Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-03
FAMOUS IN NAVAL ANNALS
Historic Duel Between the lronclads
Monitor and Merrimac.
5oTH ANNIVERSARY OF EVENT
Pioneer lronciads Revoiutionize
Navies of the worId-wooden
war-hips sent TO the
Junkpile.

Fifty years ago the coming Saturday
the most remarkable battle in naval an
rails up to tina; time was fought in Hamp-
ton Roads between the Monitor and the
Merrimsc, 1t was the first duel fought
By Ironclad warshgps AMI demonstrated
the worthleSsness Of wooden ships In
combat With ironciads. A revolution in
the naval architecture CT the world was
tbs result. on March s. 49, the day be-
fore the duel with the Monitor. the rebel
ironeiad MerrtmIc attacked and DESTROYED
tho Congress and the Cumberland. two
United States frisates living az Newport
News, TIE frisaie Minnesota was also
attacked. hut being IN shoal water the
rebel irunoiads guns could not he brought
n bear on it and is fate was deferred
until the following day. Between sunse,
and sunrise the unexpected. for the con
fcderAtes. happened.
The original MeFrimar VAS seuttied
April n. ISL. when the United states
naval officers abandoned Gosport navy
yard. The cOniedeTates raised il and
transformed It into formidable irouclad
ram. which they named the yirg MIA. In
his Three Decades OF Federal I.egisia-
lion" uSxe. Hon. 8 3 Coz, a distin-
guished New York congressman Of var
times and later. holds to the confederate
name Virginia In his account Of the ia
nous duel. which follows In part
At O'Clock the same night the newly
finished ironelad Monitor arrived at Fort
rrxs Monroe from New York. uader com
mand Of Lieutenant John L. wonden. Her
appearance Is not anticipated. II may be
that her existence Is unknown 10 the con-
fedcrates. About midnight she takes po-
sltion by the side OF the Minnesota. As
anticipated. next morning at O'Clock the
Virginia with her eonsorts comes out from
she does not see the little Monitor lying
behind the frigate soon the monitor ap-
pears, she IL an object Of curiosity. u
not Of ridicula she hes 30 low and IL 30
small that surely she viii not attempt -
cope with the Virginia. The commander
% that vessel. which would have been
more than a match for the finest ship In
the Engllsh or French navy. observes
what confronts him II Is an insigniflcant
looking little nond.script II resembles .
raft with . cheese box ON u. No such
mah-of-wsr was ever before sean. II ad-
vanees 70 meet the virginia. Was there
ever such impotence, A mingled feeling
OF curiosity and contempt runs through
tho Officers Of that vessel TIE very
waves sesm 10 laugh At the odd and sa-
dseious craft But Il was soon found
that the Virginia has a foe not 10 be
desplsea. one entirely worthy Of her high
est prowess. Promptly obeyins the signal
10 attack the Monisor runs down past the
Minnesota 10 hay herself Close alongside
the Virginia. between that formidable
vessel and the Minnesota IL is the con-
test Of David and Goliath over again.
The virginia 10 accompanied ~ the York
town and jamestown. TIE TIVE latter are
crowded with troops come to board and
capture the Minnesota. I, 10 gala aay
In Norfolk EVERYBODY 10 IN aixh kies
aver the expected sie,cry and prizes wui
the expsclatioa b fulfslisds
A shot from the Moniter arrests me