The Republican journal., 1908-09-03

in the CumberlanG's side and the Merri-
mac swung around broadside to the
Cum berland. Then it was that the
Cumberland, though their ship was
sinking, got in some good work, for they
poured into the Merrimac three full
broadsides at distance of not over
fifty yards, which the officers of the
ram have since stated made the Merrl-
mac fairly reel. If the Cumberland
could have brought her broadsides to
bear on the Merrimac before the ram
ming the result might have been differ.
ent. But the enemy, being aware OF
that fact, kept the Merrimac off the
starboard bow of the Cumberland until
after the ramming. On seeing the
effect of their fire upon the Merrimac
cheer went up from every throat on
board the Cumberland, followed by
rage and despair as the Merrlmac slow.
ly moved to her old position of the
starboard bow of the Cumberland, out
of the range of her broadslde guns, put
not until two of the muzzles OF her T.
inch guns had been shot away. Seeing
that the shots from the Cumberland
made no impression upon the null OF
the Merrimac, the guns were directed at
her ports only. At this time hail
Cumberland would surrender. The
reply went back. ''Never! we sink with
our colors flying"
The water was rising rapidly, and the
Cumberland was going down by the
head; but the men who had not been
killed or wounded stood bravely at
their guns; no men ever stood better
/ But the great majority were either kill
ed or wounded; the decks were covered
with the dead and dying, and slippery
with blood; but the Survivors stood by
thei1 guns until waist deep in water
and served them until the water flowed
! into their muZZleS.
| When ali had been done that it was
possible to do the order was given for
each one to look out for himself. The
survivors rushed from their stations,
some running along the spar deck and
pIuneing into the launch, moored at
the stern. others climbing the rigging,
while others saved themselves on graf
ings and material from the deck. Fort
/ unately all boats had been lowered be-
fore the action began and two of these
were unipjured AT this moment of
dire confusion, with the waters closing
over the doomed ship, the last gun was
! fired. sounding her death kneil. AS the
| old Cumberland rested on the bottom
/ the flag could almost be touched by
the last boat that pulled away, but 1t
was left to wave over the glorious dead
who had defended its honor with their
| lives. SO ends the story OF the Cum
berland.
The crew of the Cumberland on the
day of the engagement numbered 299
blue Jackets and 80 marines. OF tins
number so were killed and 30 wounded,
who were saved-a loss OF 80 per cent.
doubt if any battle of the war, either
ashore or afoat, can exhibit greater
loss.
The Merrimac did not get off scot
free, Her smoke stack was so perforat-
ed with holes as to fleet her draft so
i that it was hard work to keep up steam
enough to move her back to Craney
Island Her flag staff was shot away,
two of her guns had the muZZels broken
and many of the plates were loosened
and two were shot away. Two OF the
crew were killed and Commodore Bu-
chanan. her commander, was wounded.
Thus persisted the Cumberland. No
vessel ever engaged in fight with
greater odds against her. They were
so great that but one result was pos
sible and yet she fought to the bitter
end until the waters closed over her
last gun.
The Merrimac was more than double
the size of the Cumberland, with
armor four inches thick to oppose the
wooden sides of the Cumberland, and
was able to take any position at will
while the latter was chained to the
bottom and helpless to move in any
direction.
There is some speculation as to what
would have been the fate OF the Monl-
ter when the Merrimac rammed her
the next day if the latter had not left
her spur in the Cumberland.
In this one fight four times as many
men were killed as at Mobile, New Or
leans or Charleston, or were killed on
all the ships during the Spanish war;
and vet the government bestowed
neither promotion nor medals upon
the officers and crew OF the CUNT er-
land and it was some years before she
made an appropriation giving a month $
pay to the survivors for the loss Of
their effects.
History can point to no greater sacri-
! fees for the honor of the flag than
were made by the crew Of the Cumber-
land and to many of them the ship
was their tomb and their memory
should have been kept green in the
hearts of their countrymen. But l
fear that such is not the case. 1t was
the subject of one of Longfellow'
beautiful poems, but if any true his
tory of the event has ever been written
it has failed to reach me and must be
''angel history" Many of the Incl
dents and cases of individual herolsm
are unknown to me and of necessity
are left out.
No Drawer vessel ever flung her pennent to
the breeze,
No bark e'er died death more grand.
Her flag, the gamiest of the game,
Sank proudly with her, not In shame,
But in its ancient glory.
The memory of its parting CLEAN.
viii never fade while poets dream,
The echo of her dying gun
Should last till man his race has won
And live in angels history.
NV tale is ended. Trusting that it
may find favor among the many intel
ligent readers of The Journal who are
interested in the history of their coun-
try l shall feel fully repaid for the ef-
fort.
Very respectfully
j. o. JOHNSON.