely
cleared Of her sea rig and got ready for
! battle. At half past seven o'clock
a long line Of black smoke was seen, pre-
coded by the steamers jamestown, Pat
| rick Henry and Teaser. It was the sig
| nal for battle. The crews of the different
vessels stood near their guns, fuses in
hands. The Monitor steamed slowly from
beneath the bows Of the Minnesota, where
she had been partly concealed, to meet the
| challenger in an open field. It was alike
an establishment to the rebels and to our
she arrived, and many were the conjec-
lures Of what 1t could be. ." The
Merrimac stopped her engines, as If ia
survey and wonder at the audacity of the
nondescript. The monitor was approach
ing on her starboard bow. Then. as II
seized with fmpulsive rage, and as if a
huge breath would watt her enemy away
the Merrimac poured a broadside of solid
shot at her. For an instant she was en-
| n, lxe u,hn
looking on held their breath in doubt OF
seeing the Monitor again. It was a mo-
ment of great suspense. Then as a gen.
tie breeze swept over the scene the Mon
itor appeared. At this instant the flash
of her own guns was seen, and then their
report. louder than any cannon that had
ever been heard. Numbered across the sea
1t seemed to Jar the very earth. and the
iron scales Of the invincible crumbled and
cracked from their fastenings. Consterna
ton seized the officers and crew Of the
Merrimac who had been so confident OF
victory. Twice the two ships Joined ir
close combat. but the Merrimac did not
succeed in making an impression on the
little Monitor. " The rebels. find
ing, they could make nothing of the in
vulnerable cheesebox. as they called her
land foiled and Inaddened at the loss OF
their coveted prize. turned toward the
Minnesota, determined, If possible TO de.
stroy her. The .Merrimac went head or
and received a full broadside Of the Min
nesota. Any-wooden vessel that ever
floated would have gone to pieces unde,
Isuch fire. The Mer1imac was unframed
She returned the fire with her forward
rifle guns. One she'll passed thru -four
rooms, tearing away partitions and setting
the ship on fire. Another passed thru the
boiler of the steamer Dragon, which was
lying alongside, blowing her up ard kill
ing and wounding seventeen men. Before
a third was fired the Monitor interposed
compelling the Merrimac to change hel
position. The two combatants made 6
complete circle in their endeavors to gel
a favorable position. each seeking to dis.
charge a broadside into a vital part The
!, Merrimac then turned sharp and made q
plunge toward the Minnesota, but Captain
Worden, commander of the Monitor, was
vigilant, and crossed the stern OF the
Merrimac, sending two solid shot into
her. To get back again between her ant
the Minnesota the Monitor had alnos
to cross her bow. Finding that the prov
of the Merrimac would hit the Monitor
: Worden sheered off and got only a glanc.
i ing blow. At this point q solid shot from
the Merrimac struck the pilothouse of thu
Monitor. and Captain Worden was stricken
: blind temporarily by flying splinters
Lieutenant Green. second In command
went to the aid of his chief, leaving the
vessel entirely In the hands OF Howard
the pilot. Howard, thinking the figh
was to be resumed, ran down the channe
and brought the Monitor again close t
the protection of the Minnesota. It wa.
then observed that the Merrimac hat