davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
HAVOC BY THE MERRIMAC.

The day was calm, the water like glass
and the tide nearly full. the hour being a
little after noon. when the numbering. float
ing citadel swan into the ken Of the United
States ships swinging lazily at anchor in
the Roads These were the friGate Congress,
fifty guns. and the sloop Cumberland thirty
guns lying near Newport News. and the
frigates Minnesota, Roanoke and St Law
renee and several gunboats anchored at
Fortress Monroe. The Minnesota and the
Roanoke were sister ships of the Merrimac
before the war The Merrimar headed for
was evident from the appearance of the
two vessels lying there. Boats were float
ing at their booms and the clothes which
the sailors had been washing in the morn
ing were hanging in the rigg AS the
Merrimac approached. however. the boats
were dropped astern and the booms brought
alongside Then the Cumberland. followed
10y the Congress. the gunboats and the
shore batteries. opened fire.
The Merrimac. her slipping roof and low
prov giving her the appearance of "a
huge, half-submerged crocodile slowly
pushed her way through the water toward
the Cumberland. reserving her fire until
within easy range, when the forward pivot
was brought into use. The shot killed or
wounded nearly the entire crew Of the
after pivot gun Of the Cumberland. As
the Merrmac passed close To the Congress
she discharged the full starbOard broad
side into the towering wooden hulk Of that
vessel IL was returned with spirit, but
the Merrimac continued on her way toward
the Cumberland which she struck almost
at right angles directly under the fore rig
g.ng with "a crash that was heard dis
tinctly above the sound of the battle. Al
though the impact was hardly felt on the
Merr!mac. when she drew off the water
poured through a hole as big as "A hogs
head in the II le of the Cumberland. and
the iron ram OF the war engine broke of
The shot from the fTigates rolled of the
slanting sides OF the ship like rubber balls.
The Merrimac headed up the James River
and laboriously turned around Then she
started back toward the Congress. which
had dropped foretopsail and up a
lib with the intention OF escaping. She
grounded where the Merrimac could not
reach her owing To- the shalowness OF the
water but within easy range. The Con-
federate engine of war took up her position
as near as possible, and poured in shells
as fast as her guns could he served. The
brave crew of tie Cumberland. now sink
ing. did not let that fact deter them from
fighting as long as the magazines were
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

on those same dancing waters the most
farrcaching naval victory the world h"'
seen.
Two nights before a council or war uau
teen held at the white House In order 10
discuss the plans for McClellan's proposed
Poninsular Campaign 1t was decided that
for moral effect the Confederate batteries
Of the Potomac should he silenced by Union
war vcseels and the Monitor. which had
sailed that day for Hampton Roads. was
designated as one Of the vessels To per-
form this duty. Peremptory orders were
sent To New York. and when it was learned
that this curious craft had sailed Tor
hampton Roads. message was sent ny
boat to the latter point directing her 10
come to Washington. The Merrimac had
hcon forgotten She was remembered the
next day. and as tho telegraph to hampton
Roads had not been completed, MT. f"N'
tho Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
started for Fortress Monroe with the IN
tcntion Of suspcnding the plan until AFTER
consultation with the naval officers there.
When he reached his destination, Suhda!
morning. he was just in time to witness
the historic fight.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
A DRAMATIC INCIDENT.

The appearance of the cheese box on
raft" at the moment when everything
seemed lost furnishes one OF the most ara
matte incidents i'm history. on March w.
the day after the battle, The Tribune on
its editorial page characterized the feenhs
of the people regarding the opportune ar
rival of the Monitor at Hampton ROADS,
and told of another incident Wmch cou-
tributed to the public rejoicing 1t said:
orIad the telegraph line TO Fortress Mon
roc not been completed yesterday afternoon
the whole country would to-day be de-
messed by the weight of a great disaster
and bere in New York we should he eX-
rac,inc soon to see q terrible engine OF
destruction against which we might nave
found ourselves entirely poverless. For II
tho qinch shot and shell Of our frigates
rehounded from the Merrimac like so many
u.as from a popgun.' as we are told, could
We reasonably expect that any guns when
ar. mounted i'm our forts ould have pre-
vented her entrance into our harhor, when
the citv would have been entirely at the
mercy of her 100 pound Armstrong guns? 1t
was nv p most wonderful coincidence. TO say
nothing more of IL. the telegraph was I'm
ished during the last two hours Of working
time i'm the day. and TO that fact we owe
il that the. city is not now panlcsulcKeh'
but rejoicing rather over great victory
of American genius we'll as American
arms But If the completion of the tele-
sraph line to which We owe our knowl-
edge Of our safety. may he called coinci-
dence. we certainly must call the arrival
of the Monitor at Fortress Monroe. to
which we owe our safety itself, something
urcvidentiai"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
DISMAY AT WASHINGTON.

