Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-02
AN INTERESTING BIT OF HIS
TORY NOT GENERALLY KNOWN.

TORY NOT GENERALLY NNcWN.
In practically all of the newspaper
announcements of the death OF the
late Pembroke Jones. II was enron
eoussy stated that this gallant gentle
man was executive officer of the Con-
federate iron-clad Virginia tMerri-
mac) at the time that vessel fought
her famous duel with the Federal
monitor. The executive officer was
Catesby APP X. Jones, and Pembroke
Jones was fiag-lieutenant- In an edi-
toriai Strengthening out this confus-
ion. the New York Sun gives its read
ers an interesting bit of history that
viii not be found in many of the text
books used in the schools. The Sun
says:
From her station near Sewall's
Point she moyeu out to battle once
more, Tattnall's oruers being Ito take
in the James river as
would prevent the enemy's ascending
it." Catesby Jones was first lieuten-
ant and Pembroke Jones flag lieuten-
ant at the time. The Merrimac passed
the Sewall's Point battery and stood
for the enemy. Six Federal war
ships. including the iron-clad steam
ships Monitor and Naugatuck, had
been Smelling Sewall's Point. but they
retired as the Merrimac was coming
cut.
Ask the average fairly well read
person from north of the Mason and
Dixoa line what was the result of
the Merrimac- Monitor fight in Hamp-
ton Roads, and the answer will be,
"why, the Monitor won, of course. .
That is what most of the histories
teach, so the answer should not be
surprising. Ask the average Souther-
rer about the result of. this wonder
fal battle. and the chances are tina;
you vii! hear a loyal denial that the
Merrimac was whipped. but 1t is no,
likely that you will get a lucid state
nent of what did happen.
As a matter of fact. the Merrirnac
coming out from Norfolk before her
plating was complete, and without hei
portshields, made n clean sweep oil
the Federal wooden craft and. after
her steel prov had gone TO the bottom
with the Cumberland. engaged the
Monitor. At the close OF the terrifi,
night that followed both iron mon
sters" were more or less the worse
for wear and the crews OF both wer,
glad enough for a respite. The Moni
ior took to the fats under the guns o.
Fort Monroe AID the Merrimac steam
ed hack to Norfolk. At the Norfolk
navy yard the Nerrimac was repaire,
ana completed A new and improve,
xteel PROV was installed to replac,
the one lost in the hull Of the Cum
bertrand. her gun ports were covere.
with protecting steel shutters and tn
plating OF the superstructure wa
perfected and finished Then tn
nerrimac went forth looking for bal
lie again This is the part that tn
histories seldom. II ever. tell whe
The Nerrimsc rounded the point con
ing ous Of Norfolk. the Federal fee
Including the doughty Monitor an
another iron-ciad. the Naugatucl
were bssily engaged n sheilsng IN
Confederate batteries AZ Sexa!i'
Point Upon the approaca Of N
uerrinsc TIE sheiliEx suddenly ceai
ed and the feet. including the Mon
,or. rfscd for the is-s and the pr
fectlen o. Fort xoaroes cannon- IN
Scrrimac steamed about IN deep va
81 .pd challenged and challenge
again. But the Nonitor. safe IN sha
Io< Vrfcf where the Nerrimac coul
ro- follow. stayed there unfit all dsi
Ger Of another encounter with 1sr b
s<ts<onist was past
TINS Vas The arst grezs neht b
f<c<n -raaclsds: The beginning Ct "A