The sun., 1910-05-28
The Jsne.es on the Merrimac.

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In recalling the duel at Old Point Com.
fort siXty-one years ago between jams
BARRON HOPE and Midshipman JOHN
PEMBROKE JONEs the latter died a. Pas
adena on Wednesday, surviving his ad.
versary and friend tweniy-three years.
The Sun yesterday said that PEMBRoKE
JONES wns executive officer ~ the Merri.
mac Virginia. in her battle with the
Monitor in Hampton ROada.
This was giving PEMBROEE JONES too
much credit for his service on the Merri-
mac. hat We plead in eXtenuaiiOn that il
was not 80 easy to separate the JOneses
and hesfow on each the distinction due
him. W many Of them were sarving gal
lantly in the Confederate navy in Hamp-
ton Roads al the time. The executive
OPiicer Of the Merr;mac in her only actual
combat with the Monitor was CATRsBY
Ar Y. JoNEs, who suc,eeded 70 the
command when Captain FRASELIN BU-
CHANAN wis wounded, CATEsBY JOKES
reporting: Two Of our guns have the
muzzles shot oG. The prov was twisted
and the armor somewhat damaged. The
anchor and all hRgsiahs shot away,
and smokestaok and steampipe were
riddlsd.'
That rugged old sea fighter JOSIAH
TATTNALL was ordered 10 hoist his fiag
un the battered Merrimac he who could
not keep out Of the brush on the Pei-ho
in China. pleading that he took sides
with the British Admiral because blood
was thicker than water PEMRROKE
JONEs nov comes into the record Of
the Merrimac a. Flag Lieutenant IN old
TATTNALL; 40 we call him because he
was veteran Of the War oi 1879 and the
war with Mexico. and sixty-s iX years of
age when he took command Of the Mer-
rimac The days Of the Merrimac were
then numbered. From her station near
Sewell's Point she moved out to battle
once more, TATTNAIL's orders being
to take such a position in the James
River as would prevent the enemy's
ascending It, CATEsBY JONRs was
First Lieutenant and PEMBROKE JONES
Flag Lieutenant At the time The Mer-
rirnac Passed the Sewelrs Point battery
and stood for the enemy. Six Federal
warships including the ironClad steam
ships Monitor and Naugauick, had been
shelling Sewel's Point. but they retired
A. the Merrimac was coming out. OW-
ing to the abandonment Of the Sewell's
Point and Craney Island batteries by
the Confederate land forces and the close
investment Of Norfolk. TAITNALL, after
he had called a council Of war in which
a third JOKES. Commander RICHARD L.,
participated. decided 10 tighten the Mer-
rimac in an endeavOr 10 reach Richmond.
Il turned out that there would not
be- enough water on jamestown Flats
for the passage, aRd to prevent the Mer-
rimac from falling into the hands u the
enemy Commander TArTNALL set ire
to her On Craney Island where he had
worked a gun IN his first fight in the War
of 1872, and the flames reaching her
magazine she blew up. The Virginia
no longer exists, reported TATTNALL,
but 81 brave and skilful officers az
seamsn are savtd 10 the CORfederacy
After Commodore TATTNAIL died at
savannah in 1871 his life was written By
another JoNEs. CHARLES G JOKES.
In entering into this description NJ
the last DAYS and tragic end of the Vir-
ginia- -Nerrimac in order n dispel the
confusion Of the Jonesos and apportion
10 PEMBROKE and CATEsBH each his
glory, We are glad 10 renew scq,iaint-
ance with that ine old officer Of the ante
belIum navy JOSIAH TATTNAu.