The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-11-05
Naval Events in
Hampton Roads.
Continuation of the Story of the Cumber-
land and the Merrimac

the Congress on hre; ana tne Merrlihoe'
having accomplished her work OF de-
struction for that day, and flushed with
victory had retired behind Sewells' Point
with the intention of completing on the
morrow the entire destruction OF the
Union fleet. What wild excitement,
what grief, what anxiety, what terrible
forebodings for the morrow possessed
the Union fleet when night fell on that
ever to be remembered Sth day of March,
1862 can never be described. On shore
and ahoat all was panic, confusion and
CONSERVATION. 1t was by all odds the
darkest night for the Union cause during
the war of the Rebellion.
The Minnesota, fastening to the relief
of the Cumberland and to participate in
the fight against the Merrimac, had
grounded within two miles of Newport
News, remaining helpless spectator of
the sinking of that noble ship and the
burning of the Congress. The frigate
St. Lawrence, eager to succor her con-
sort, had also grounded near the Mime
sofa. The Roanoke, like the others on
her way to the scene Of the conflict, had
also gone aground, but subsequently get
ting afioat had retired to Hampton
Roads. The two former ships seemed
doomed to destruction the following
morning and even Fortress Monroe,
whose Importance as a strategic point
was of incalculable value to the cause OF
the Union, was deemed untenable in the
probable event of an attack on the fol-
lowing day, and was the scene of pre-
cipitation and confusion that beggered
description.
The destructive career of the Monster
had been witnessed by thousands OF
spectators, citizens and soldiers, who
lined the shores from Newport News
along Hampton to old Point Comfort, in
addition to those who manned the fleet OF
transports and store-ships in the Roads.
But the crisis was so great, the interests
involved so momentous, that but few
present were able to grasp the situation
in all its bearings. To comprehend the
true condition of aft airs as they appear
ed from the then point of view let US
place ourselves on the dismal shores of
the James river and il the glare of the
burning Congress contemplate the ex-
pected events of the morrow. The Min
nesota would be the Merrimac's next
victim, the St. Lawrence would follow,
and the Roanoke, sister ship to the Min
nesota, would be forced to an ignominous
retreat or suffer like fate with the
others. The feet of merchant vessels
anchored in the Roads would be captured,
yielding to the enemy large quantities OF
stores and ammunitions of war, much
needed in the South.
Fortress Monroe itself, it was ad-
mitted, would capitulate in a few days.
The waters of the Chesapeake bay would
then be controlled by the rebels and
the doors thrown open for supplies from
abroad. The passage from London to
Richmond would be clear. Foreign rec
ignition, SO devoutly prayed for by the
south, would inevitably follow. Admiral
Milne, then at Halifax, N S., with
powerful English fleet, was prepared to
take instant advantage of the breaking
of the blockade.
This base of operations lost to the
Union cause, and the lines of communica-
tion broken, the Peninsula campaign
would be impossible, and the whole
character of our military operations for
the capture of Richmond changed. Nay
more! 1t was believed by some that the
Monitor might even ascend the Potomac,
and completely blockade the Nations
capital itself With the captured trans
ports an insurgent army might ascend
the Chesapeake and landing near the
ish campaign in TIT and occupy Phila-
delphia, or, putting to sea, might pro-
ceed to New York and lay that city I'M
der contribution, and preparations were
actually made there for such contin-
gency Or, standing to the southwark,
they might recover the Sounds of North
Carolina, raise the blockade at Charles
ton, and the blockade runners that We're
swarming about Bermuda and Nassau
could then have an open port. Port
Royal, so important to the North as a
base of military supplies, with it's vast
accumulations of military and naval
stores, would be placed at their mercy.
Then, to all this add the loss of prestige
consequent upon the raising Of the block
ade. At such an important point, and
the moral and material strength that
would accrue to the South, and some
idea of the crisis may be formed, and
the government may well have been dis
mayed.
Such was the horrid nightmare that
held the people of the Union on that
never to-be-forgotten night of March 8,
1862, and as much as we were depressed,
the South and England were elevated. !
By the breaking of the blockade at that
point the South saw their independence
assured; for there would then be an open
port through which England and other