At about the same time Washington had
learned of the fruitage of the Morrimac
trial trip" 1t is quite proper To say
that Consideration reigned. The 'ablhc'
met Immediately at the White House. Ihe
meeting has been described by John Nicolay
and John Hay. President Lncoln's private
secretaries. as perhaps the most excited
and impressive OF the whole war. Stanton
the Secretary of War. WAS unable To con-
troll his emotion. lie walked up and down
the room like n Gagged lion. saying, Inc
Nerrimac will change the whole character
Of the war. She will destroy seriatim every
naval vessel She will lay all the cities on
the scaroard under contribution. shall I'M
medately recall Burnside. Port Royal must
be abandoned. | will notify the governors
and municipal authorities in the North 10
take instant measures To protect their
harbors nave no doubt that the monster
T. at this moment on her way 10 Washing
ton. and" looking out NJ the window. 1T
Is not unlikely We shall have a she'll or
cannon hall from one of her guns I'm the
White House before We leave this room.
Seward seemed To be overwhelmed. Nc
Clcl,an was unable 10 say word. so dunn
founded was he. Lincoln. as usual. was
calm and eagerly inquisitive in his efforts
10 find a remedy FOR the situation. II was
finally decided to sink barses and canal
boats I'm the channel OF the Potomac for
the protection Of Washington. and. as can
non balls glanced OF the Merrimac's sides
Ike india rubber balls. to use upon her one
of her own methods of attack. that Of ram
ming An order was sent to New York TO
charter the Vanderbilt. the strongest and
fastest vessel mt that port. have her
strengthened about the bows by means of
tmbers and outside iron plating. and a
ram attached. She was 10 meet the Mer-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

%u- rext important military occur
renee of the Civil War succeeding
II tho capture of Fort DonelsOn was
tho world-famed encounter between the
Monitor and the Merrimac. or Virginia a'
the vessel was named by the Concentrates
which occurred on March 9. 1862 at lamp
ton Roads. This battle. the first between
ironclads. although a draw. so lar as ac-
fuaI damage was concerned. ii is unnec's-
sarv to say. was in reality great Victory
for the North. for the Mcrrimac's useiu-
ness was cut short The fruitage OF TINS
hattie which has been described as IN
some respects the most momentous naVa'
conflict over Witnessed" Is seen IN the
modern battleship. ON that day the o'"-
line fr,eate gave way 10 a floating battery
a marine fighting machine. The reVoiVihs
turret the srmor plate ard the ram. which
were the marked characteristics OF the TWO
vessels engaged. are the chief features OF
war vessel to-day, aside from the guns.
"The London Times" remarked when IL
learned of the battle: Whereas We had
available for immediate purposes lis trst
class warships we have now two. these
two being the Warrior and her sister Iron
side. There is not now a ship in the Eng
ltSh navy apart from THESE iNo '"''' -
would not be madness TO trust to an en-
gagement with that little Monitor"
Prior to this event Secretary Cameron oil
the War Department had been succeeded
by Stanton, the great War Secretary. NC
Clellan at last had decided definitely upon
q plan Of campaign for his attack on Klch-
rnond He proposed to move from the
neighborhood of Fortress Monroe along the
James River toward the capital OF the
Confederacy Steps were being taken Tor
the accomplishment OF this programme
when news came that the Confederate
ironclad. reports Of whose construction AT
Norfolk had leaked through the INES hau
appeared i'm Hampton Roads. and met WIN
such success i'm the destruction OF Union
vessels that single handed 1t threatened
the entire Atlantic Coast and the existence
of the blockading squadrons. which had
thus far prevented Europe from recoshiz-
ing the political claims of the South. pet
ures doomed up of what might happen 10
Washington and to the bridges across the
Potomac and of the plans for the attack
on Richmond If this ironclad monster
which moved about on its errand OF oe-
structon with impunity, was not stayed Ill
itc course
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
DAVID CHALLENGES GOLIATH.

The distant booming Of heavy guns was
now heard twenty miles away. Worden
concluded rightly that the Merrimac he'd
come out and that an engagement was
taking place He ordered the vessel TO be
stripped of her sea rig at once and put
in shape for battle Upon approaching
the Roads the burning Congress could be
seen. and a pilot who came on board told Of
the destruction and dsmay which had fol-
lowed the appearance OF the Merrimac.
The Monitors speed was increased to the
limit and when. AT o'clock. the Monitor
came alongside the Roanoke Lieutenant
Worden went aboard that vessel to report
10 Captain Marston, his superior officer.
Captain Marston had received peremptory
orders 10 send The Monitor on tn Wash
ington hut i'm view II the situation he
took upon himself the responsibility OF
technically disobeying orders by retaining
the Monitor 10 protect the fleet. He suG
gested that the pygmy vessel go to the
assistance of the Minnesota and. guided
by the light OF the burning Congress. the
uninspirinG little fighting machine picked
her way to an anchorage near the power
less shin. Her arrival was not unknown
To the men on the Merrimac for a pilot
had discovered her as she dropped nor
anchor i'm the glow If the burning frigate.
When day broke the alert crew Of the
Monitor discovered the Merrimack at an
Choir near Sewells Point. About 7:S0
O'Clock that vessel got under way and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

