The Republican journal., 1908-09-03
Early Incidents
OF the Civil War.
THE STORY OF THE FRIGATE
CUMBERLAND.
BY CAPTAIN JOHN o. JOHNSON OF
LIBERTY, Me-
[Concluded.l

LIBERTY, Me-
Concluded.
But this was not the worst of it by
any means. The Merrimac had been
SINK. but not destroyed. She rested on
the bottom with her upper deck out of
water and no damage had been done to
her hull She was sunk by simply
opening the flood cocks which every
man-of. war has for the purpose of
flooding the magazine in cases OF great
danger. Paulding had set her on fire
and she had burned to the waters edge,
which consumed her upper works only,
leaving the remainder of the hull in
fine condition, though under water.
All the rebels had to do was to close
the flood cocks, pump her out, and as
the dry dock had not been destroyed
as Commodore Paulding had intended
they placed her in the dock and IN
years time had converted her into the
ram Virginia, better known under her
old name of the Merrimac, which, when
completed. was thought to be the most
formidable war ship in the world.
The Cumberland after returning
from the Norfolk Navy yard was or
dered to Boston (the place OF her birth?
to reft and repair the damages caused
by being hung up Oh the sunken hulkS
off Sewell's Point. After completing
the repairs, refitting and hlllng the
vacancies caused by the resignation OF
SO many of her former officers, she re-
turned to Fortress Monroe and block
AIDED the coast of Virginia from Cape
Henry TO Cape Hatteras i'll North caro-
lima until she took part in the capture
IIrt$ I,Nl nt I
1861.
The ships taking part in that engage
ment were the steam frigateS Mime
sofa. Wabash and Susquehanna and
the sailing ship Cumberland. The
steam frigates bombarded the forts
while laying at anchor: but the COM
mander of the Cumberland did not
think it proper for him to bring his
ship to an anchor for fear change OF
wind might bring bis vessel into dam
perOuS position upon a lee shore, ana
SO the old Cumberland was Unanswered
under sail.
This was the last time that any
United States ship of war went into
action under sail. Old navy officers
who saw her 60 into that fight said
that it was grand and imposing sight.
Three mighty frigates lay at anchor off
the forts at Hatteras Inlet and had
been pelting away at them all the day
and night before: but the Cumberland,
on account of the threatening weather,
was obliged to haul off shore during
the night. In the morning, with lead
ing wind, with every sail set and with
good rap full, she stood in past the ships
at anchor with her starboard broad
side guns fully manned. The masters
were at their stations to shorten sail at
the command, and when she reached
the proper range the order to shorten
sail and fire was given in one breath
and was executed nearly as quickly.
Every sail that required to be turled
was taken in and furled in trlce and
at the same time the battery let go her
broadside. The ship was then put IN
STAYS and the port battery fired in the
same manner. Then, with her helm
hard up and the main yards, square she
wore ship and came around SO that
she got her starboard battery to bear
again, and let that go; SO that in less
time than it takes me to write it, she
had got in three full broadsides at the
enemy.
This splendid vancouver brought
forth simultaneous cheers from every
sOui ON board the other ships; and 1t is
said that Commodore Barron, formerly
of our navy, then in command of the
rebel troops at Fort Hatteras, forget
ting himself and the situation for a
moment. exclaimed, "beautiful, beauti-
full. Nothing can withstand our navy.
But the era of steam had arrived, and
sailing ships of the Cumberland's
size and draught of water were of but
little use on the blockade, and the Cum
berIand was ordered back to Fortress
Monroe. At this time two steamers,
the jamestown and the Yorktown, be-
longing to the old Dominion line of
steamboats, between New York and
City Point, on the James river had
been seized by the rebel government at
City Point, although they were owned
in New York, and converted into rebel
priyateers and were awaiting an OPP
portunity to get to sea. In November,
1861, the Cumberland and the Congress
were stationed at Newport News at
the mouth of the james River to pre-
vent the escape of these steamers.
All the fall of 1861 and the winter
and spring of 1862 the crew of the Cum
berland were occupied in constant drill
ling to meet every imaginable contin-
gency in a fight with the Merrimac.
The news of her completion was fully
known: in fact, rumors of her expected
approach came so often, and she still
failed to make her appearance, that it
became standing joke on board all the
ships at Hampton Roads. All of that
cold, long winter one watch slept at |
their guns and the ship was nightly |
cleared for action, ready to meet amy |
emergency that might arise. In view
of the possible encounter with the Mer-
rimac, solid shot had been supplied for
the 9-inch guns and the normal charge |
of powder increased from 10 to 10
pounds, and the guns provided with |
double breeding to stand the increased |
recoil. Captain William Radford was
in command of the Cumberland, but at
the time of the engagement was absent |
at Fortress Monroe on court martial |
duties and the officers of the Cumber-
land on the Sth day of April, 1862, were
as follows: Lieut.. George n. Morris |
in temporary command, Lieut.. Thomas
o. Selfridge, master, NJ. S. Stuyvesant, |
acting master, w. W. kenniSton, act |
ing master, w. p. Randall, End Lieut.. |
of marines, Charles Haywood, surgeon, |
Charles Martin, John S. Lenhart, kill |
ed, acting masters mate, John Har-
rington (killed,) acting masters mate, |
Charles O'Neal, acting masters mate, |
H. Wyman, gunner, Eugene Mack,
boatswain, Edward Bell, carpenter, W.
:laA Il