The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-03-08
point -Elkhorn tavern.
Won by Cannon Balls and Bayonets.

point-Elkhorn tavern.
Won by Cannon Balls and Bayonets.
During the night Van Dorn's col
umns rallied on wooded height IN
front Of which General Franz sigePs
fresh Federal division deployed before
daylight. General Jefferson c. Davis
and General Il. A. Carr's divisions on
sigel's right opened the conflict. Sigel
wheeled his batteries into line as they
gaIloped to the field The pieces were
fifteen or twenty PAGES apart Win
infantry between. Each gun opened
the moment It was unlimbered. Trees
in the pathway of the shots were cut
down. and stones on the crest were up
rooted and hurled among the Confed'
crate ranks. After two hours cannon
aiding Sigel's line moved onward. The
artillery halted on the last ridge, firing
at short range until the infantry be-
gan TO climb the slope. Onward and
upward marched the dark blue line OF
men with cleaning bayonets, from base
to summit. There 1t was met by
terrible vOlley of bullets from the en-
envy sheltered in the dense Forest
With an answering volley and cheer
the men swept on, Illinoisans, Indian
ians, MissOurlans, hunting the Con-
federates through the woods to open
ground There their retreating line
broke in confusion, leaving flags and
cannon as trophies for the victors.
The Monster Ram on the Rampage.
In order TO economize in time as well
as in money the protector Of the frst
iron ram fished the sunken hull OF the
United States war frigate Merrimac
from the bottom of Elizabeth river at
Norfolk, Va. This noble old ship had
been burned TO the waters edge in the
general destruction of the navy yard
there in the spring of 1861. Her new
owners christened her the Virginia, but
the original name has passed into his
tory with the story of her exploits as
Confederate ram. Nothing was lack
ing to make the Merrimac a most ter
rible floating battery. She carried
seven inch rifle each in bow and stern
and three nine-inch smoothbores IN
each broadside. Last, but not least
for that was the main purpose Of this
unidue creation, came the ram or beak,
cast iron PROV projecting four feet
from the bow, and when in action so
completely submerged as to be out OF
sight of the enemy and cut below the
water line in striking.
Smashing the Wooden Fleet.
When she steamed into Hampton
Roads on the Sth Of March, 1862, five
Federal vessels lay Just across the
channel-the fifty gun frigate Con-
gress, the thirty gun sloop Cumber-
land, the forty gun frigates Roanoke
and Minnesota and the frigate St
Lawrence, also rating fifty guns. The
Congress and Cumberland opened on
the ram, but she paid no attention,
aiming to make short work of the enc;
my with her powerful beak. Closing
in on the Cumberland, she struck her
at right angles, cutting an immense
hole near the forerigging and ut the
same time sweeping away two gun
crews with shots from her bow guns.
When hailed to surrender Captain
Morris of the Cumberland, fired with
the spirit of the old guard, shouted:
"Never! I'll sink alongside" The Mer-
rimac backed away, leaving her beak
in the side of the Cumberland The
latter continued in action an hour, fir
ing with her deck guns until she sank
up to her peak. The Congress had Civ
en- the ram a brOadside as she passed
to strike the Cumberland, but when
turning to avoid collision she grounded
and was at the mercy of the enemy.
Her commander, Captain J. 2. Smith,
was killed at the first fire. The Mer-
rimac steamed up within twenty yards
and riddled her with shells and hot
shot. The frigate Minnesota grounded
when attempting to enter the fight, but
the st. Lawrence and Roanoke hurled
broadsides at the ram with no other
effect than to cut away her unprotect-
ed parts-the pipes, davits, stanchions
and rail. Darkness ended the battle,
leaving the Merrimac with eight guns
and their crews in fighting trim. Her
four inch armor was barely indented.
Seven killed and seventeen wounded
were the battle casualties on the ram.
Two guns had lost their muzzles, the
smokestack was gone, likewise one an
chor, but the monster was a monster
still. She went back to her moorings
to prepare for a finish fight with the
rest of Uncle Sans wooden feet next
day.
First Fight Between IrOnclads.
The new ironclad Monitor left New
York at midday March 6. Her com
mander, Lieutenant John L Worden
of the navy, was told to proceed to
Fortress Monroe for the protection OF
the Chesapeake bay and the Potomac
river from the expected raids of the
dreaded ironclad ram Merrimac. From
the way the Merrimac had smashed
things on her. first attempt it looked
like a hopeless case for the little black
thing. which resembled in comparison
with the warships Of the day tin
can on a board to go out against the
ram. She carried but two guns. Her
ports could only be closed by cessation
Of firing. One shell in the gun cham
Der, the turret, would disable her fight
ing power, and her shots must be de-
livered at random or "on the fly when
the revolving turret brought the en-