The National tribune., 1910-03-17
THE MONITOR AND NIERRIMAC.
One of the Crew of the Monitor Gives
Graphic Description of the Fight.

d UrdDiuC bcSCTiIiiiOii Vi tiit Il iSiit
Editor National Tribune: have read
several accounts of the battle between
the Monitor and the Merrimac that con-
hict. Between Bennet's Steam Navy
of the United States" and Porter's Ma
val History of the Civil War" are con-
nicting opinions in regard to the fight
and its results on the two combatants.
will throw some light on the subject.
in justice to Admiral Worden, to whom
due credit is not given.
1t was with great difficulty the Merri-
mac was kept afioat while being towed
TO GOsport drydock, where she sunk
from results of the fight, only escaping
capture by the express command of
Capt. Van Brunt, of the Minnesota, to
Lieut.. Worden in the hearing of all on
the Monitors deck at the time, myself
included.
On the evening of March 8, 1862, the
fleet had retired to the shelter of Fort
ress Monroe with the exception of the
fri2ate Minnesota, she being aground
on the NansemOnd- Shoal. Altho gum
boats and tugboats were at hand, none
went to her assistance for two days.
About p. m. Capt. Miliward, of the
99th y. Y, Acting Harbormaster, was
sent by Gen. Wool to the frigate with
word that the Monitor was coming. On
transferring stores and personal effects
| to the steamer Young America, prepar-
atory to setting. fire to and abandoning
! her. The steamer was kept there all
next day for the purpose of taking off
| the Minnesota's crew if necessary. On
returning to the fort, the Monitor hay-
| ing arrived, Capt Millward was sent to
| her with orders to go on to the Mime
| sofa, where after some delay in getting
a pilot she arrived about a. m In
the meantime 80 11-inch shells from
the fort were taken on board the tug
boat Adriatic.
Capt Miilward put me in charge of
the shells. with orders to see them de-
| livered to the Monitor. This was done.
| at $3.50 smoke from the Confederate
vessels indicated they were leaving Nor
folk. The Monitor started up to meet
them. When about three miles from
the Minnesota she stopped and a shot
was fired at the jamestown, the leading
vessel of the Confederates. At the shot
these vessels stopped. and remained
during the fight near the north end of
Craney Island.
The Merrimac was then seen coming
alone very slowly. Upor coming close
the Monitor was turned head down
Istream. The Merrimac passed to port
firing rapidly from her starboard guns
on her passing the Monitor was started
ana ran alOnSsiue up 10 tne tOrepart OF
the Merrimac's battery; then working
ahead she pushed her bow around, so
that the Merrimac stopped and backed
up into the channel again. The Moni-
tor kept close to her all the time, going
around her, now at the bow, now at the
stern, pushing and showing her around
The Merrimac, being helpless was thus
prevented from getting near the Mime
lsota. At the same time the two heavy
IN ha
on the enemy at any time desired, but
with eight men to an 11-inch gun fire.
tquent rest was required. This could be
had in perfect security, for when the
vessels were close to, owing to the
small size of the Merrimac's gun ports
the guns could not be depressed to bear
on the Monitor, except on the turret
which was impervious to shot.
l.. The fight WAS kept up I'm this manner
some four hours, with an occasiona
lshot from the Minnesota (too distant fol
!; effeet) and considerable small-arm fire