steered slowly across the Roads toward
the Minnesota and Monitor Lieutenant
Worden was no less alert. and he too. was
soon in motion ready to meet the giant
antagonist. Taking his place i'm the little
prompter's box of pilot house with tie
pilot and auartermaster, he steered toward
the oncoming Merrimac, with the intention
Of meeting and engaging her as far from
the Minnesota IS possible. The wooden
.consorts OF the Merrmac quickly sailed
away. leaving the Merrmac to meet the
Monitor alone. The Merrimac commenced
firing first. The Monitor waited until along
side the Merrimac. when the engine was
stopped and the order given "Commence
firing" The port was triced up, the gun
run out and deliberately aimed, and ne
lockstring pulled. The Merrmac quickly
replied with rafting broadside and the
battle was on. The shots ratified against
the turret and other parts Of the ship
but did not penetrate. The turret con-
tinued 10 revolve. Hurrah. the Monitor
could fight and withstand the heavy shots
of the antagonist without danger. Con-
fidence spread among tho crew The feel
ing grew that the Merrimac would not ne
aOle 10 repeat ncr pFcNlouS I'D. = 'APioi|
Exchanges Of shots followed as fast as
the guns could be worked. and I.ieutenant
Worden deity manGuyred his quick turn
ing craft in such way that the TWO ves-
sells were sometimes only a few yards
apart. once I've tried 10 disable the enemys
screw by quick dash and missed II by
only few feet The iron plating or the
Merrimac was ripped up. while the shots OK
that vessel thumpcd the turret of the Mon-
tor with viSor that reverberated unpleas-
antly within the tower. Still the turret
revolvod and the fight went on. once The
Merrimac tried TO ram the Monitor, but
Worden. by skfu use Of the helm svoi-
ed direct blow, and the impact did no
harm. The supply Of solid shot in the
turret becoming exhausted, the little Moni-
tor drew off for a few minutes while
fresh supply was brought up from below.
Then the battle was renewed. but appar-
emily with no serious damage to either
cOmbatant.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
ADMONISHED BY ERICSSON.

When the curious floating gun platform
slid down the ways at Greenpoint she was
Christened Monitor. because. as Ericsson
said. the impregnable and aggressive
character of this structure will admonsh
the leaders of the Southern rebellion that
the batteries on the banks of their rivers
will no longer present barriers to the en-
trance of the Union forces. The ironclad
intruder will thus prove severe monitor
to those leaders. But there are other lead
ers who will also be startled and admon-
ished by the booming of the guns from the
impregnable iron turret Downing Street
Will hardly view with indifference this last
Yankee notion this monitor To the
Lords of the Admiralty the new craft will
he a monitor suggesting doubts as TO the
propriety of completing those four steel
clad ships at s3.5O0.00o apiece. On these and
many similar grounds | propose to name
the new battery Monitor"
If the crew of the Merrimac. or Virginia.
was unable TO board the vessel in order
to practice with the guns and conduct
drills. owing 10 the slow progress in finish
ing the work. the crew of the Monitor also
was unable to fit itself for its duties be-
cause of the rapidly with which work
was going forward. The Union David must
he made ready to meet the Confederate
Goliath. The result was that the men on
neither ship were thoroughly acquainted
with their vessel. Up to the morning OF
March not a gun had been fired on the
Merrimac The engine had been turned over
only a few times. When she cast off from
the wharf at the Gosport Navy Yard that
day it was thought by many that she was
going out merely for a trial run. 1t proved
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
International Situation Large.
ly Affected by the Kaiser's
Visit in London.

