Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-07-01
ERR0NEOUSLY STATED.
An interesting Bit Of History Not
Generally Known.
Newport News Prsssl


In practically all of the newspaper
announcements of the death of the late
Pembroke Jones, it was enormously
stated that this gallant gentle
man was executive officer of the Con-
federate iron-clad Virginia (Merrimac)
at the time that vessel fought her
famous duel with the Federal Monitor.
The executive officer was Catesby AID
R. Jones. and Pembroke Jones was flag
lieutenant. In an editorial straighten-
ing out this confusion, the New York
Sun gives its readers an interesting bit
of history that will not be found in
many of the text books used in the
schools. The Sun says;
From her station near Sewall's Point
she moved out To battle once more.
Tattnall's orders being Ito take such a
position in the James river as would
prevent the enemy's ascending it,
Catesby Jones was first lieutenant and
Pembroke Jones flag lieutenant at the
time. The Merrimac passed the Sewall's 8
Point battery and stood for the enemy.
Six Federal wsr-ships. including the
iron-clad steamships Monitor and Nauga-
tuck, and been Smelling Sewal's Point,
but they retired as the Merrimac was
coming out.
Ask the average fairly well read per-
son from north of the Mason and Dixon
line what was the result of the Merri-
mac-Monitor fight in Hampton 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 Southerner about the re-
suit of this wonderful battle, and the
chances are that you will hear loyal
denial that the Merrimac was whipped,
but it is not likely that you will get
lucid statement of what did happen.
AS a matter of fact, the Merrimac,
coming out from Norfolk before her
plating was complete. and without her
port-shields, made clean sweep of 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 terrific fight that
followed both iron ''monsters" were
more or less the worse for wear and
the crews of both were glad enough for
respite. The Monitnr took to the fats
under the guns of Fort Monroe and the
Merrimac steamed hack to Norfolk. At
the Norfolk navy yard the Merrimac
was repaired and completed. A new
and improved steel prov was installed
to replace the one lost in the hull of the
Cumberland. her gun ports were covered
with protecting steel shutters and the
plating Of the superstructure was per-
fected and finished. Then the Msrri-
mac went forth looking for battle again.
This is the part that the histories seldom.
il ever. tell. When the Merrimac
rounded the point coming out of Norfolk.
the Federal fleet. including the doughty
Monitor and another iron-clad, the
Naugatuck, were busiiy engaged in
shelling the Confederate batteries at
Sewall's Point. Upon the approach of
the Merrimac the Smelling suddenly
ceased and the feet, including the
Monitor, hiked for the flats and the pro-
lection of Fort Monroe's cannon. The
Merrimac steamed about in deep water
and challenged and challenged again.
But the Monitor, safe in shallow water
where the Merrimac could not follow.
stayed there until all danger of another
encounter with her big antagonist was
past.
This was the first great fight between
iron-clads, the beginning of the revolu.
tion in naval warfare that has resulted
in the marvellous navies of today. AND
yet probably nine tenths of the Ameri
can people do not know its true story.