The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12
'avcd tho Union noot from destrnc-

As matter of fact. that part OF tho
Union noet which the Merrimac didn't
destroy the dag before saved Itself
from destruction by runninl, back to
Fortress Monroe FOR protection. ms
have already stated In the same ac
count no says:
The Merrimac came out about six
| weeks later while we were honba riding
Sewcll's Point and dened tho Union
hcet (of which tho Monitor was a part)
which Immediately scattered back to
Fortress Monroe
Isn't II rather peculiar that tho Mer
tinac having been whipped. as they
claim. SIX weeks before. should he
capable, without firing a shot of fright
ening tho entire Union fleet ont of
| Hampton Roads. More extraordinary
Elm Is the fact that they admit 1t?
On this occasion the Aferrimac was
commanded by Commodore Josiah Tat
nan commodore Buchanan not having
recovered from a wound received on
Tho ath OF March while attacking the
Cumberland and Congress He not on
" scared the feet back TO Fortress
monroe, but followed IL nearly IN Tho
Tort and offered the Monitor. the iron
battery Naugatuck and the entire feet
battle on their own ground. nut they
| uoh dare attack him. He then
steamed down stiil nearer TO them hut
the guns of the fort The Monitor re-
minds mo of tho hoy whose mother
asked what he wanted to give his cou
sin Robbie for Il Christmas gift. lie
replied; Il know, but amt big
enough
i TO Irritate them and. II noss,hlc /,
cuce them to attack him. the comma
dore sent tho gunboats jamestown and
kalelsh into Hampton bay. almost un.
"ef thelr bows, TO cut out two trans.
ports lying there in apparent security.
wuich daring exploit they accom-.
plished and carried their prizes to
Norfolk without firing a shot or re.
cc!ving one.
Commodore Goldsborough of the
United States Navy. said the reason
they didn't attack the Merrimac was
IT didn't place itself in position to
pc advaDtageously attacked by their
fleet
There was the Merrimac alone In the
enemys territory. drawing twenty
three feet of water now. since being
repaired. audaciovsly defyinG the
union fleet, consisting of the steam
friGates Minnesota. Illinois. San Jacin-
to. Baltimore, Arrajo and the Wander
bilt.
The iron battery Naugatuck and the
Monitor. which latter was built espe-
cially 20 destroy the Merrimac. and
not one of them drawing more than
fifteen feet of water except the Mime
Sofa. and they didn't dare leave tho
protection Of the fortresses and APP
preach her. There was plenty of space
and deSth Of water for them TO have
surrounded the Merrimac ard pounded
her to death. but sad experience had
taught them that the boldost and
earnest craft that ever floatcd was
! moro than match for them singly or
collectively, and yet your children and
"a h, ko tofo t.
the Monitor whipped tho Morrlmac
IT 1t were n fact that the Monitor
whipped the Merrimac, or II she was
ever injured sufficiently to be out OF
lighting condition. what was there to
prevent the Union feet from going
right UP TO Norfolk and Portsmouth
and retaking possession or them and
all the territory they had previously
abandoned in such cowardly haste?
| Take 1t from me. comrades. tho battle
on tho 9th dav OF March between the
Merr!mhc and Monitor was only
skirm!sh compared to what 1t would
have been II the Monitor and tho fleet
had ever given her another chance.
Two French vessels. the Gassendi
and the Cat'nett and the English
corvette Rinaldo. that were lying in
tho roads off Old Point, had moved up
towards Newport News to be out of
tho line of fire and witness the cN-
pointed. but they saw the intrepid act
OF the Jamestown and Raleigh, and
when they passed on their way TO Nor
folk with their prizes they waved their
hats and handkerchiefs In acknowl-
edgment of their splendid courage and
heroism and. ! have no doubt, would
have fired salute If 1t had been per-
missible under tho circumstances.
Captain stodder also says In the
account previously mentioned:
Before arriving Mt Hampton Roads
the officers OF tho Monitor sent a pc
tition to President Lincoln asking
permission to go after the Merrinac
and destroy her" which reminds me
that General Joe Hooker (FghtinG
Joe. as he was called) made a similar
request of Mr.. Lincoln Just before thu
battle of Charlottesville: THAT he
might he permitted to attack General
Lee in the wilderness and sweep his
army out OF the road to Richmond"
Mr.. Lincoln consented. but with this
advice:
Beware of rashness. General Hook
err; beware OF rashness."
General Hooker made tho attack
but either forgot or ignored Mr.. Lin
coins advice, and instead of Sweep
Ing General Lees army out Of the
road to Richmond" got whipped. to
a finish, lost the battle and his head.
too. but had the audaclty to publish
the following general order:
The general commanding tenders
to his army his congratulations on its
movements of the last seven days The
events OF. tho last week may we'll
cause tho hearts of every officer and
soldier to swell with pride. We have
added new laurels to our former re-
nown."
And that was the last of General
| Hooker II was dearly won battle
to tho Confederates. though. because
it cost them the life OF the great and
only Stonewall Jackson. Our match
less cavalry leader. General j. =. 3.
Stuart. was then assigned to command
Jackson's corps. and led 1t In tho noXt
days battle with conspicuous ability
ana signal success.
An eyewitness says df him:
"Stunrt's assault with infantry had in