Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-05

THE new iron steamship Champion,
built in 1859. 1850 tons, drawing a very
light draft of water, say (seven) feet
light and IL feet deep laden, carries
sufficient coal to run her % days.
Also the steamer Daniel Webster
1895 tons, drawing a draft of water say
10 feet, laden"
also willing should be fixed by the board
suggested.
This offer was not accepted, though
in the fall of 1851 the Vanderbilt was
chartered for three months by the war
department, and used as a transport.
TO MEET THE MERRIMAC.
Although his first offer to give his
best ship to the government was de-
clined, Mr.. Vanderbilt was to receive
recognition, in due time, from an I'M
exected quarter. His gift of the Van
derbilt was to be accepted by PresI-
dent Lincoln himself.
The story. as revealed in the dusty
pages of the war records, is one of pc
culiar interest.
In the week following the first en-
gagement of iron-clads, when the con
federate war vessel Virigia-formerly
the Merrimac-was lying at the Ellz-
abeth river below Norfolk. and was ex-
pected to come out again, and possibly
escape from Hampton roads in spite off
the Monitor, fear seized official Wash
ington.
The confederate ship might come up
the Potomac at will and she'll the capi-
tai. She might steam in New YORK
and lay that city under tribute on
pain of bombardment She might emo
the war.
Something must be done. The navy
seemed powerless to stop her if she
sought to escape. The Monitor coulo
at best but fight drawn battle with
her.
The fight between the iron-clads was
on March g. On March Is the war de-
partment sent this telegram to Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt:
"The secretary of war directs me to
ask you for what sum you will con-
tract to destroy the Merrimack or pre-
vent her from coming out of Norfolk,
you to sink or destroy her If she gets
out"
Here was justification of the offer of
his ship that had been declined with
interest. Mr.. Vanderbilt answered that
he would go to Washington at once to
confer with the secretary of war.
The sequel of this visit is told in anl
official communication from Sec. of
War, Edwin Nj. Stanton, TO Cornelius
Vanderbilt, dated March 20. 1862.
The president desires to turn to &C
count your patriotic and generous gift
to the government of the great steam
ship Vanderbilt" it began.
The President wished to use the ship
against the Merrimac, and also 10
secure at the present time the advan-
tage of your great energy and nautical
experience
FITTED AS A RAM
To that end, having accepted the gift
of the Vanderbilt, the President "au
thorizes and directs me to, receive her
into the service of the war department.
and to use and employ the said steam
ship and her officers and crew, under
your supervision, direction and com
mand." !.
In order to justify the employment of
the ship of the war department rather
than by the navy in which she logf-
cally belonged, she was technically as
signed to the duty of defence of the
transports now in the service of this
department on Chesapeake bay, Hamp-
ton roads and adjacent water ana
she was TO act in the quartemaster
generals department, under direct or
ders from the war department
On the arrival of the ship at Hamp-
ton roads, Mai. General John L. Wool,
in command of fort Monroe, turned the
vessel over to the commander, naval Of
fcer son station, CommodoreN L. NJ.
Goldsboro.
This brought a sharp order from the
secretary of war, stating that tile ship
belongs to the war department. and is
to act exclusively under it's orders
The comments of naval officers on
this disposition of the ship are not in
the record.
Mr. Vanderbilt favored having the
ship under command of the navy de-
partment-the only particular plan in
the circumstances-and she so re-
NAMED command of her being given to
d naval officer, Lieut.. LeFevre.
For the work in hand the Vanderbilt
was fitted as a ram, her bow being
plated with iron. and strengthened in
ternally by bracing with timber Six
other steamers were secured by the
government for similar work, and from
the last week in March until it was
known as May IL that the Virginia
had been destroyed by the confederates,
these steamers lay at Hampton roads.
with steam up, ready to dash at the
the iron clad should 1t appear.
The hazard of such service not being
called for, the Vanderbilt was again
taken over by the war department and
was used as a transport until the ap-
pearance of the confederate cruiser AL
ALBANIA. She was then formally trans
ferred to the navy department, and
sent out as a scout cruiser to look fol-
the fleet commerce destroyer
Her service in this exciting duty
makes a long narrative of adventure
The ship served the union navy in
various kinds of important duty to the
end OF the war.
Copyright. 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press)