Before William arrived in England on
this last occasion he was looked upon by
the man In the street'-that is 10 say.
by the average Enslishman--not merely
as potential but as certain enemy
bent upon the humbing If not the de-
struction of the British Empire This
impression has given way 10 the convlc-
ton, in London. and. indeed. throughout
the length and breadth Of the United
Kingdom. that far from being foe, he
is warm friend and admirer Of Great
Britain-half an EngIshman. who. Ike
his consort, speaks English without any
trace Of foreign accent. and from whom
~ harm need be feared. unless sub
jectcd 10 the grossest and most deliberate
provocation. William, on the other hand
cannot out have felt profoundly gratihed
by the knowledge that during his weeks
sojourn in London. every hour of which
he had enjoyed. he had succeeded IN
obtaining that which his government had
endeavored in vain for years to secure
namely. the goodwill of the English
people and the confidence of the latter
in Gcrmany's peaceful and friendly IN
tentions with regard TO the British En-
pire.
II has been a personal triumph for us
Kaiser. brought about by King Georges
and IL goes 10 prove once more the bene'
fits to be derived from personal inter-
course among rulers. People In Amer'oA
are often disposed to deride their fond'
ness for paying visits to one another an'
to dsparage the influence which yls''o'
and visited exercise uron the interha'
tional situation. But this is a mistake
and TO one gave a more striking deino"'
stration thereof than Edward VII. F"
the time OF his accession tc the tlrone
I'm 1901 the antagonism IN fTa~'
against England was very great. ana ~
two occasions, at least, during the Ia
decade of the reign Of Queen Victo's
the two nations were on the brink :"
war. If France has been converted trc''
a more or less covert foe into a STAN"
and loyal friend of England; II, IN WV
word, an entente cordiale has been
Continued on 6fth page.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

which the occupants of the pilot house
stood was below the deck level. The helms
man and others in the house got notion
Of the direction in which TO steer by looking
out through cracks between the iron logs
left for this purpose. Altogether the house
might be likened to a giant prompter S
box.
The turret. which was turned on CEN
tral axis by steam engine. contained two
l-nch Dahlgren guns mounted side by
side. arranged as to be hauled in and
pushed cut between shots. The gun ports
could be closed by means of doors which
hung like penduums and swung back and
forth. In the battle these were closed be-
tween shots, although Ericsson did not
think this was necessary owing TO the ro-
tary motion of the turret which would
carry the openings quickly away from the
adversary. The operation was an arduous
and slow one. so that the Monitor did not
fire as rapidly as was expected.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

to be one Of the mos; momentous trial
trips vessel ever took. As she steamed
down the Elizabeth River. past the Con
federate batteries. lined with cheering
troops, the officers were not quite certain
how successful the vessel would be- She
was slow, doing no better in speed than a
man on a dog trot-about five miles an
hour She steered so badly that IT took
from thirty to forty minutes to turn her
long hull around. Owing 10 her great draft
she was confined in her movements to the
some what narrow channel in the Roads
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
THE MERRIMAC'S HISTORY.

The story of the battle goes hack u the
burning of the federal navy yard. near
Norfolk. in the spring of 1861. The yard
had been hurriedly abandoned for some
curious reason, for it is believed that 1t
could easily have been held. II was partly
destroyed. and a large number OF vessels
were burned Twelve hundred heavy guns
were left behind. These the Confederates
found use for in their Notifications from
the Potomac to the Mississippi. one of the
vessels which were burned and sunk was
the frigate Merrmac. ship Of $500 tons,
which carried forty guns. IT was proposed
in the summer Of 1861 that the hull. which
was in good condition. be raised and con-
verted into an ironclad battery. This was
undertaken, the vessel being renamed
me Virginia. She was cut down TO the
berth deck, and both ends for distance OF
seventy feet were covered over When the
vessel was in fighting trim these were just
awash. The central part was housed over
for length of 10 feet with roof of pitch
pine and oak two feet thick. The wood
backing was covered with iron plates two
inches thick and eight wide. Two layers
OF this thickness Of iron were put on. the
inner being horizontal and the outer verti-
cal cast iron ram four feet long was
attached TO the bow. The engines and
boilers were those which had been put into
the vessel before she was sunk, and had
been condemned on her return from her
last cruise. previous to that event The
power was sufficient to propel the ship at
a speed of five miles an hour. Fortunately
for the Union, work upon the Merrimac
was slow. owing to the great demands
made upon the resources Of the Trcdegar
foundry. at Richmond. This was the only
honworks in the South capable Of rolling
iron plates. and consequently was rushed
I'm the manufacture Of war materials.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

ed and ended the confederation. The flames
mounting through her rigging into the
heavens, formed a spectacle that was
watched with interest from all points OF
vantage. The officers on the Mcrrlmac' an
chored at Sewelrs Point. their duties over
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

II
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

Continued on third mage.
Connecticut western news., 1911-08-03

Eugene Decker, formerly of Cana an became proprietor of the Millerton lr on Co.'S. blacksmith and wagon shop at lrondale, N. Y.
 Commissioners Woodruff and Ensign on the estate of Landon & Go. and Horace Landon, of Chapinville, reported total liabilities, allowed, $180, 0,590. .46 ; disallowed, $I83, ,556.1 IS.
Connecticut western news., 1911-08-03
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