The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12

the Cumoc rland Congress. both steam
frlgates. can be plainly seen lying In
the mouth of tho river. blockading
IL.
Norfolk and Portsmouth are about
eight miles southwest OF sownlrs
Point. and Craney Island lies about
halt way between. but not visible on
account of the mcanderings OF Eiina-
beth River.
Thus, standing on the bluff at Sew
ellis Point. VIC have the entire Battle
ground in our immediate front. com
paratively like standing on the
Chickasaw blur at Memphis and look
ing over the Mississippi river
We had been anxiousiy expecting tho
Merrimac for eeveral days. but II was
not until this morning that we were
favored with a sight OF hsr and her
escorts. the gunboats Beaufort and
Ra leigh. The NerriIpac was comman-
ded by Commodore Franklin Buchanan.
tho Beaufort by Captain w II Parker
and the Raleigh By Captain J. ". Alex
snder. About 5 O'Clock this morning
March 9. 1852. our sentinel report I'd
a dense column OF smoke in the d!rec-
ton OF Norfolk. and later the merri-
mac came into sight, resembling the
back of an enormous whale or NAM
moth sea monster as she Elided
ripple In the tranquil waters. there be
ing no part of her above tho watoi
except the casematc and smohestack
The sun rose that morning apparent
~ out of the waters of the Atlantic
ocean. as sweet and light as the foot
steps of the shadows that fit before
It. and we hailed 1t as n harbingcr OF
good omen for the success of our
came.
The chameleon the Elizabeth River
swept between Norfolk and Ports
mouth and on down in front Of sew
ellis Point and about 500 yards from
the shore. while that from James River
passed along the opposite shore OF
Hampton Roads the two convcrglng
a bout three miles from Fortress Mon
roe and flowed on out into the Al
lantic ocean
Only the authorities and the officers
of the le.t knew what the plan Of
battle was. while we in our shore bat
teries and the enemy could only guess
at il. The upper deck Of the Merrimac
was crowded with officers aud man
waving their handkerch:efs In response
to the cheers from shore. hut of course
they went below when the firing com
menced. Tn two cunboats remained
out in Hampton Roads. while the Mer
rimac kept in tho channel toward Fort
ress Monroe. as II she was going to
sail alone right into the Union fleet
and give them battle evan under the
guns OF the fort and the Rip-Raps IL
necessary. and VIC thought that was
just what she intended doing until
some one exclaimed. Look. boys; look
AT her-she's turning back-thera's
netting wrong sure.
She had turned where the channel
met and appeared to be coming sack.
and we thought her machinery had
given away. or that soma calamity had
happened and possibly the Merrimac
was failure. Sensations followed
fast upon each other-lisappointme
and grief were plainly written on
every face-hcarts that few mo-
mcnts before were buoeed with con-
fidence and hope fell and. apparently,
ceased 10 beat-vo!ces that had CHI >ered
her on her daring deeds and glorious
victory were hushed in despair and,
for the moment. were as silent as the
tomb After turning around shs took
tho channel towards the mouth Of
James River. and that movement per-
picked us sim moro.
She's running from them" Cow
ards" Damned traitors"' could he
heard from all hands; and enough
curses and epithets were hurled at her
TO sink her. but she was proof against
them all and calmly proceeded on her
course. The fact is. good many
spies and Union sympathisers were
known to be in and around Norfolk
and Portsmouth. and we didn't know
but that enough OF than bad shipped
on the Merrimac in the haste and con-
fusion OF making UP her crew 10 take
possession OF her.
In the meantime the Union !leet got
under way and put after the Merr-
md h1t st,,r cd
soon got within range OF her and COM
menced firing AT her. This feet con-
sisted OF the steam frigates Mime
sofa. ST. Lawrence. Roanoke and Bran
DIVINE. earring altogether lSs guns.
There We're also twelve gunboats car
rying 40 guns. while the Mcrrinac had
only 10 guns and our two gunboats
one gun each.
In the meantime the Merrimac quiet
~ proceeded on her way regardless OF
the ships pursuing her and never re-
turning single shot for the many
sent at her and We couldn't comprc-
bend why she didn't return their fire,
which fact added to our doubts and
fears. We didn't know but that she
was under control OF spies ana Union
sympathizers and was really on her
way to Richmond and we were left
in the soup" II has occurred to me
"iHCe ludl lue ana men on
board the Merrimac We're so inspired
with patriotism. so conscious OF the
justice OF their cause. SO outraged at
the invasion OF their homes. that, with
Gods help, they determined TO destroy
the Union fleet or do down to a
watery grave in the attempt; and the
reason she didn't return the fire of
the Union feet was because she wanted
10 draw them a far away from Fort
ress Monroe as possible. While all
this was going on We could only watch
and wait.
"Oh! why doesn't she fire on Them
was heard from some impatient voice,
but there was no reply-at tho time.
This race lasted about two hours and
when the Merrimac got within range
of the Newport News battery and the
two blockading ships. they commenced
10 fire at her and to our utmost aston
ishment not Il single shot from the